The machine price is only part of what you pay. Getting a dismantled paper machine from a mill in China to your site is a logistics project, and the buyers who budget for it early are the ones whose projects start on time.

Step 1 — Dismantling and packing

Dismantling is charged by the seller or by a contractor, and it should be scoped in writing: who labels, who photographs, who packs, and who is liable for damage in transit. Dryer cylinders and presses are heavy and out-of-gauge; frames and rolls need proper cradles, not loose stacking.

Step 2 — Choosing how it ships

  • Containers — cheaper and faster for parts, rolls, electricals and smaller frames. A 40ft high-cube carries roughly 25–27 tonnes depending on the port limit.
  • Break-bulk / out-of-gauge — needed for large dryer cylinders and press frames that will not fit a container door. Slower to book and more expensive per tonne, but often unavoidable.

Most projects use both: containers for the majority, break-bulk for the few pieces that force it.

Step 3 — Freight, insurance and port handling

Freight is quoted per container or per freight ton for break-bulk. Insurance should cover the full value of the machine, not the freight cost. Budget for port handling and inland haulage at your end too — for heavy cylinders this is frequently underestimated.

Step 4 — Documents buyers forget

  • Commercial invoice and packing list, matching the machine serial numbers
  • Certificate of origin (often required for duty treatment)
  • Bill of lading, and for break-bulk, the mate's receipt
  • Nameplate photos and, where applicable, pressure-vessel documentation for dryer cylinders
  • Import permit or HS code confirmation, checked before shipment, not after arrival

Step 5 — Duties and taxes

Duty treatment for second-hand machinery differs by country and by HS code, and in some markets it changes with whether the machine is dismantled. Confirm the code with your broker before contracts are signed — this single check has saved buyers more than any freight negotiation.

What LANCY handles

We coordinate dismantling, packing and inland transport to the loading port, and we work with your forwarder or broker on the documents above. We do not quote a landed cost we cannot support with evidence.