Somewhere in your service model is a chapter on how to ship your item. You've currently figured out that your item is either too heavy, too big, or too fragile to rely on the trusty old cardboard box. The concern is now, how to pick quality wood crates for Food?
Deciding on which crate to utilize to ship your item to your consumers so that it gets here undamaged is an important choice not to be delegated the bean counters in the back room. There are lots of wooden shipping crate providers out there competing for your business. Here are a few pointers to assist you through the procedure of how to select quality wood crates from a producer to fit your shipping requires:
This may sound like a box company near me that concentrates on producing wood crates, however what do you understand about them? How long have they been in the crate business?
Can he deal with the volume of crates you require on a weekly basis, or does he order from another supplier and re-sell to you? Do your homework and make a couple of calls before choosing on a box maker, and do not sign a volume buying agreement before you see a sample of their work.
If you purchase boxes in volume, will you have adequate space in your warehouse to save them all? Stacking them outside until required in some locations of the country is simply not an alternative. 'Assembly Required' might seem like additional labor on your part, but crates that arrive broken down and prepared to assemble will take up less space in your warehouse. Likewise, it will provide your shipping department something to do during down-time. If your item is fairly little, and you do have the storage capability, then stocking a supply of ready-to-use boxes can be a viable option for you.
Take an appearance at the products used in the wood crate you are considering. Is the wood devoid of knots and imperfections? Are the sides loose, or firmly connected to the corners and braces? Did the builder use thin metal staples to tack the components together? Steel screws, bolts and ring-shank nails mark a quality wood box that won't relax throughout the rigors of shipment. Kiln dried, and preferably chemically dealt with or painted wood, are chosen over inferior grades of unattended lumber sheathing and framing. Quality wood crates that have steel reinforced corners and a durable lower assembly can be recycled over and over again. Consider charging a deposit on your shipping boxes, it may save you from having to purchase brand-new shipping stock in the future.
Search for a supplier that gets their materials from regional, sustainable sources. box providers that do not need to import their products might have lower overhead, and pass their cost savings to their customers. Marketing that your shipping crates are made in the U.S.A. can be the deciding factor in whether or not a buyer picks your items. You might ask for a sample to be delivered to your office, or schedule a factory tour to see on your own if the crate maker takes pride in their product, and produces a quality wood crate.
The International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 requires that all shipping crates that are used to transport goods overseas be treated against insects and diseases. If you intend on worldwide sales, make sure your boxes fulfill these requirements. The exact same looks for MIL-STD product packaging and shipping crates. If your item needs extra protection, and the rate point/profit margin permits, you can't do far better than MIL-STD standard wood boxes to ensure safe shipment of your product to your customers. If you just prepare on shipping within your own nation, save the money invested in boxes that satisfy these requirements.
Before going on a purchasing spree, or talking to prospective wood crate providers, you should inform yourself on the terminology of wooden crates. That way, when the salesman from Kevin's Crates discuss an unsupported period, a batten cleat or the lower assembly, it will not 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 fit your requirements. Contact EWC with any concerns you may have because we intend to be a great source of quality wood boxes.
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