Art galleries and artists around the world must ship their own art. They often have to build their own crates or packaging, then must contend with the issue of arranging shipping, delivery and international paperwork. The biggest problem for these vendors is damage. Art is often very valuable and fragile. Shipping stresses cause damage as much as 30% of the time. Art is difficult to insure and repairs require reshipping the damaged art back to the gallery, or artist, for replacement or repair.
Padding contributes to shock
transference.
Bubble wrap can pop and padding can compress allowing valuables to shift and move within the crate.

Shippers frequently stand on crates during transport. Padding transfers compression to valuable content.

ILLUSTRATION OF A COMMON CRATE
Art is often packed in direct contact with inner padding with no airspace. A penetration may come in direct contact with the valuable item.
Crating workmanship is often amateurish and unbefitting the valuables within.

Due to the lack of engineering,crates are often overbuilt and heavy. Heavy crates are difficult to transport and result in damage due to the inability of the handler to manage the crates itself.

Amateurish edges on crates cause "catch points". Crates are damaged when they catch on surfaces, when on conveyor belts, or
when being moved along any surface. Edges that overhang will also cause
damage, which all lead to a destroyed crate.

Art is set within the crate with bubble wrap or shrink-wrap that offers no protection. Bubble wrap pops and actually causes movement during the shipping process.
Lack of handles or hand holds result in bad handling procedures and damage.
Soft foam padding is often used to "cushion" the art. This method is very random and can result in a bad fit, leaving art to move or be packed too tightly.
On top of these logistical issues, art galleries and artists usually pay the shipping charges themselves. They must purchase the materials for building crates or cardboard boxing and then hire people to build the containers. This requires space,vehicles, tools, employees, insurance and an entire range of facilities unrelated to their main income-generating business. Shipping is a loser. Antique stores and auction houses are faced with the same issues.Additionally, they find significant resistance
in collecting shipping costs at the point of sales.
©2011 Museum Choice Crating and Shipping, LCC
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