"We've always known that steel is a recyclable, efficient shipping option, " said Don Pulver, Vice President and General Manager of Worthington Steelpac, an international leader in steel shipping solutions. "Now that the wood regulations are fully in place, we are in the perfect position to assist companies with their trasition from shipping on wood to steel."

Integris Metals, a joint venture between Alcoa and BHB Billiton that serves over 35,000 customers recently began exporting raw materials to China. Typically Integris uses wood skids for domestic shipping, however in transporting to China the paperwork associated with wood was overwhelming.

In order to ensure compliance, research had to be conducted for specially treated skids, and paperwork including a non-coniferous declaration and an FDA certification had to be completed. In effect the shipment was held up for 7 days at customs and cost Integris $500 for storage until it could be processed. In addition, the workers in China unloaded the shipment by hand, piece-by-piece until they had the correct certification.

Integris knew there had to be a better solution and turned to Worthington Steelpac. By shipping on steel, Integris completely eliminated the paperwork, shipping delays, and costs associated with wood skids. Today, they continue to use Steelpac for their international shipping needs.