Somewhere in your company model is a chapter on how to deliver your product. You've currently identified that your item is either too heavy, too large, or too delicate to rely on the dependable old cardboard box. The question is now, how to select quality wood crates for Equestrian?
Picking which crate to utilize to deliver your item to your customers so that it arrives undamaged is an essential choice not to be left to the bean counters in the back room. There are many wooden shipping box providers out there competing for your organization. Here are a few suggestions to help you through the process of how to choose quality wooden boxes from a producer to suit your shipping needs:
This may sound like a crate company near me that focuses on creating wooden boxes, but what do you know about them? The length of time have they remained in the box organization?
Can he handle the volume of crates you require on a weekly basis, or does he buy from another provider and re-sell to you? Do your homework and make a couple of calls before picking a box maker, and don't sign a volume buying agreement before you see a sample of their work.
If you purchase boxes in volume, will you have adequate area in your storage facility to store them all? Stacking them outside until needed in some locations of the country is just not a choice. 'Assembly Required' might seem like extra labor on your part, however crates that get here broken down and prepared to put together will take up less space in your storage facility. It will provide your shipping department something to do during down-time. If your product is reasonably small, and you do have the storage capacity, then stocking a supply of ready-to-use crates can be a feasible option for you.
Have a look at the materials utilized in the wood crate you are considering. Is the wood without knots and blemishes? Are the sides loose, or securely connected to the corners and braces? Did the builder usage thin metal staples to tack the components together? Steel screws, bolts and ring-shank nails mark a quality wood box that won't chill out throughout the rigors of shipment. Kiln dried, and preferably chemically dealt with or painted wood, are chosen over inferior grades of untreated lumber sheathing and framing. Quality wood crates that have steel enhanced corners and a resilient lower assembly can be recycled over and over once again. Consider charging a deposit on your shipping crates, it may conserve you from needing to acquire new shipping stock in the future.
Search for a supplier that gets their materials from regional, sustainable sources. Crate suppliers that do not have to import their products may have lower overhead, and pass their cost savings down to their customers. Marketing that your shipping crates are made in the U.S.A. can be the deciding consider whether a purchaser chooses your items. You could request a sample to be delivered to your workplace, or schedule a factory trip to see on your own if the crate maker takes pride in their item, and produces a quality wood box.
The International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 needs that all shipping boxes that are used to carry items overseas be dealt with against bugs and diseases. If you intend on worldwide sales, make sure your boxes fulfill these requirements. The very same applies for MIL-STD product packaging and shipping boxes. If your item requires extra protection, and the price point/profit margin enables, you can't do much better than MIL-STD basic wood boxes to make sure safe shipment of your item to your customers. If you only prepare on shipping within your own nation, conserve the money spent on boxes that meet these standards.
Prior to going on a purchasing spree, or speaking with potential wood crate suppliers, you need to inform yourself on the terms of wooden boxes. That way, when the salesperson from Kevin's Crates discuss an unsupported period, a batten cleat or the lower assembly, it won't sound Greek to you. If you don't understand simply what you are ordering, the quality of the wood crate does not matter if it doesn't match your requirements. Contact EWC with any concerns you may have since we aim to be a good source of quality wood boxes.
We can help with the following: