CRATING & PACKING
MUSEUM CRATE
Institutional-Grade Protection for Critical Transit
Our highest-grade crate configuration, engineered for museum loans, international freight, climate-sensitive works, and high-value collections.
Every Museum Crate is custom-built to the object's exact specifications — with MDO plywood, full polyurethane insulation, neoprene gasket seal, and a bolt-plate closure system designed for repeatable institutional use.Museum Crate at a glance
◆MDO Plywood Shell Construction
◆2" Polyurethane Insulation Lining
◆Bolt-Plate Closure System
◆Certified for Worldwide Shipping
◆Custom-Built to Object Specifications
WHEN THE WORK CAN'T AFFORD TO BE WRONG
The Museum Crate is built for institutional accountability. Museum registrars, international freight coordinators, and private clients managing significant works choose this configuration because it meets the highest global shipping standards — and because when the work arrives at its destination, it looks exactly the way it left. Every crate is custom-built to the object, never adapted from stock.
Shell Construction
MDO Plywood Shell
- ◆MDO plywood panels — medium density overlay for superior surface integrity
- ◆Over-locking structural design for maximum rigidity under transit loads
- ◆Reinforced #2 pine battens and end blocks throughout
- ◆3.5" structural skids for forklift and pallet jack compatibility
- ◆Rain Guard exterior protection and polyurethane clear coat finish
- ◆Stamped and certified for worldwide shipping compliance
Closure System
Bolt-Plate Closure
- ◆Bolt plates with 5/16" hex bolt and serrated flange into striker plate
- ◆Designed for enhanced structural security under international freight conditions
- ◆Engineered for repeatable opening and resealing across multi-venue tours
- ◆Institutional-grade performance trusted by registrars and freight handlers worldwide
Interior Protection
Full Climate Lining
- ◆Moisture-impermeable Tyvek lining on all interior panels
- ◆Neoprene gasket seal at lid opening for airtight closure
- ◆Fully lined with 2" polyurethane insulation foam for thermal stability
- ◆2" polyurethane foam runners to isolate object from shell vibration
- ◆5" foamcore tray and lid for maximum object cushioning and support
Ideal For
When to Specify Museum Grade
- ◆Museum loans and institutional exhibition lending
- ◆International freight and multi-country touring exhibitions
- ◆Climate-sensitive works requiring sustained thermal stability in transit
- ◆High-value institutional collections where protection is non-negotiable
- ◆Works requiring crates that can be reopened and resealed multiple times
"All crates are custom-built to object specifications. Dimensions, materials, and insulation levels may vary depending on project requirements."
Atelier 4 Crate Shop · ICEFAT-Certified · Built to Global Shipping Standards
IN-HOUSE CRATE SHOPS
Every crate is built by our master craftsmen in our own in-house crate shops in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Charlotte. No outsourcing, no variable quality — the same standard every time.BUILT TO THE OBJECT
We don't adapt stock crates. Every Museum Crate is built from scratch to the specific dimensions, weight, and fragility requirements of your work. What goes in fits perfectly. Every time.CERTIFIED FOR WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Atelier 4 is ICEFAT-certified and our crates are stamped as certified for
worldwide shipping — meeting the compliance requirements of international freight carriers, customs authorities, and institutional lenders globally.NEED A CRATE FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT?
Our crate shop team will assess your object and recommend the right configuration. If you're not sure whether your project calls for a Museum Crate or a Multiuse Crate, we'll help you decide — and quote both if useful.Museum vs Multiuse
Museum Crate
Multiuse Crate
MDO Plywood
ACX Plywood
Bolt-plate closure
Screw closure
2" PU insulation
Tyvek + foam bumpers
5" foamcore tray
.1875" foamcore tray
Intl freight / loans
Domestic / shuttles
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![Warehouse storage area with wooden crates marked fragile, stacked along the sides, concrete floor, and white walls with exposed pipes and ceiling fixtures.]()
Storage
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![A person opening a cabinet drawer showing a ceramic or clay sculpture of an octopus inside.]()
Crating
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![Model airplanes displayed on a table in front of wire racks and signs labeled 'EXPORT PENDING' at an exhibition or office setting.]()
International
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Local Transportation
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Interstate Shuttles
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Concierge
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S+A+F+E
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![Two men are installing or repairing ceiling lights or fixtures in an interior room. One man stands on a step ladder while the other supports him. They are both wearing gray shirts with a yellow logo and black gloves.]()
Installation
