Somewhere in your organization design is a chapter on how to ship your item. You've currently identified that your item is either too heavy, too large, or too vulnerable to count on the trusty old cardboard box. The question is now, how to select quality wood crates for Sea Transport?
Choosing on which crate to utilize to deliver your item to your clients so that it arrives intact is a crucial choice not to be left to the bean counters in the back room. There are many wood shipping box suppliers out there vying for your company. Here are a few ideas to assist you through the procedure of how to select quality wooden boxes from a manufacturer to fit your shipping needs:
This may sound like a wood crate business near me that specializes in producing wooden boxes, however what do you learn about them? The length of time have they remained in the crate organization?
Can he manage the volume of crates you need on a weekly basis, or does he purchase from another provider and re-sell to you? Do your research and make a few calls prior to selecting a crate maker, and do not sign a volume purchasing agreement prior to you see a sample of their work.
If you purchase boxes in volume, will you have adequate area in your storage facility to keep them all? Stacking them outside till required in some areas of the nation is just not an option. 'Assembly Required' may sound like additional labor on your part, but boxes that arrive broken down and all set to assemble will take up less room in your warehouse. It will provide your shipping department something to do during down-time. If your item is relatively little, and you do have the storage capacity, then stocking a supply of ready-to-use crates can be a practical alternative for you.
Have a look at the products used in the wood crate you are thinking about. Is the wood complimentary of knots and blemishes? Are the sides loose, or strongly attached to the corners and braces? Did the builder use thin metal staples to tack the parts together? Steel screws, bolts and ring-shank nails mark a quality wood crate that won't relax during the rigors of delivery. Kiln dried, and preferably chemically treated or painted wood, are chosen over inferior grades of without treatment lumber sheathing and framing. Quality wood crates that have steel strengthened corners and a durable lower assembly can be reused over and over again. Think about charging a deposit on your shipping boxes, it may conserve you from needing to purchase new shipping stock in the future.
Search for a supplier that gets their products from regional, sustainable sources. Crate providers that do not need to import their products might 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 element in whether or not a purchaser chooses your products. You could request for a sample to be shipped to your workplace, or schedule a factory tour 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 used to carry products overseas be dealt with against bugs and illness. If you intend on worldwide sales, ensure your crates fulfill these requirements. The exact same looks for MIL-STD packaging and shipping crates. If your product needs additional defense, and the cost point/profit margin allows, you can't do better than MIL-STD standard wood boxes to guarantee safe delivery of your product to your customers. If you only plan on shipping within your own nation, save the extra cash invested in crates that fulfill these requirements.
Before going on a buying spree, or speaking with potential wood box providers, you need to inform yourself on the terminology of wood crates. That way, when the salesperson from Kevin's Crates speak about an unsupported span, a batten cleat or the lower assembly, it will not sound Greek to you. If you do not understand just what you are buying, the quality of the wood box doesn't matter if it doesn't fit your requirements. Contact EWC with any concerns you might have since we aim to be an excellent source of quality wood boxes.
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