A dimensionally perfect part with a dented sealing face is a reject. Packaging is part of the specification, and it is worth agreeing before the first shipment.
The three things that damage machined parts in transit
Part-to-part contact. Loose parts in a bag will rub, and machined edges will mark softer neighbouring surfaces. Anodised and polished faces are the most vulnerable.
Compression. Cartons stacked in a container carry the weight of everything above them. Parts near the bottom of an under-filled box take the load through their own contact points.
Moisture. Sea freight means weeks of temperature cycling. Ferrous parts without protection will show surface rust on arrival even when they left clean.
What good packaging looks like
- Individual bagging or interleaving for any part with a cosmetic or sealing surface
- Cell dividers or moulded trays for parts that must not touch
- Rigid outer cartons filled to avoid crush, not part-filled
- VCI paper or bags for ferrous parts, with desiccant for sea freight
- Cartons palletised and wrapped, not loose-loaded, unless the quantity is small
Specify it on the purchase order
The most reliable way to get consistent packaging is to write it down once and reference it on every order. A short specification is enough:
*Each part individually bagged. Sealing faces protected with foam. Maximum 20 parts per carton. VCI paper for all steel parts. Carton weight not to exceed 15 kg. Palletised and stretch-wrapped for shipments over 100 kg.*
That paragraph prevents most arrival disputes.
Labelling
Every carton should carry the part number, revision, quantity, batch or lot number, and the purchase order reference. When a problem appears six months later, batch traceability is the difference between quarantining one carton and quarantining everything.
The cost conversation
Proper packaging is not free, and on low-value parts it can be a visible share of the unit cost. It is still cheaper than a rejected shipment. If your supplier's quote seems to exclude it, ask — a quote that assumes bulk bagging and a quote that assumes individual protection are not comparable.
Die Kurzversion
Write a short packaging specification once, reference it on every order, and require batch labelling. It costs a paragraph and prevents the most common category of arrival dispute in this industry.
