Shipping big workstation from US to EU

[caskaldesign]

Hello,

I'm moving from US to Europe and I'm trying to figure out the best way to ship a workstation overseas.

So far the idea is to buy a flight case and add some expandable foam on the sides.

I don't want to open the workstation to take any parts since I don't have too much experience and this was built custom, it was originally sent from EU to US and it was fine, so hoping continues that way now that I need to ship back.

Any thoughts regarding:
1) Best methods to ship
2) Specifics on the flight case
3) Any companies (Fedex, UPS, DHL)

Would be super helpful.

Thanks!

[Nayr438]

Id probably fill the inside with some sort of soft foam, this will help keep things from potentially moving around and if something does come loose then help prevent it from causing any further damage to the rest of the system.

[Hinjima]

1 hour ago, caskaldesign said:

Hello,

I'm moving from US to Europe and I'm trying to figure out the best way to ship a workstation overseas.

So far the idea is to buy a flight case and add some expandable foam on the sides.

I don't want to open the workstation to take any parts since I don't have too much experience and this was built custom, it was originally sent from EU to US and it was fine, so hoping continues that way now that I need to ship back.

Any thoughts regarding:
1) Best methods to ship
2) Specifics on the flight case
3) Any companies (Fedex, UPS, DHL)

Would be super helpful.

Thanks!

 

I think a flight case, expanding foam on the outside and some foam on the inside of the workstation would be really good.

Check out how this PC was shipped with a custom water loop. They put a lot of solid foam they cut out to stop parts from moving around inside.

This is something you can consider.

 

[dogwitch]

do take gpu,cpu heat sink and drives out. 

if you will leave cpu heat sink installed. bracket it and secure it to frame. Foam it up.

but really seeing its traveling over seas like this. take gpu and storage out of the pc and travel with those separate.

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

Given that this case looks like a custom job though, I would assume replacing it is not an option. Otherwise I'd consider taking only parts across the ocean and buying new parts at the destination. Usually cases, PSU and cooler are not worth taking on a plane in extra luggage, for example. Cheaper to replace these parts, unfortunately.

 

If it was shipped assembled, then best guess is to contact the manufacturer for their recommended way of shipping. Maybe they even have a contact at DHL/Fedex/UPS etc. for you.

 

[Kisai]

Well, here's the problem.

 

Any heavy server/workstation will be damaged. I guarantee it. If it was simply across the US or across Europe I would say drive it yourself. Your main issue is going to be the trans-atlantic shipping.

 

As the people on this forum will always say, and they are right, take the computer apart. Best case scenario, pull the drives, put that in a pelican case and take that with you on your flight. That is what will be destroyed from mishandling without exception.

 

Heavy CPU coolers and heavy GPU's will also break the motherboard if shipped without filling the void space.

 

If it's liquid cooled, it has to be drained before shipping, because those will be broken in shipping.

 

Or if you want a really annoying solution. Buy a ticket on a cruise ship going from NYC to EU and just bring the the thing with you. Just be aware that rooms on a cruse ship that aren't like first class, are tiny. So it might not even fit.  Cargo cruise are also a thing, but the time windows are a lot wider.

 

Like evaluate if it's cheaper to buy/replace it at your destination, because if you ship it and pay $1000 to ship it and it still gets destroyed, now you're out the computer, the shipping cost, and the time to replace it.  Ocean freight might be cheaper, but you'd do that as a part of a permanent move with all your stuff. That also risks loss, but that's also less likely to be completely demolished if you strap it down.

 

 

[Echothedolpin]

Find a freight company, have them pack and insure it.