JLog builds custom timber crates in-house at our Woodstock workshop. No outsourcing, no middlemen, no delays. From original artworks and designer furniture to antiques, electronics, and exhibition pieces — every crate is designed and built by our team, under our roof, to your exact specifications.
JLog (JetLog Pty Ltd) operates a dedicated timber crating workshop at our Woodstock facility in Cape Town. We are the official logistics carrier for the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, where we crate and ship artworks for galleries and collectors worldwide. All export crates are built with ISPM-15 heat-treated timber. We offer crating as a standalone service or as part of our end-to-end logistics — crate, customs-clear, and ship from a single facility.
Custom crating is the process of building a purpose-made timber crate around a specific item — designed to its exact dimensions, weight, and fragility requirements. Unlike off-the-shelf cardboard boxes or generic wooden crates, a custom crate is engineered for one item. The internal structure, foam cavities, bracing, and cushioning are all tailored to protect that specific piece during handling, transport, and storage.
The distinction that matters most is whether crating is done in-house or outsourced. Most logistics companies in Cape Town — and across South Africa — do not build their own crates. When you ask them to crate an item, they subcontract the work to a third-party crating company. Your item gets collected, transported to the crating workshop, crated, and then transported back to the logistics provider for shipping. That means additional handling, additional transit, additional time, and additional cost — plus a markup on the crating itself.
JLog is different. We operate a fully equipped timber crating workshop inside our Woodstock warehouse. Our team designs and builds every crate on-site, using ISPM-15 heat-treated pine, high-density foam, acid-free materials for artwork, and corrosion-resistant fasteners. Because the crating happens in the same facility where we store, pack, and ship, your item never leaves our custody until it’s in the crate and on its way. One facility, one team, one chain of custody.
This in-house approach is not common in the South African logistics industry. It requires dedicated workshop space, specialised tooling, trained staff, and a consistent supply of compliant timber. Most 3PLs don’t invest in it because it’s easier to outsource. But for clients shipping high-value, fragile, or irreplaceable items — original artworks, antique furniture, delicate electronics, exhibition installations — the difference between in-house and outsourced crating is the difference between control and hope.
Whether you need a single painting crate for a gallery sale, a full set of exhibition crates for the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, or a bespoke crate for an oversized sculpture heading to Europe, JLog builds it in-house. No subcontractors. No unnecessary handling. No surprises.
Most logistics companies outsource their crating. JLog doesn’t. Here’s why that matters for your shipment.
No waiting for a subcontractor’s schedule. Because our crating workshop is inside our warehouse, we can assess, build, and pack within 1–2 business days. For urgent shipments, same-day crating is available for items delivered before midday. When a gallery needs artworks crated and shipped before a fair deadline, speed isn’t a luxury — it’s a requirement.
When a logistics company subcontracts crating, they add a margin on top of the crating company’s price. You pay the crating cost plus the logistics company’s handling fee. With JLog, you pay one price for one service — no double-margin, no intermediary charges. Our crating quotes are transparent and competitive because there’s no middleman in the chain.
Every crate we build is designed around the specific item. We measure, assess fragility points, consider the shipping route (domestic vs. international, courier vs. freight), and build accordingly. Internal cavities are routed to the exact shape of the piece. Foam densities are selected based on weight and shock sensitivity. There’s no “close enough” with a JLog crate — it fits precisely.
When you outsource crating, you lose visibility. You don’t know who built the crate, what materials they used, or how the item was handled during the crating process. At JLog, the same team that receives your item also crates it, documents it, and loads it for shipping. If there’s a concern about padding, timber quality, or fit, it’s caught and fixed immediately — not discovered at the destination.
From a single framed painting to an entire exhibition — JLog builds crates for items that standard packaging can’t protect.
Museum-grade crating for paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed media, and installations. Acid-free tissue and Tyvek wrapping for direct surface contact. Custom foam cavities for sculptures. Float-mount systems for framed works. We are the official crating and logistics partner for the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, handling artworks for galleries and collectors from around the world.
