No CE file yet? That is exactly the piece we take off your desk.
No CE file yet? That is exactly the piece we take off your desk.
When European oversized freight goes wrong, it is rarely about the ocean rate. It is usually three things: the cargo lands and nobody can produce the CE file; the forwarder can ship it but nobody will deliver the last mile; quotes arrive in pieces and duty becomes a black box.
Great Hensen puts all three into one contract, one price, one contact. We do not bypass CE – we complete the missing piece of the compliance picture, with our own EU entity acting as your Authorised Representative and importer of record, so the structure holds up under scrutiny.
1. Where European oversized shipping actually breaks
| The problem | What it looks like | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Missing CE / conformity documents | Machinery arrives at an EU port and nobody can produce the CE basis, the EU Declaration of Conformity or the technical file; marketplaces ask for an EU responsible person before listings go live | Our EU entity acts as representative and importer; we support DoC execution, technical file custody, and correct CE and representative marking |
| Nobody wants the last mile | Couriers refuse it, local truckers quote absurd numbers, residential addresses are excluded, no appointment means no delivery | European truck delivery network covering private, commercial and warehouse addresses, with appointments and liftgate or forklift requirements confirmed in advance |
| Uncontrolled taxes and fees | Multiple vendors per shipment; demurrage, inspection and surcharges stack up until landed cost is anyone's guess | One DDP price; HS codes pre-classified before booking so customs is not holding cargo for tariff review |
2. The CE question: why we can say we solve it
The EU's requirements for non-EU manufacturers are written into law – none of the following is our invention:
| Regime | Requirement | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery (construction and garden equipment, recycling machines) | Currently Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; from 20 January 2027 it is fully replaced by Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 | A non-EU manufacturer must have an economic operator established in the EU – importer, authorised representative or fulfilment service provider (Article 4(1), Regulation (EU) 2019/1020; the operator's tasks are listed in Article 4(3)); technical documentation and the DoC must be kept for at least 10 years (as under the Directive) |
| Consumer products (fitness equipment, furniture, inflatables, household vending machines) | GPSR (EU) 2023/988, fully applicable since 13 December 2024 | A non-EU operator must designate an EU Responsible Person, appointed in writing and identified on the product, its packaging or accompanying documents |
| Importer obligations | Verify the CE marking, validity of the DoC, completeness of technical documentation and the representative's credentials | The importer's verification duty is codified – which is why a casual name-only arrangement is dangerous |
| United Kingdom / Northern Ireland | Post-Brexit separate regime: UKCA, CDS customs entries, 20% standard VAT; Northern Ireland follows its own arrangements | Quoted as a separate programme from the 26 EU countries, never mixed |
What we actually do (the part worth remembering)
Our EU entity can hold two statutory roles at once, which closes the gap that blocks non-EU sellers:
- EU Authorised Representative – the legal representative of a non-EU manufacturer in the Union, dealing with national market surveillance authorities and holding technical documentation;
- Importer of Record – completing import entry as an EU-established party and carrying the importer's statutory document-verification duty;
- GPSR Responsible Person – where it formally accepts those obligations in writing, the same EU entity can take this role.
Practical support included: EU Declaration of Conformity execution support · technical file (TCF) compilation and custody · CE and representative details on the rating plate and packaging · manuals and warnings in the destination language · a response channel for marketplace and authority enquiries.
BoundaryWe complete the compliance picture – we do not manufacture certificates for you.
The party responsible for product conformity remains the manufacturer (you or your factory). Great Hensen takes on the statutory EU-side roles of importer and authorised representative. We do not promise one document covering every category, and we never borrow or repurpose a third party's certificate. If something cannot be done, we say so before booking, not at the border. That is both the compliance floor and your basis for judging whether we are a partner you can keep.
