USA Pallet + Warehousing, Inc

Why Do Heavy and Fragile Items Need Wood Shipping Crates?

Effective as well as safe packaging is a key factor of supply chain success in the present fast-moving business environment. To protect heavy and delicate items from getting damaged during storage or transportation, wooden crates are increasingly becoming the favourite among companies from various industries.

No matter if it is fragile stuff, heavy machinery, or valuable goods that you are shipping, the safety and security of the items should be your first concern. Wood shipping crates offer exactly this, a guaranteed top level of protection alongside a variety of other practical benefits.​

In this guide, we will delve into the reasons behind wooden crates being the popular shipping option among many businesses. After reading this post, you will be well-versed on the versatile and long-lasting crates that can be considered a wise business investment.​

What Makes Wooden Crates a Popular Shipping Choice?

​Let’s analyze the different aspects that make wooden crates a popular choice among businesses:

  • ​Strength and Durability: Wooden crates are very solid and robust. With their ability to carry a heavy load and withstand rough handling during storage or shipping, they are also quite durable.
  • Customizability: Wooden crates can be tailored to your exact specifications. They can be designed to hold any kind of item, from small electronics to large pieces of machinery.
  • Cost-Effective: Wooden crates are usually less expensive than metal or plastic crates. It makes them a more budget-friendly option for companies that are seeking cost-effective, dependable packing solutions.
  • Environmental Advantages: Wood is a renewable material. The timber for many wooden crates is sourced from a well-managed forest that follows sustainable practices. Besides, crates can be recycled or reused. It means that less waste will be landfilled in the long run.

​Key Advantages of Using Wooden Shipping Crates

Look at the following benefits of using wooden shipping crates:

Improved Security for Your Products

​The main reason why businesses opt for wooden crates is that they can offer the best protection to the items. The natural structure of wood can easily absorb shocks and impacts during transportation and thus minimize the risk of damage to goods. For example;

  • ​For Large Equipment: Wooden crates provide a strong framework for preventing heavy machinery from moving or sustaining damage.
  • For Fragile Items: Wooden crates may be covered with padding or foam to keep items from breaking.
  • For Sensitive Materials: Wooden crates act as a barrier to moisture, dust, and dirt. It ensures that the items are safe from environmental contamination.

​Custom Built for Any Product

​Wooden crates are not like pre-packaged standard-sized solutions and hence, are entirely customizable. You can create the exact size of the crate that will fit your product without any extra space that would be wasted, and at the same time, the risk of movement during transport would be minimized. Companies that manufacture a variety of products should buy wooden pallets and wooden crates.

​Affordable Shipping for Large Volumes

​The cost of packaging materials quickly increases when more items are shipped together. Businesses that ship a large number of products can easily get a wooden panel box at a reasonable price. Wooden crates can be reused multiple times, which is a great way of saving money in the long run, unlike plastic and metal containers.

​Long-term cost savings:

  • ​Decreasing material costs
  • Reduced the cost of damage-related expenses
  • Reuse and repurpose the crates’ capabilities.

​Greener Packaging, Smarter Sustainability

Nowadays, it has become quite common for businesses to adopt green practices as the focus of the entire world shifts towards sustainability. Firstly, wooden crates are made from a renewable material, wood. In addition, the wood for the crates is generally obtained from certified, sustainably managed forests. 

After their lifespan, wooden crates can be recycled and reused or even composted if necessary. Therefore, wood packaging is definitely significantly more environmentally friendly than plastic or other synthetic materials.

Designed for Easy Stacking and Storage

Wooden crates are usually designed to be tough and stackable. These characteristics turn them into a great solution for companies that locate their items in warehouses or send them in large quantities by cargo. The fact that they can be stacked saves space, and handling a large number of products becomes significantly easier.

Besides this, you can also refer to our comprehensive guide on how can you achieve zero-waste logistics with refurbished wooden pallets by reducing waste, cutting costs, and increasing sustainability.

​Industrial Applications of Wooden Crates Across Multiple Sectors

​Here are some of the uses of wooden shipping crates:

  • ​Manufacturing

Wooden crates are often used by the factory sector mainly for the transportation of heavy machines, industrial components, and equipment. The durability and robustness of wood ensure that the normally heavy and fragile components are safely packed for their journey.​

  • E-commerce

​Wooden crates are commonly used by e-commerce companies to ship large quantities of products that need extra protection. Custom wooden crates offer a dependable, affordable, and green option for e-commerce retailers who have to deliver delicate goods, electronics, or large items.

  • ​Food and Beverage

​Wooden crates are used in the food and beverage industry to carry fresh produce, bottled goods, and even fragile items such as eggs or fish. Since wood is a breathable material, it is one of the ways to preserve the freshness of certain products during transportation.

  • ​Art and Antiques

Wooden crates are a very common choice in the art field for shipping valuable or fragile works of art, antiques, and collectibles. Thanks to the customizable nature and strength of wooden crates, it is possible to make highly protective packaging that will guarantee the safety of the items.​

What’s Included in Wooden Crates from USA Pallet & Warehousing Inc.?

​When you work with the best pallet manufacturers nearby, like USA Pallet & Warehousing Inc., your crate won’t only be a piece of wood nailed together; it will be an entire packaging system:

  • ​Personalized Engineering & Design: Each crate is custom-made considering the product’s size, weight, fragility, and the mode of transportation. Our engineers utilize CAD designs and load calculations to confirm the strength of the structure.
  • ​ISPM-15 Certification: Our crates comply with international phytosanitary standards (ISPM-15), which will allow export anywhere around the globe.
  • ​Material Selection: We carry a range of timber species and engineered panels, such as heat-treated lumber, plywood, OSB, and cleated panelboard, that we pick mainly based on their durability and cost-effectiveness.
  • Internal Cushioning and Bracing: The crate can be fitted with foam inserts, VCI wraps, blocking, skids, or shock mounts that serve to protect the delicate or odd-shaped equipment.
  • Weather & Security Protection: Products that are packaged and shipped in wooden crates are shielded from the weather. Different choices can be made to protect fragile/sensitive items, e.g., moisture barriers, desiccants, rust inhibitors, and tamper-proof security.

Sum Up

To sum up, wooden crates combine several benefits such as durability, multifunctionality, economical price, and eco-friendliness. Hence, they represent a great solution for a wide range of industries and sectors. If you are shipping fragile paintings, industrial equipment, or even regular grocery items, wooden crates will assure you of a safe delivery and a good corporate image.

Wooden crates are simply the way to go if you are after a secure, environmentally friendly, and economical packaging solution!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are wooden crates reusable?

That’s right, wooden crates are made to last, and very often. They can be reused multiple times. It’s particularly the case for businesses that are involved in bulk shipping or have a need for packing heavy products.

​Can wooden crates be used for international shipping?

​Yes, wooden crates are frequently used for international shipping. However, such crates should meet standards including ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures), which is a measure taken to prevent the spreading of pests.

How do I choose the right size wooden crate for my product?

The size really depends on the dimensions of your product. A wooden crate made to measure, which is very well fitted to the product, will certainly get minimum product movement and thus provide the best protection in transit.

What makes wooden crates different from plastic crates?

Wooden crates provide greater toughness and long-lasting strength, and they are a way of packaging that is more in line with nature than plastic crates. Besides, they are more protective of heavy shipments; moreover, they can be made to any shape or size.

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