Somewhere in your organization model is a chapter on how to ship your item. You've currently determined that your item is either too heavy, too large, or too vulnerable to depend on the reliable old cardboard box. The question is now, how to pick quality wood boxes for Breweries?
Choosing which crate to use to deliver your product to your clients so that it arrives undamaged is a crucial choice not to be delegated the bean counters in the back room. There are lots of wood shipping box providers out there competing for your business. Here are a couple of ideas to help you through the process of how to select quality wooden boxes from a manufacturer to fit your shipping requires:
This may sound like a crate business near me that concentrates on creating wood crates, however what do you learn about them? The length of time have they remained in the crate business?
Can he handle the volume of boxes you need on a weekly basis, or does he purchase from another supplier and re-sell to you? Do your research and make a few calls prior to picking a crate maker, and do not sign a volume purchasing contract prior to you see a sample of their work.
If you buy crates in volume, will you have sufficient area in your storage facility to keep them all? Stacking them outside until required in some locations of the country is simply not a choice. 'Assembly Required' may seem like additional labor on your part, however boxes that arrive broken down and ready to assemble will take up less room in your warehouse. Also, it will provide your shipping department something to do during down-time. If your product is relatively small, and you do have the storage capability, then stocking a supply of ready-to-use boxes can be a viable alternative for you.
Have a look at the materials used in the wood crate you are thinking about. Is the wood without knots and blemishes? Are the sides loose, or securely connected to the corners and braces? Did the contractor usage thin metal staples to tack the components together? Steel screws, bolts and ring-shank nails mark a quality wood box that will not relax during the rigors of delivery. Kiln dried, and ideally chemically dealt with or painted wood, are chosen over inferior grades of neglected lumber sheathing and framing. Quality wood boxes that have steel enhanced corners and a resilient lower assembly can be recycled over and over once again. Think about charging a deposit on your shipping crates, it may save you from needing to acquire new shipping stock in the future.
Try to find a provider that gets their products from local, sustainable sources. box suppliers that do not need to import their materials may have lower overhead, and pass their savings down to their consumers. Advertising that your shipping crates are made in the U.S.A. can be the deciding consider whether a buyer selects your items. You might request a sample to be shipped to your office, or schedule a factory trip to see on your own if the box maker takes pride in their item, and produces a quality wood crate.
The International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 needs that all shipping crates that are utilized to transfer products overseas be treated against insects and diseases. If you intend on global sales, ensure your boxes fulfill these requirements. The very same makes an application for MIL-STD packaging and shipping boxes. If your item needs additional defense, and the price point/profit margin allows, you can't do much better than MIL-STD basic wood crates to make sure safe shipment of your item to your consumers. If you only plan on shipping within your own nation, save the money invested in crates that satisfy these requirements.
Before going on a purchasing spree, or interviewing possible wooden crate suppliers, you should educate yourself on the terminology of wooden crates. That method, when the salesperson from Kevin's Crates talks about an unsupported span, a batten cleat or the lower assembly, it will not sound Greek to you. If you don't understand simply what you are purchasing, the quality of the wood crate doesn't matter if it does not fit your requirements. Contact EWC with any concerns you may have because we aim to be a good source of quality wood crates.
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