Ahhhh the good ol’ wooden crates, without them where would we be in this world. They are very important, for example when you are shipping produce, industrial or heavy duty material you are going to need more than just cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes hold their purpose, but when it comes to shipping something heavy like steel or shipping produce like fruits and vegetables then there is no better way to ship the product than to use wooden crates. Wooden crates hold their purpose in plenty of ways and there are different types to use to make sure your shipping process goes smooth.

Types of Wooden Crates

There are plenty types of variations for wooden crates however the DIN 59499 T1 standard defines two basic types: Type A which are crates up to 500 kg and Type B which are crates over 500 kg. A wooden crate has rigid corners with planks stretched along those corners. Plank thickness varies, but is usually within the 3-8mm range.

Wooden Crate Variations:

Frame Crates: These type of crates are usually what the name suggests. They are usually just a frames of wood attached together with no sheathing. You can completely see what is stored inside the crate. These crates are used basically to just transport material without the need to be overly careful. They are typically used to transport heavy machinery that do not need any surface protection.

Open Crates: This type of crate is constructed using wooden planks as the exterior sheathing. There are usually spaces within the planks to provide enough ventilation to prevent produce from spoiling.

Closed Crates: This type of crate is completely enclosed and has no openings. They are great for transporting material that needs to be contained in a specific area without the risk of spillage or scathing on the other boxes.

Stitched and Wire-bound crates: These types of crates are cheap, but rigid and are usually used for a single journey. The stitched crates are usually used to transport tomatoes and are made of thin pieces of wood stitched together. Triangular corner pieces provide the strength to stack crates. The wire-bound crates are stitched crates with a wire under the stitches with provides extra durability and strength to the container.

Now that you learned of the different types of wooden crates and what they are used for we hope that you choose the right one for your next shipping and packaging venture. If you would like help with your next shipping or packaging operation then look no further!  We at Crate Tech Inc. are excited for the opportunity to put our 20 years of packaging and shipping experience to work for your individual needs and expectations.

Visit our contact page to get ahold of a trained professional who can further assist you with your next shipping venture!