What is Export & MIL-SPEC Crating?
 

Valley Box builds crates to ISPM 15 international standards and to military specifications for manufacturers, exporters, and defense contractors in San Diego and across Southern California.

 
ome shipments answer to more than gravity. A wooden export crate heading overseas has to be heat treated and stamped under ISPM 15, or it can be refused, quarantined, or fined at the border. A military shipment has to meet whatever specification the contract names. We build to both in the same shop, and we handle the marking and documentation that travel with them.
 
Precision crating since 1965
 
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wooden export container being craned aboard ship

ISPM 15 Export Crates
 
ISPM 15 heat treatment stamp on export crate lumber

Most countries require wooden shipping material entering their borders to be heat treated and stamped under ISPM 15. We build from ISPM 15 compliant heat-treated lumber and apply the certified stamp. When a full plywood crate is the better answer, we build that instead, since plywood is not required to carry an HT stamp.

Built for international transit:

  • ISPM 15 heat-treated lumber, stamped and certified
  • 100% plywood construction when an HT stamp is not the right route
  • Moisture barrier bags and desiccant for long ocean transit
  • Sea container dunnage with blocking and bracing
  • Country-specific marking applied before the crate leaves our shop

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MIL-SPEC & Defense Crates
 

When a contract names a specification, the crate has to meet it. Our engineers and fabricators build to military spec, ASTM, clean room, and fire retardant requirements for DoD, NASA, and JPL contractors and the suppliers who serve them.

Built to the standard your contract names:

  • Military specifications including PPP-B-601, PPP-B-621, and MIL-DTL-197K
  • ASTM standards including D-6251 and D-7478
  • Clean room and fire retardant construction
  • Lift rings, recessed hardware, and 4-way forklift entry
  • MIL-STD-1791 configurations for air transport

Those are the specifications we see most often. The full list, with descriptions and downloads, is on our MIL-SPEC crates page.

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military spec crates with recessed steel lift rings

Marking, Stenciling & Documentation
 
stencil cut in house for crate marking

A compliant crate that arrives unmarked is still a problem. We cut and apply stencils in house, from shipping marks and handling symbols to contract-required nomenclature, so the crate carries its own paperwork on the outside.

What travels on the crate:

  • In-house stencil cutting and application
  • ISPM 15 stamp placement and verification
  • Handling, orientation, and weight markings
  • Contract-specified nomenclature and part marking
  • Barrier bag and desiccant documentation

VIEW STENCILING

Engineering, Not Guesswork

Why exporters and defense suppliers choose us

Precision Design

Our engineers model your crate in 3D before we build, so it fits the part, carries the load, and ships without surprises.

Compliance Ready

ISPM 15 heat-treated lumber and MIL-SPEC construction come out of the same shop, so a shipment that needs both does not need two vendors.

Protection Under Stress

Moisture, corrosion, and handling controls matched to ocean transit, air transport, and long storage before delivery.

Local & Responsive

On-site evaluation and crate packing at your San Diego facility, with fast turnaround when a shipping window cannot move.

From Part to Protected

OUR PROCESS

1. Tell Us What You Ship
Share specs, a 3D file, or let us evaluate the part on-site.

2. We Design It
Engineering models the crate around your part and how it will be handled.

3. We Build It
Custom crates manufactured in our San Diego shop.

4. We Protect It
Proper blocking, bracing, and cushioning for the full journey.

What is ISPM 15 and does my shipment need it?

ISPM 15 is the international standard for wooden shipping material crossing borders. Most countries require wood crates, pallets, and dunnage to be heat treated and stamped before entry. If your crate is made of solid wood and it is leaving the country, it almost certainly needs it.

What happens if a wooden export crate is not ISPM 15 compliant?
Non-compliant shipments can be refused entry, held for treatment at your expense, fined, or returned. The cost of a rejected shipment is almost always higher than the cost of building it right.
Do plywood crates need an HT stamp?
No. Plywood is manufactured in a way that already satisfies the standard, so it does not require an HT stamp. For some shipments a 100% plywood crate is the simpler route, and we will tell you when that is the case.
What is a MIL-SPEC crate?
A MIL-SPEC crate is built to a United States defense standard written into a contract. The specification governs construction, materials, testing, and marking, so the crate performs predictably and is interchangeable across the supply chain.
Which military specifications do you build to?
We build to the specifications our customers' contracts name, including PPP-B-601, PPP-B-621, MIL-DTL-197K, and ASTM standards such as D-6251 and D-7478. The full list is on our MIL-SPEC crates page.
Can you stencil and mark crates to our contract requirements?
Yes. We cut and apply stencils in house, including shipping marks, handling symbols, weight and orientation markings, and contract-specified nomenclature.