Palletizing and Crating
Securing cartons on a pallet or enclosing them in a wooden crate so heavy or fragile cargo can be handled by forklift and shipped safely.
TL;DR: Palletizing means stacking and strapping cartons onto a pallet. Crating means enclosing goods in a solid wooden box. Both make heavy, fragile cargo safer to move and easier to handle with a forklift.
Loose cartons are handled one by one, which means more lifting, more drops, and more chances of damage. A pallet turns many cartons into one unit that a forklift or pallet jack can move. The cartons are usually stretch-wrapped and strapped, with corner protectors to stop the straps from crushing the edges. A crate goes further, with walls and a lid that protect against impact and stacking pressure.
Wood packaging used in international shipping must meet ISPM 15. This means solid wood must be heat treated or fumigated and stamped with the official mark. Many exporters avoid the issue by using fumigation-free engineered wood such as plywood or pressed wood pallets, which are generally exempt. Check the rules in your destination country.
Crating and pallets add weight and volume, so they increase the Gross Weight and CBM. For containers, this can slightly reduce how much product fits, but the lower damage risk is usually worth it.
Glass mosaic sheets are dense and can crack or chip at the edges if cartons shift. For mosaic orders, ask your supplier how cartons are packed, whether they are crated or palletized, and whether the wood is ISPM 15 treated or fumigation-free. Also make sure the delivery site can unload pallets by forklift.