Art logistics →Bespoke crates for tables, chairs, cabinets, lighting, and oversized pieces. Internal bracing prevents movement during transit. Felt-lined contact points protect surfaces and finishes. We regularly crate South African designer furniture for export to Europe, the UK, the US, and the Middle East — pieces from local studios and ateliers that deserve better than bubble wrap and a hope for the best.
Irreplaceable items need irreplaceable care. We crate antique furniture, vintage clocks, porcelain, silverware, historical artefacts, and estate collections. Each piece is assessed for structural fragility, and the crate is designed to eliminate vibration, shock, and environmental exposure. For items with provenance requirements, we provide photographic condition reports before and after crating.
Custom foam-routed crates for servers, medical equipment, AV gear, laboratory instruments, and sensitive electronics. Anti-static linings where required. Shock-indicator labels and tilt monitors available for high-value electronic shipments. We design reusable crates for clients who ship equipment regularly — the crate pays for itself after two or three uses.
Individual cell dividers, foam cushioning, and reinforced bases for wine cases, crystal, glassware, and ceramic collections. Temperature-sensitive items can be packed with insulating liners for transit through hot climates. We regularly crate wine collections for private clients relocating internationally and for producers shipping sample cases to trade shows and importers abroad.
Reusable exhibition crates with branded labelling, integrated wheels, and modular internals for trade shows, gallery exhibitions, and museum loans. Built for repeated use — easy to open, repack, and ship to the next venue. We handle the full cycle: crate, ship to the venue, collect after the show, re-crate, and return. Used extensively for the Cape Town Art Fair and gallery tours.
From first contact to final shipment, here’s exactly what happens when you commission a custom crate from JLog.
We assess your item in person at our workshop or remotely via photos and measurements. We evaluate dimensions, weight, fragility, value, and shipping route to determine the crate specification.
Same dayOur team designs the crate structure — timber frame dimensions, internal bracing layout, foam cavity depths, and material selection. For export crates, we confirm ISPM-15 compliance requirements.
Same dayThe crate is built in our Woodstock workshop using heat-treated pine, corrosion-resistant fasteners, and the specified internal materials. Every crate is checked for structural integrity before packing.
1–2 daysYour item is carefully wrapped, placed into the crate, and secured with foam, bracing, and cushioning. For artworks, acid-free materials are used for all surface contact. The crate is sealed and labelled.
Same dayWe photograph the packed item and sealed crate for your records. If shipping internationally, we handle customs documentation, carrier booking, and door-to-door delivery via DHL, FedEx, or freight.
1–2 daysTypical total turnaround: 2–4 business days from assessment to shipment. Same-day crating available for standard items.
We don’t cut corners on materials. Every crate is built to protect your item through the full journey — from our workshop to the final destination.
All structural timber is kiln-dried South African pine. For export crates, we use exclusively ISPM-15 heat-treated timber — a phytosanitary requirement for shipping wood packaging material internationally. Every export crate carries the official IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) stamp, confirming compliance with international biosecurity standards.
Internal protection is as important as the external structure. We select foam densities based on the item’s weight and shock sensitivity. Heavier items get higher-density foam; lighter, more delicate items get softer grades with more give. For irregularly shaped pieces, we route custom cavities into foam blocks for a precise, immobilising fit.
Artworks require materials that won’t react with surfaces, emit gases, or transfer acids. We use conservation-grade materials for all direct contact with paintings, prints, sculptures, and mixed-media works. This is the same standard used by museums and galleries for long-term storage and transit.
Cape Town’s climate varies from cool and damp in winter to hot and dry in summer. Items transiting through tropical ports or crossing hemispheres face additional climate stress. We build crates to manage these conditions and protect against moisture, temperature swings, and condensation.
The biggest advantage of JLog’s in-house crating is what happens after the crate is sealed. Because we are a full-service logistics company — not just a crating workshop — your item moves directly from our crating bench to our shipping desk. There is no handoff to another company. No collection by a separate freight forwarder. No re-handling of the crate.
