October 26, 2025 – Final Sprint: The Art of Packing a Container for Ghana
Last weekend, we really rolled up our sleeves again: 9 out of 12 pallets for our container to Ghana are now packed – some even fully wrapped – while others still need a little fine-tuning to meet international sea freight requirements.
During the weekend around October 25, 2025, we achieved some important milestones:
- • 530 laptops and 120 PCs are now fully installed and (pre-)commissioned
- • 24 sewing machines have been packed onto one pallet – all cushioned with clothing donations inside their boxes, making them perfectly stackable (see below)
- • 25 multifunction printers and scanners have been securely packed for sea transport
This time, there were seven of us working together – not pictured are Steffi and Hannah, who also lent a big helping hand.
A huge thank-you to Hannah, Eugenia, Caro, Steffi, Jovan, Daniel, and Thomas for your fantastic effort, and a special thanks to Caro for the delicious food!
Packing a container properly is no easy task – especially when we aim to do it as sustainably as possible. A standard 20-foot container with an empty weight of 2.3 tons allows for up to 13 pallets and a maximum load of 30.2 tons. A 40-foot container weighs 3.7 tons empty and can carry an additional 28.8 tons. In both cases, the total weight limit is 32.5 tons. For us, however, weight is not the main challenge – it’s the space. A 40-foot container can hold up to 25 Euro pallets, while a 20-foot container can fit only 12.
That’s why careful and secure packing of our donations is so important. Sea freight faces unique challenges – moisture, temperature fluctuations, vibration, and stacking pressure. Proper packaging not only protects our equipment from damage but also ensures compliance with international shipping standards and cost efficiency.
Our packing must withstand ocean conditions.
Key requirements include:
• Moisture protection: Salt air and condensation can cause corrosion or mold. That’s why we wrap all technical equipment in protective film and use moisture absorbers.
• Stability and shock resistance: Waves, cranes, and stacking all create movement – robust outer packaging and stretch film help keep everything tightly in place.
• Stackability: Boxes must withstand pressure from above without deforming. We carefully fill any empty spaces inside the boxes – especially with monitors.
• Anti-slip and securing: Straps, corner protectors, and anti-slip mats keep pallets from shifting during transport.
• Labeling: Clear, internationally recognized markings (e.g. “Fragile,” “This Side Up,” “Keep Dry”) ensure proper handling – something still on our to-do list for every pallet.
As you can see, some of our pallets still need a bit of optimization. We’ve become quite the Tetris experts at making full use of the 80 × 120 × 212 cm pallet space, but we still have work to do in securing and interlocking boxes properly. Moisture protection is also not yet complete for all pallets, and we still need to add straps for every one. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on our progress in both container-packing and Tetris skills!
But safe pallet packing is only half the job – the load must also be properly stowed and secured inside the container. Important aspects include:
- • Weight distribution: Evenly distributed weight prevents instability during transport.
- • Fixation: Straps, load bars, anti-slip mats, and air cushions keep pallets securely in place.
- • Avoiding empty spaces: Gaps are filled with padding – in our case, clothing bags filled with donated cotton T-shirts. We want to make the best use of every bit of space!
There’s still a lot to do – but as always, we’re looking forward to tackling it together.
If all these details haven’t scared you off but instead inspired you to join us – you’re more than welcome!
👉 Visit us at www.hita-ev.org or write to us at 📩 geschaeftsstelle@hita-ev.org.
We’re happy about every bit of support – big or small. And of course, there’s always a warm welcome and a good cup of coffee waiting for you ☕😉
See you soon,
Your HITA Team