Pré-assemblé cabinets arrive with the carcass already built and glued square in the factory. Doors and drawers may be fitted or shipped separately to protect them in transit. The installer unpacks, positions and fixes — there is no box to build on site.
Two levels of assembly
Carcass assembled, fronts separate. The box is glued and squared, doors and drawer fronts travel in a separate carton. This protects the finish, keeps the packed height manageable and still removes all carcass labour from site. It is the most common specification for project work.
Fully assembled. Doors hung, drawers in, ready to place. Faster still, but the unit is now a fragile object with a 2.1 m lever arm, and damage in transit becomes a real cost. Used where the site is close to the factory or where the programme leaves no alternative.
| État | Travaux sur site | Volume d'expédition | Risque de dommages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat-packed (RTA) | Assemblage complet | Le plus bas | Dommage sur les bords |
| Carcass assembled, fronts separate | Positionner et fixer | 30–50% above RTA | Dommages aux coins |
| Entièrement assemblé | Place only | 50–60% above RTA | Face and corner damage |
Why the freight premium is often worth it
A glued carcass is square because it was clamped square, not because someone checked it. On a project with 200 units, that consistency is the difference between a clean handover and a snagging list of doors that will not close.
It also moves labour off a site where labour may be scarce, expensive or unskilled. On remote or island projects, the assembly team that RTA assumes often does not exist — and the cost of flying one in exceeds the freight premium several times over.
What to specify, and what to inspect
Specify the assembly state explicitly: carcass glued and squared, fronts separate, fittings bagged per unit. Otherwise "pre-assembled" can mean anything from a box with the back stapled on to a finished cabinet.
Inspect the diagonal. A carcass that is 3 mm out across a 600 mm diagonal will show as a door gap at one corner, and it cannot be corrected after the glue has cured. Check three units per pallet, not one per shipment.
Foire aux questions
What does pre-assembled actually include?
Usually the carcass built and glued square, with doors and drawer fronts packed separately. Confirm whether hinges, runners and handles are fitted or bagged.
How much more does it cost to ship?
Typically 30–60% more volume than flat-packed, which translates to a proportional freight cost. The trade is against site labour and rework.
Is pre-assembled stronger than RTA?
The carcass is, because it is glued and clamped square. The board and hardware may be identical.
Les armoires pré-assemblées peuvent-elles être ajustées sur place ?
Position and fix, yes. The box itself cannot be re-squared once the glue has cured, so inspection has to happen before packing.
