From day-to-day supply of goods to international trade, plastic crates are becoming more popular. They’re a must-have for big industries, including dairy, agriculture, fishing, construction, and others where storage and transportation are integral.
They are containers designed for the transportation and storage of solid and fragile items. They can be made entirely or partially of plastic and are known for their durability, sturdiness and longevity.
Crates are primarily constructed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) and can be designed in two main configurations—open and closed. They are in high demand from delivery industries and food services for storing and transporting dairy products, beverages, meats, seafood, bread, and more. Open crates feature a grid pattern for easy visibility of the contents inside, while closed crates come with hinged or detachable lids.
In warehousing facilities and other storage settings, they’re used to organise, store, and transport goods. Typically, they come with handles for easy lifting and are designed to be nestable or stackable to optimise storage space. You can buy plastic storage crates in various colours, shapes and sizes and organise your space easily and efficiently.
Different Stacking Orientations
Collapsible Crates
They save space when folded and offer more flexibility than any other crate. Their easy-to-fold structure allows compact storage, making them some of the most popular options.
Stacking Crates
They’re designed in a square shape with rounded corners and can be stacked on top of one another, allowing for efficient use of space. They have a rigid design but are a great solution for easier transportation after delivery.
Stack and Nest Crates
They are available with many different options, from swing bars to covers, and more, so you can choose the ones that meet your needs and preferences the most.
Different Types
Regular
This type of plastic storage crate is designed for various basic storage needs. Regular crates come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colours, and are most commonly used in grocery distribution. They ensure smooth handling and stability and allow for stable and efficient unit loads on pallets.
Ventilated
They’re primarily used for storing food items and vegetables and come in fully ventilated and nestable designs. Ventilated crates are often used in the dairy industry as they’re robust enough to withstand the rigours of handling and shipping dairy products.
Closed
They come in various colours, sizes and shapes, and are commonly used for different types of storage. Closed crates feature easy opening and closing mechanisms.
Reasons to Buy Plastic Crates for Storage
Safe and Easy to Use
Even though they can carry tons of weight, they’re lightweight and easy to handle. Thanks to their one-piece structure and flat surface, they allow for easier, careful handling with effective transportation. They offer safer handling compared to wooden crates, and their reduced weight lessens the risk of back injuries for workers.
Easy to Clean
The smooth surface makes them easy to clean, wash and maintain, so you can keep external dirt and debris at bay. They are some of the most hygienic storage and transportation solutions on the market and meet the safety and sanitary requirements, especially when it comes to edible items. They can be cleaned effectively with steam, water, or solvents.
Durable
They offer a durable storage solution that can’t be as easily harmed by environmental factors as compared to wooden storage units or cardboard boxes. The materials used to make plastic crates are strong, lightweight, waterproof, UV-resistant, and high-density.
Versatile
They can withstand low and high temperatures without damage and have a high UV resistance, so you can use them in various conditions, depending on your storage and transportation needs and requirements.
Space-Saving
They’re space-efficient solutions compared to other types of crates and can help you reduce shipping and storage costs significantly and optimise storage space.
Long-Term Investment
Plastic crates may cost more compared to wooden crates and cardboard boxes, but their longevity and sturdiness justify the cost, and it pays off in the long run. Also, they’re stronger, don’t cost as much to install or dispose of and provide storage flexibility in racking systems and stacking.
Reusable
You’ve heard many times that plastic is harmful to the environment. Yet when it comes to plastic storage solutions, they may not be perfect, but they yield less environmental damage, and their long-term use means less waste. They’re reusable, environmentally friendly options for storage and transportation of goods, suitable for home and business use.
Final Thoughts
Plastic storage solutions are some of the most sought-after in a wide variety of industries to store raw materials and products and to move them around safely and securely. They’re strong and rigid and can be used for many journeys, making the cost per journey relatively low if compared to using wooden crates, cardboard boxes, or else.
Plastic crates have good weather resistance and are easy to clean and disinfect after use, so you can keep them in good shape for longer and use them without any sign of wear and tear. Also, they come in different shapes, colours and sizes, so you find the most suitable ones for your storage needs and create an organised and efficient storage area in your facility.