Custom metal panels have a reputation for arriving on site damaged. A powder-coated edge hit by a forklift. A perforation pattern dented by an insecure load. Panels that leave the factory looking exactly right and arrive looking anything but. VEIL’s crating process is designed to prevent that. Every VEIL panel is crated for transit — the finish and edge condition you specified is the finish and edge condition that arrives.
Why does crating matter for powder-coated panels?
Powder coating is durable in service — it handles the normal contact and cleaning cycles of a commercial ceiling over its operational life. But during transit, the risk profile is different. Edge impacts, panel-to-panel rubbing, vibration over long journeys — all of these can mark or chip a powder-coated finish that would be undamaged by years of normal use.
Crating prevents transit damage by isolating panels from each other and from external impact. The crate structure absorbs the stresses of handling and shipping; the panel faces and edges arrive unmarked.
Does crating add to the lead time?
No. Crating is part of the standard VEIL manufacturing process — it is not an add-on that extends the programme. The lead time from DXF to crated panel leaving the factory is measured in days. Shipping from factory to site is measured in days to weeks depending on geography. Total: drawn in minutes, built in days, shipped in weeks.
What arrives on site?
A crated batch of VEIL panels, each powder-coated to spec, with any aSoft acoustic backing or integrated backlighting already integrated. No site finishing. No additional components to source. No sub-contractor briefing for a bespoke installation system.
Open the crate. Drop the panels into the 600×1200 metric or 2’×4′ imperial grid. Standard mounting hardware. No field modifications. The hard work happened in the factory. The simple part is yours.