Once your item is crated, our team handles everything that follows. For international shipments, we book the carrier (DHL, FedEx, or freight forwarder), prepare the export documentation (commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration), and manage SARS customs clearance in-house. For domestic deliveries, we arrange collection with one of our 15+ courier partners or handle white-glove delivery ourselves for high-value items within Cape Town.
This integrated approach means fewer touchpoints, lower risk of damage, and faster transit times. It also means one point of contact — one quote, one invoice, one person to call if you have questions. You don’t need to coordinate between a crating company, a logistics provider, and a customs broker. JLog is all three.
For clients who ship regularly — galleries with a programme of exhibitions, furniture designers with ongoing export orders, or businesses relocating equipment — this integration is transformative. It eliminates the logistical overhead of managing multiple vendors and gives you a single partner who understands your items, your destinations, and your timelines.
We also offer transit insurance through Alpec at 2.1% of declared value, covering the item from collection through crating, storage, and delivery. For high-value art and antiques, we recommend insurance on every shipment. We handle the paperwork and any claims on your behalf.
Need your item stored before or after crating? Our Woodstock warehouse offers climate-controlled storage with real-time inventory management. Items can be stored crated or uncrated, with condition reports and photographic documentation on request.
Most custom crates are built within 1–2 business days from assessment. For standard-sized artworks and furniture, same-day crating is often possible if the item is delivered to our Woodstock workshop before midday. Larger or more complex builds — such as multi-piece exhibition sets or oversized sculptures — typically take 2–3 days. Because we build everything in-house, there’s no waiting for a third-party crating company.
Yes. While most crating is done at our Woodstock workshop, we offer on-site crating for pieces that are too large, too fragile, or too valuable to transport uncrated. This includes wall-mounted installations, large-scale sculptures, and items in galleries or private residences. On-site crating is quoted separately and includes transport of materials and a crating team to your location in Cape Town and surrounds.
Oversized and irregular items are our speciality. Because we build every crate from scratch — not from standard box sizes — we can accommodate virtually any shape or dimension. We’ve crated large-scale sculptures, 3-metre dining tables, chandeliers, antique mirrors, and exhibition installations. Each crate is designed around the specific piece, with internal bracing, foam cavities, and suspension systems as needed.
Yes. JLog offers comprehensive transit insurance through Alpec at 2.1% of declared value. This covers the item from the moment it leaves your hands through to final delivery — including while in our warehouse, during crating, and in transit domestically or internationally. For high-value art and antiques, we recommend insurance on every shipment. We handle the paperwork and claims process on your behalf.
Yes. All export crates built by JLog use ISPM-15 heat-treated timber and carry the official IPPC stamp. This is a requirement for shipping wood packaging material internationally — it ensures the timber has been treated to eliminate pests and is accepted by customs authorities worldwide. We source our timber from certified South African suppliers and can provide compliance certificates for every crate.
We use kiln-dried, ISPM-15 heat-treated pine as the primary structural timber. Internal linings vary depending on the item: high-density polyethylene foam for shock absorption, acid-free tissue and Tyvek for artworks, custom-routed foam cavities for electronics and glassware, and felt or blanket wrap for furniture surfaces. All fasteners are corrosion-resistant. For climate-sensitive items, we add silica gel desiccant packs and moisture barrier film.
Yes — and this is one of the biggest advantages of using JLog. Because we build crates and handle shipping from the same facility, there’s no handoff between a crating company and a freight forwarder. Your item is crated, documented, and shipped from our Woodstock warehouse. We handle customs clearance, carrier booking, and door-to-door delivery. One point of contact, one invoice, one chain of custody.
Crating costs depend on the size of the item, the type of internal protection required, and whether the crate needs ISPM-15 treatment for export. As a rough guide: a standard painting crate (up to 1.5m) starts from around R800–R1,500, furniture crates from R1,500–R4,000, and large or complex builds are quoted individually. We provide a fixed quote after assessing your item — no surprises. Contact us with dimensions and photos for an accurate estimate.
Send us the dimensions, a photo, and the destination. We’ll come back with a fixed crating quote — usually within a few hours.
In-house crating · ISPM-15 compliant · Crate + ship from one facility