The wooden crate: a key ally for your shipments | RAJA

For many of your packaging needs, you probably turn to cardboard boxes, a key packaging option for logistics professionals. But while cardboard packaging can be useful for some types of products or shipments, others require additional protection.

For such needs, there is one type of container that can be invaluable to you: the wooden crate!

In this article you will find all the expert advice on how to choose wooden crates for your shipments.

When should you use wooden crates for your shipments?

Wooden crates can be particularly interesting in several situations

• If your products need special protection during shipment, or if they are heavy goods: wooden crates are more robust than corrugated cardboard, even with a higher flute, and provide optimum protection for fragile goods.
  
• If you are exporting your goods: international transport (especially sea and air transport) requires logisticians to choose more robust packaging, which can withstand temperature variations and difficult transport and storage conditions. Good news: the wooden crate makes this possible!
  
• If you are palletising your products, you may need wooden pallet boxes, which are a combination of box and pallet, for optimum product stability and packaging that is highly resistant to impact and atmospheric changes.
  
• If you want to store your products for a long time, the wooden crate or pallet box is an ideal packaging for long term storage, even in difficult conditions (humidity, temperature variations…).

If you are in one of these situations, find out now how to choose the ideal wooden transport crate for your shipments!

How to choose your wooden crates?

There is no shortage of wooden packaging solutions on the market, and it’s up to you to choose the one that will meet your needs.

Check that the crates comply with the ISPM15 standard

If you ship your products internationally, you probably already know the iSPM15 phytosanitary standard (or International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures)

This standard applies to raw wood packaging thicker than 6 mm, which reduces the spread of pests from one continent to another

This is a crucial standard to comply with if you are exporting outside the EEC, and in particular to..

• South Africa
  
• To Canada
  
• To China
  
• To Korea
  
• In the USA
  
• In India
  
• In Turkey
  

According to this standard, the wood of the industrial packaging you choose must be treated at high temperatures to ensure that pests do not proliferate. To check that your wooden shipping crate complies with this standard, make sure that the crate you choose has the herringbone logo marking:

VISUAL

Choose plywood crates

Not all industrial wood packaging is made of the same basic material, so if you want to be both strong and light, opt for plywood crates instead of solid wood

In fact, this type of wood allows you to withstand any shocks during transport, thanks to its high resistance, while limiting the weight of the packaging. The result: easier handling thanks to lightweight packaging, and optimal protection (whether your products are transported in sea containers, freight wagons or trucks).

Check the eco-responsibility of your packaging

As environmental standards for packaging continue to increase and your customers’ expectations of eco-responsibility increase, it is in your interest to choose environmentally friendly pallet boxes and wooden crates.

Some are made from recycled wood, while others can be recycled after sorting and collection at the company. Whatever you choose, be sure to check with your packaging specialist that the environmental impact of your packaging is appropriately limited.

Choose the ideal height of the rafters of your crates

Packing and shipping smart with wooden crates also means choosing the right packaging format for your logistical needs

Of course, you need to pay attention to the volume of your crates, but you should also choose your packaging according to the height of the crate’s rafters. While standard wooden crates have rafters of 3 to 5 cm, there are also crates with 10 cm rafters, which are ideal for easy handling with a pallet truck.

Consider customised packaging if necessary

Are your products too large to fit into standard-sized crates? Or do you want to enhance your customer experience by offering your recipients customised packaging in your brand’s colours? You may need customised crates

Choose a manufacturer capable of designing customised or personalised wooden packaging, according to the brief you give them beforehand.

How to assemble your wooden crates?

The assembly of your wooden crates requires your logistics operators to perform a few simple operations.

At RAJA, our wooden shipping crates are delivered in three parts.

The crate’s belt is easy to shape: just place the bottom or the pallet on the belt and insert the tabs.

Then you fold the tabs with a hammer, and do the same with the lid in the box.

To complete the packing of your goods safely, don’t hesitate to apply the following..

• A more secure closure of your plywood crates, thanks to security seals to be affixed to them.
• Additional protection with suitable cushioning material to be incorporated into your crates for safe export or shipment. If you would like to know more about cushioning for your packaging, take a look at our complete guide to cushioning packages.

With these tips, it’s up to you to choose your wooden crates according to your logistical needs.