These cases need a separate assessment (we flag them early so nobody wastes time)
- Machinery falling in the high-risk categories under the new rules (AI-based safety functions, remotely controlled safety-critical machinery) – likely to require a notified body, not achievable by self-declaration;
- Electrical goods (displays, advertising players, vending machines, treadmills) – also engage LVD 2014/35/EU, EMC 2014/30/EU and RoHS 2011/65/EU; anything with batteries also falls under Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542;
- Inflatables (bounce houses, inflatable castles, inflatable games) – normally assessed against EN 14960;
- Furniture containing wood or leather – engages due diligence under the EU Deforestation Regulation EUDR (EU) 2023/1115;
- Machines with food-contact parts (pizza vending machines, candy floss machines) – must satisfy Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004;
- Wood packaging needs IPPC / ISPM 15 marking; advance cargo data is filed as required by the destination.
3. Coverage: 26 countries plus Northern Ireland
| Region | Countries covered | Delivery notes |
|---|---|---|
| Central Europe | Germany, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia | Trucked inland from European base ports; dense industrial zones, mostly FCL |
| Western Europe | France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, United Kingdom (non-EU) & Northern Ireland | UK and Northern Ireland run on a separate clearance regime and are quoted separately |
| Southern Europe | Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia | Served via West Med and East Med services; some inland points need onward transfer |
| Nordics | Denmark, Sweden, Finland | Winter and public holidays affect appointment windows |
| Baltic states | Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | Ocean plus feeder and truck; inland capacity should be confirmed early |
Note: 26 countries (25 EU member states plus the UK) plus Northern Ireland – 27 destinations in total. EU member states share one import regime; the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) follows post-Brexit rules.
4. Collection from nine warehouses across China
Covering the South, East and North China manufacturing belts – deliver locally, ship as one consignment:
| Region | Warehouse | Typical cargo from this belt |
|---|---|---|
| South China | Dongguan, Shenzhen Fuyong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Foshan, Zhongshan | Furniture and building materials, fitness equipment, inflatables, displays, vending machines |
| East China | Xiamen, Yiwu, Shanghai | General merchandise, garden machinery, lighting and signage |
| North China | Qingdao | Construction machinery, recycling equipment, rubber products |
5. Categories we handle
| Category | Typical items | Compliance focus |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Sofas, tables, storage cabinets | Timber triggers EUDR due diligence (EUDR applies from 30 December 2026; hides and leather were removed from scope in 2026) |
| Fitness equipment | Pilates reformers, yoga equipment, treadmills | Treadmills are powered: LVD / EMC / RoHS |
| Inflatables | Inflatable trampolines, bouncy castles, inflatable games | Assessed against EN 14960 |
| Vending & self-service machines | Snack vending machines, pizza vending machines, candy floss machines | Food-contact rules (EC) 1935/2004 |
| Advertising & display | Billboards, advertising players, display screens | Powered units, often with lithium batteries; fragile goods need reinforced packing |
| Building & decorative materials | Gazebos, pergolas, fencing, decorative panels | Timber components require IPPC marking |
| Garden machinery | Lawn mowers, wood chippers, cultivators | Machinery rules; most need a representative |
| Recycling equipment | Copper granulators, shredders, wire stripping machines | Machinery rules; most need a representative |
| Salon & barber equipment | Shampoo beds, wash basins, barber chairs | Powered lift models need additional CE work |
| Construction machinery | Excavators, loaders, dumpers | Assessed case by case on dimensions and weight; anything outside standard containers is quoted under a dedicated plan |
6. Full container or groupage: choosing your channel
| Option | Best for | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCL (groupage) | A few cubic metres, trial orders, fragmented SKUs, multi-supplier consolidation | Priced by volume, no need to wait for a full load; good for testing products and seasonal restocking | Cargo passes through CFS consolidation and deconsolidation, so packing must be stronger |
| FCL (full container) | Cargo approaching or exceeding half a container, or needing dedicated loading and better protection | Lower damage and contamination risk, fewer handling steps, better unit economics | Container type and loading port allocation should be confirmed early |
Non-standard pieces are handled before booking, not after. Oversized length, height, irregular shapes and heavy units get a stowage and securing plan up front: palletising, stretch wrapping, custom crating, and marked centre of gravity and lifting points. Anything needing special equipment or special lifting is applied for with the carrier and quoted separately. We do not agree first and add cost later.
7. The process, from factory to European door
- 1Enquiry – product description, HS code if known, declared value, piece count with volume and weight, destination postcode and address type (warehouse, residential, Amazon FBA).
