Key takeaways
- Breakage comes from packing and loading, not firing — fix the process, not the supplier's excuses
- Cartons on pallets with corner and edge protection beat floor-stacked boxes
- Crate large-format tiles, slabs and fragile series
- Fill every void: gaps let the load shift and crack
- Desiccant and dry container floors stop humidity softening cartons
- Get photos of the packed pallets and loaded container before the ship sails
1. What actually causes breakage
Tiles and stone are strong in the plane and brittle at the edges. Damage happens when the load moves, when a point load lands on an edge, or when cartons soften with humidity. In practice the causes are consistent:
- Cartons stacked floor to ceiling without pallets
- No corner or edge protection, so straps and other cargo cut in
- Voids inside the container that let the load slide and topple
- Humidity softening cartons until they collapse under their own stack weight
- Handling at transhipment against the exposed edges of a package
None of these are manufacturing problems, which is why they are fixable with packing standards and a loading plan.
2. Cartons and pallets
- Use a heavy-duty export carton rated for the stack height, not a thin domestic box.
- Put cartons on pallets; a pallet spreads the load and lets equipment pick a unit instead of dragging boxes.
- Keep the stack height sensible — over-stacking crushes the bottom cartons.
- Wrap pallets in stretch film and strap them so the unit cannot separate.
3. Corner and edge protection
Edges take the first hit. Protect them:
- Foam or cardboard corner pieces on every pallet corner.
- Edge boards under straps so they cannot cut into the outer cartons.
- Top caps on pallets that will have anything stacked on them.
4. Crating the fragile and the large
Standard pallets are enough for 600×600 mm tiles. For higher-risk goods, build a crate:
- Large-format tiles (750×1500 mm and up) and thin rock slabs.
- Cut-to-size stone, countertops, treads and fireplaces.
- Polished or fragile surfaces that a single edge knock would ruin.
- Inside a crate, separate faces with foam or interleaving and fix the pack so nothing shifts.
5. Loading: voids, strapping and dunnage
A container is a steel box that flexes and pitches for weeks. The load must move as one mass:
- No voids. Gaps let pallets slide; fill them with dunnage or pack tighter.
- Weight low and even, heavy pallets on the floor, not on top of light ones.
- Strap to the container anchor points and cross-brace the load.
- Airbags or timber dunnage against the doors and sides so the load cannot shift forward.
- Keep a gap at the doors for unloading but brace it properly.
6. Humidity: the silent killer of cartons
A container crossing the tropics can build up condensation that softens cartons until the stack collapses. Mitigate it:
- Desiccant bags distributed through the load.
- Dry, undamaged container floors; ideally a container liner for long, humid routes.
- Avoid loading on a rainy day with open doors for long periods.
7. A loading plan you can check
Ask for a simple loading plan before the container is stuffed, and photos afterwards:
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Sequence | Heavy goods first, towards the front and low |
| Voids | None left unbraced |
| Strapping | Fixed to anchor points, edge-protected |
| Humidity | Desiccant in place, floor dry |
| Records | Photos of packed pallets and the loaded container |
8. Insurance and claims
Even a good load can be damaged by a dropped container. Marine cargo insurance is the backstop, but claims need evidence:
- Photograph the load before the doors close — it proves the condition on loading.
- Keep the packing list with pallet numbers so a damaged unit can be traced.
- Check what the policy covers; many exclude breakage unless packing standards are agreed.
9. How VIGOHOME packs and loads
VIGOHOME packs tiles on pallets with corner protection and edge boards, crates large-format and fragile series, adds desiccant for humid routes, braces the container and photographs the load before sailing. See the one-stop service page for the packing and delivery service, and plan the unit with how many categories fit in one container.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my tiles arrive broken when they left the factory perfect?
Because damage happens in transit, not manufacture: cartons not on pallets, no corner protection, voids letting the load shift, and humidity softening cartons are the usual causes. Packing standards and a load plan remove almost all of it.
Should tiles be shipped on pallets?
Yes. Pallets spread the load, keep cartons off the damp container floor and let handling equipment move a unit instead of dragging boxes, which is where edges chip. Large-format and stone should be crated in addition.
How do I stop cartons collapsing in a humid container?
Use desiccant bags through the load, load on a dry floor, and use a container liner on long humid routes. Soft cartons collapse under stack weight, which is the real damage even when the tiles look intact.
How do I claim for breakage?
Photograph the packed pallets and the loaded container before sailing to prove condition on loading, keep the packing list with pallet numbers, notify the insurer promptly, and check that the policy covers breakage; many exclude it unless packing standards were agreed.
Next: get the paperwork right with Incoterms for building material imports.