la caisse Piano

20:54 Apr 27, 2015 

Many thanks for the vote of confidence and the suggestion! I do think they're saying they don't want crates. However, I'm still not really confident of the right translation, and Louise is going to consult the client, so I think I'll leave it as it is.

14:24 Apr 27, 2015 

I feel sure you have got this right, and you should submit an actual answer!

They seem to be saying that, while they WILL accept ordinary cardboard cartons (albeit presumably pretty big ones!), they are not prepared to accept these ones with pallet-like wooden corner 'feet' — seems curious, but perhaps they are simply not geared up with the right handling equipment OR maybe they want to be able to stack things one on top of the other (not generally recommended with these 'piano crates'!)

10:16 Apr 27, 2015 

Thanks very much for all your contributions and ideas. The specifications relate to freight deliveries by road. It mainly concerns pick-up from the depot by the transport carrier to customers' homes. It appears that the type of goods that are being transported range from groceries, textiles through to domestic appliances. There is only one section about packaging/handling specifications. I'm not sure if this information really helps but the suggestions about crates do appear to fit the context.

08:03 Apr 27, 2015 

The caisse piano in my reference has legs and is designed to be handled by a forklift. It seems to consist of wooden panels.

The thing is that a piano crate, in English, is literally for pianos, and I don't see how you could get a sofa into one.

The "caisse piano" I cited seems, as far as I can tell, to be designed for protecting delicate and valuable objects such as sculptures. So it'll be very sturdy and correspondingly heavy. Maybe that's why it's "interdit" in this document.

07:56 Apr 27, 2015 

In the distant days when I used to help out roadying for my brother's band, the sound equipment used to go in flight cases, though not for air transport, just to go in the back of a big van. I wonder if that's what they mean? They're often metal, but there are wooden ones too. They're very heavy, as I vividly remember.

04:41 Apr 27, 2015 

What we really need to know is what 2.2 is part of.
Does this refer to air transport, or a freight elevator for example?
Is this for international house moving?

19:31 Apr 26, 2015 

Thanks again Tony. I'm afraid there isn't much context for the term 'la caisse Piano' as it doesn't appear anywhere else in the text, but generally in the clause about packaging specifications. I did wonder if it could refer to something totally different as you say but really not sure. Let's see what other suggestions come up.

19:27 Apr 26, 2015 

Almost certainly means 'packing case / crate of some kind, I'd have thought?

As for 'piano', it seems odd they should refer to 'LA caisse piano' — I can't help thinking it is more about a particular kind of packing case / crate.

Possibly these are even CARBOARD cartons.

As to what exactly 'piano' would be describing, I'm afraid I haven't a clue.

As you say, both musical pianos and professional cookers MIGHT come in some kind of packing crate — but I can't see (from the little context given) why these should so specifically be prohibited, the size and/or weight being quite different.

As they contrast it with the 'caisse américaine', I can't help thinking these are just different variants on packaging for settees etc. Perhaps if you look that up, it may help you to understand what it might be contrasted with?