Somewhere in your organization design is a chapter on how to ship your item. You've already identified that your item is either too heavy, too large, or too fragile to rely on the reliable old cardboard box. The question is now, how to select quality wood crates for Transportation?
Deciding on which crate to utilize to deliver your product to your clients so that it gets here undamaged is a crucial choice not to be left to the treasurer in the back room. There are many wooden shipping crate providers out there vying for your business. Here are a few tips to assist you through the procedure of how to select quality wood boxes from a producer to match your shipping needs:
This may seem like a crate company near me that specializes in creating wood boxes, however what do you understand about them? How long have they been in the crate business?
Can he handle the volume of boxes you require on a weekly basis, or does he purchase from another provider and re-sell to you? Do your research and make a couple of calls before deciding on a box maker, and don't sign a volume buying arrangement before you see a sample of their work.
If you purchase crates in volume, will you have sufficient area in your warehouse to save them all? Stacking them outside up until needed in some locations of the country is just not a choice. 'Assembly Required' might sound like additional labor on your part, but boxes that get here broken down and prepared to put together will take up less room in your storage facility. It will offer your shipping department something to do during down-time. If your product is fairly small, and you do have the storage capacity, then equipping a supply of ready-to-use boxes can be a practical alternative for you.
Have a look at the materials utilized in the wood crate you are thinking about. Is the wood devoid of knots and blemishes? Are the sides loose, or firmly 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 will not loosen up throughout the rigors of delivery. Kiln dried, and ideally chemically treated or painted wood, are chosen over inferior grades of untreated lumber sheathing and framing. Quality wood crates that have steel strengthened corners and a resilient lower assembly can be recycled over and over once again. Think about charging a deposit on your shipping boxes, it might save you from having to purchase new shipping stock in the future.
Search for a supplier that gets their materials from regional, sustainable sources. Crate providers that do not have to import their products might have lower overhead, and pass their savings down 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 purchaser picks your products. You could ask for a sample to be shipped to your workplace, 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 requires that all shipping crates that are used to transfer products overseas be treated versus pests and diseases. If you intend on international sales, make certain your boxes meet these requirements. The very same makes an application for MIL-STD product packaging and shipping crates. If your product requires additional defense, and the cost point/profit margin permits, you can't do far better than MIL-STD standard wood boxes to guarantee safe delivery of your item to your customers. If you only plan on shipping within your own nation, save the money invested in crates that meet these standards.
Prior to going on a buying spree, or talking to potential wood crate providers, you must educate yourself on the terms of wood boxes. That method, 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 do not comprehend just what you are buying, the quality of the wood crate does not matter if it doesn't fit your requirements. Contact EWC with any concerns you may have since we aim to be a great source of quality wood crates.
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