Choosing the right crate is critical for any business that ships products. It’s not just about getting your product from point A to B — it’s about reducing shipping and material costs, protecting your goods and supporting your sustainability goals.
The right solution for your business will minimize waste, lower emissions and ensure your goods arrive safely, making crate choice a smart investment in cost, protection and the environment.
Off-the-Shelf Crates: Pros and Cons
When speed is critical, or you’re shipping standard-sized, nonfragile shipments, off-the-shelf crates offer quick availability and a lower upfront cost for a one-size-fits-all solution. However, since they often lack a precise fit, you may find yourself dealing with wasted space, higher shipping costs due to increased dimensional weight, and less effective protection for irregular or fragile items. This could mean an increased risk of product damage and returns.
Additionally, off-the-shelf options may not offer sustainable manufacturing options or align with your business’s environmental goals. For companies with unique, high-value or delicate products, these drawbacks may outweigh the initial cost savings and convenience of ready-made crates.
Engineered Solutions: SURECrate® and UCrate® Advantages
When shipping high-value, fragile or irregular shipments, SURECrate and UCrate from Great Northern Laminations® provide custom-fit protection for products of any size, shape or fragility.
These tailored paperboard systems are lightweight and recyclable, helping reduce shipping costs and support sustainability goals. By providing a precise fit for products, they minimize material waste and lower dimensional (DIM) weight charges. Both SURECrate and UCrate can be ISTA-tested to ensure your shipments withstand real-world transit hazards and arrive safely at their destination.
SURECrate and UCrate also streamline packing, saving labor costs and reducing the risk of product damage or returns. For businesses requiring speed, superior protection and environmental responsibility, these engineered solutions are a smart investment for their supply chains.
Comparing by Shipment Volume, Weight, Fragility, Timelines and Total Landed Cost
When choosing between off-the-shelf and engineered crates, consider your shipment’s unique needs. Off-the-shelf crates work well for high-volume, uniform shipments with standard sizes, low fragility and quick turnarounds.
Engineered solutions like SURECrate and UCrate are ideal for heavy, irregular or fragile items. They provide a custom fit that reduces material waste, DIM weight, and damage risk and streamlines labor and packing time.
While off-the-shelf options may have a lower upfront cost, engineered solutions often provide a lower total landed cost due to reduced shipping fees, labor and product loss, making them a strong contender for businesses that focus on protection, efficiency and sustainability.
Quick Decision Checklist
A quick way to decide between off-the-shelf crates and engineered crates is to answer the following “yes or no” questions:
- Is your product fragile or irregularly shaped?
- Do you need to minimize shipping costs?
- Is sustainability a priority?
- Do you require ISTA testing?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” consider SURECrate or UCrate engineered solutions for your shipment.
Why Choose Laminations for Your Crate Solutions
For innovative, engineered crate solutions that deliver speed, superior protection and sustainability, choose Laminations. Our SURECrate and UCrate systems are ISTA-tested, lightweight and recyclable.
Contact Laminations today to connect with a team member and discover the right crate solution for your business needs.