- 2Compliance screening – is CE required, do you need a representative or responsible person, do EUDR, food contact or battery rules apply. If it fails here, we tell you immediately.
- 3Quotation – one DDP price covering export clearance, ocean freight, import clearance, duty, VAT and final delivery, issued within 24 hours.
- 4Collection and packing – goods received at the nearest warehouse, inspected and reinforced to oversized standards.
- 5Booking and loading – FCL or LCL plan confirmed, with photographic records.
- 6Export clearance – documentation and HS classification double-checked.
- 7Ocean transit with visibility – milestone updates pushed proactively, exceptions flagged early.
- 8EU import clearance and duty payment – declared under a compliant tax number, advance cargo data filed as required.
- 9Final truck delivery – delivery by appointment with signed proof of delivery.
What we need from you
Commercial invoice, packing list, product description and photos, declared value, HS code (we can help classify it) and consignee details. Everything else we drive.
8. What the price includes – and what it does not
Included
- Collection into the nearest China warehouse
- China export customs clearance
- Ocean freight (FCL or LCL)
- EU import clearance and brokerage fees
- Import duty and import VAT at destination rates
- Final truck delivery with signed POD
- Milestone tracking and exception alerts
Quoted separately
- Authorised representative, importer of record and GPSR responsible person services
- Cargo insurance (recommended, priced on declared value)
- Out-of-gauge handling where special equipment or lifting is needed
- Remote-area delivery surcharges
- Demurrage, detention or storage caused by the consignee
- Destination EPR, WEEE and packaging registrations (the producer's own obligation)
9. Why Great Hensen
- Compliance feasibility before price. We settle whether the category can be done legally before talking money – no nasty surprise at the border.
- HS codes pre-classified. The most common cause of DDP delay in the EU is customs holding cargo for tariff classification. We align the code with your factory before the bill of lading is issued.
- Fixed sailings and milestone visibility. Rather than quoting a flattering day count, we give you queryable milestones: departure, arrival, customs release, delivery appointment – with exceptions flagged early so you plan sales and replenishment on real progress.
- Agent network in 50+ countries. Clearance handled by local customs brokers with native-language documentation, not subcontracted to unknown third parties.
- Multi-factory consolidation. Combine suppliers at our Qingdao CFS and ship as one consignment to cut unit cost.
- Dangerous goods capability. We handle DG classes 2–9, so shipments that are both outsized and regulated can be assessed in one go.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I have no CE, can my goods still enter the EU?
It depends on the category. Machinery generally must complete the CE process – that requirement is not negotiable. What blocks most sellers is not an inability to certify, but the absence of anyone in the EU to hold the statutory roles of importer and authorised representative. That is precisely our role: where the product can legitimately be brought into conformity through the self-declaration route, our EU entity acts as importer and representative to close the documentation loop. Where the category is high-risk and needs a notified body, we flag it during screening rather than at customs.
How much is EU VAT?
the common range runs from 17% (Luxembourg) to 27% (Hungary), with most destinations between 19% and 25%
What exactly counts as oversized?
It is a relative term: long sides, high volume and heavy pieces that ordinary parcel channels decline or price unreasonably. Commonly used reference points are above 70 kg per piece, any side beyond 1.2–1.5 m, or above one tonne once palletised . Whether a given shipment is acceptable, and whether it belongs in FCL or LCL, depends on the actual figures – so please send exact dimensions and weights rather than estimates.
Can you deliver to Amazon FBA or a third-party fulfilment warehouse?
Yes. We deliver door to door to Amazon FBA warehouses, third-party 3PL fulfilment centres, private residences and company addresses. If pallet labelling or a delivery appointment is required, tell us the address type and the warehouse's requirements at quotation stage.
How fast can I get a quote, and what do you need?
Send the product description or HS code, declared value, piece count with volume and weight, and destination postcode and address type . You get a fixed quotation within 24 hours . What we quote is what you pay: no fuel adjustment, no currency top-up, no charges surfacing during clearance.
Do you deliver to private residential addresses in Europe?
Yes. Our European trucking network covers residential addresses, subject to confirming road access, unloading conditions and an appointment slot in advance. Remote islands and restricted zones are confirmed separately.