While wood is by far the most popular material when it comes to crates for shipping, there are always other options. Plywood is becoming popular, and yet it has some clear disadvantages when compared to its natural timber counterparts. When it comes to shipping your goods, why should you always stick with timber?
The Ease Of The Manufacturing Process
Timber crates are hardly ever going to win any design awards, but much of their appeal can be found in the ease with which they're made. Most timber crates are straightforward wooden boxes, made from an unrefined material. They're vastly different to crates made from plywood, which are made by combining multiple layers of wood into a seemingly solid mass. Plywood crates also use a significant amount of toxic materials during the manufacturing process. While only the smallest trace amounts of these materials could ever seep out, crates that are made from raw wood can ensure a greener transportation experience for your goods.
Versatility
Wood is the most popular material for crates for a reason. While plastic and metal can certainly be utilised, the expense needed to create unique crates from these materials can drive your transportation costs up. Since the design of a crate is so basic, a timber crate can easily be modified to meet your shipping needs. It can be provided in whatever size is needed, and when the load is question is of a heavy weight, the crate can be made using thicker material. It's an extremely straightforward modification that can give wooden crates their remarkable load-bearing capabilities. Plywood crates are not quite as sturdy.
Security And Stability
Timber crates that are of a universal (or compatible) size are built to be stacked. You can be confident that the crates are strong enough to be stacked as high as your storage facility can safely accommodate. These stacks remain stable if they need to be stored for an extended period of time. Timber crates can also easily be secured—it's as simple as nailing them shut. This method is basic, and yet extremely efficient. The crates cannot be re-opened without the necessary tools, making the possibility of en route tampering very low.
Sustainability And Your "Green Credentials"
Any crate supplier worth their salt will know the manufacturing process of their products. This means that they will be able to tell you if the crates in question have been sourced from sustainable forests. This is a more environmentally friendly choice for your shipping needs, and is beneficial for solidifying your company's green credentials. For international shipments, you'll need to ensure that your crates are ISPM 15 compliant. This is one of the International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures issued by the International Plant Protection Convention of 1951, and uses processes to kill any parasites or larvae that might be present in the wood.
The price and durability of timber crates mean that they're still the clear leader when it comes to your shipping needs. Plywood might be making a claim for the throne, but it's unlikely to ever be the true crate leader. For more information, contact a company like Acme Case Co Pty Ltd.
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