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Benefits of Lean Manufacturing and Related Blogs

Lean manufacturing is the process of cutting back on certain materials or speeding up certain processes to lower the overall cost of manufacturing. There can be key benefits to this approach to manufacturing, but it's important to move forward with a balanced view of lowering costs without compromising quality. This blog looks at that concept, but it also delves into other information related to the manufacturing and industrial fields. Ultimately, this blog is designed to help manufacturing professionals as well as B2B clients who purchase products or outsource processes to this field. If you have questions, I hope that you find the answers you need here.

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Benefits of Lean Manufacturing and Related Blogs

3 Different Types of Crates Available for Shipping Applications

by Mark Peters

The use of crates to ship merchandise is widespread in Australia. If you are looking to ship something with crates, you should know that not all crates are made the same. Hence, one of the major decisions you will need to make beforehand is which type of crate you should use. Crates come in a range of different materials and choosing a crate that matches your shipping needs is crucial. 

Here is a look at the upsides and downsides of some of the most common types of crates available in the shipping industry today, so you can make a well-informed decision on which type of crate to use:

Wood Crates

Owing to the fact that they can be reused over and over, wood crates are the perfect choice for crates if you'd like to go green with your shipping. If part of the wood used to make the crates breaks over time due to the extremes of normal use, the crates can be taken to pieces and components that are still in good condition can be used to make a new crate. This means it is much easier to custom-build a crate with wood than it is to custom-fabricate one from plastic or metal. Perhaps the biggest downside of wood crates is that they are heavier and tend to break more easily compared to their plastic and metal counterparts.

Plastic Crates

As already mentioned, plastic crates tend to be more lightweight compared to their wooden cousins. However, they are moulded to be stronger and more durable. Because they are easier to move around, plastic crates are ideal for shipping items that are lightweight and won't break easily. If you would like something custom, you are better off opting for wood crates — plastic fabrication is generally less flexible when it comes to customisation of products. Plastic crates are recyclable, but they can't be taken apart and reassembled. 

Metal crates

Generally speaking, metal crates come in handy when the sturdiest and most durable option is required. Metal crates are typically made of steel and aluminium, and they are used to ship heavy or extra heavy items, thanks to metal material's superior strength-to-weight ratio over both wood and plastic. Like plastic crates, metal crates are not so easy to customise. Hence, wood crates may be the better option when customisability is desired. Like plastic crates, metal crates can be recycled, but they can't be taken to pieces and reconstructed. 

If you need help choosing the right crates for your shipping, you can contact the customer support staff at a local crate manufacturing company like 1/2 Price Pallets. They can advise you on which type of crate would be right for you.

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