When it comes to making wooden container decisions, mistakes come with the territory. Unfortunately, some mistakes can have a greater impact on a company’s bottom line than others. Industrial-grade wood crates are quite unique and differ from other types of packaging because they must offer a much higher level of protection.
According to San Diego-based Valley Box, crates must give top priority to protecting the product during transit, preserving the product for long stretches of time during storage, and sometimes keeping an airtight seal to prevent corrosion.
Fortunately, companies can avoid the pitfalls of poorly selected packaging by steering clear of the following 7 deadly sins when making selections.
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1. Following the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy
When it comes to wooden crates, some stock sizes work, others not so much. By using off-the-shelf solutions, your product may be more susceptible to damage from vibration, moisture and abrasion. A crating expert can help you decide if stock sizes are right for you. If stock sizes just won’t do, crates should be designed based on specific information about your product.
Read Valley Box's blog post Why You Shouldn't Be Buying Off-The-Shelf Wooden Crates to learn why savvy business owners understand why buying off-the-shelf or one-size-fits-all wood crates is rarely a good idea. 
2. Dismissing the package design process
Industrial goods are often bulky, heavy, hazardous, sensitive to external elements, or all of the above. Not only can a unique wooden shipping crate design help you achieve a superior finished product, but it can also help reduce overall costs based on:
- Materials Used: The most common types of materials used for industrial-grade wooden crates include steel, corrugated, wooden crates, wooden skids, or plastic (containers, heavy-duty shrink-wrap, etc.). The best material for your product will depend on the type of product you manufacture.
- Special Safety Mechanisms: Hire a professional to help you determine how secure your needs to be and the types of locking and closure mechanisms you will need.
- Internal Support: Although most exterior boxes are really similar in design, it is what is going on inside that really provides the protection. Placing your product into a box and shipping it without adequate internal protection may lead to extensive payload damage due to vibration, impact, or environmental conditions during transport.
Trust your wood crate supplier to help you decide on the best design for your product's needs.
3. Snubbing the entire shipment process
If you think the process ends after your goods are packed and ready to go, think again. For example, if you are shipping overseas, have you considered international standards? The crate must be able to meet international standards as well as quality control requirements of the countries of manufacture and destination.
So here’s what you need to do: play the entire shipment through from beginning to end. Consider how the wooden shipping crates will be handled by your company, freight companies, and end users.
Watch Valley Box's webinar on improving crating performance by looking at the crate's entire life cycle. The webinar breaks down the entire shipment process from: Design, Product Assembly, Packaging, Transport & Handling, Storage, Destination Unpack, and Evaluating Performance.
4. Believing you’re fresh out of ways to save
Did you know that reducing the weight of your wooden shipping crates typically reduces the shipping costs? Shape matters too, as well as security mechanisms. As part of their strategic marketing efforts, some industrial-grade crating providers routinely offer specials and discounts too. Ask your supplier to re-evaluate your current crate design or if they have any current specials or discount offerings.
Crating reviews can lead to custom solutions that help companies to:
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5. Lacking information
When obtaining a quote, it is so important to have detailed answers to several key questions the crate supplier will ask. When you’re unsure, the supplier may quote a higher price (to be on the safe side). When you don’t have your details in order, it's also difficult for the supplier to offer suggestions that can potentially save time and money.
Read Valley Box's helpful blog post that lists 5 key steps to prepare your product to ship in wood crates. It lists 5 steps you should take before picking up the phone and calling your provider. It can be a valuable tool for you to prepare your product for shipping.
6. Leaving stones unturned
Before you set out to select wooden containers for your products, have you done any research to find out what’s new in the industry? Breakthroughs are as common in the crating industry as they are in the computer industry. These breakthroughs may mean access to newer and more innovative materials or better processes that can help companies save money and reduce costs. For example, through newer technology, less material could actually provide greater package strength and product protection. This equals savings. Talk to your supplier to see if they have anything new to offer.
7. Selecting industrial crates based on price alone
Before you can begin the process of selecting crates, you have to find the right provider. Sure, price is often a factor, but it should never be the only factor. This is a good way to avoid making a bad decision about the type to purchase for your product. Important factors include quality, on-time delivery, innovation, product offerings, delivery costs, etc. If ignored, your wood crate could end up costing you more down the line. For example, poor quality alone can compromise the safety of your product. If damaged, it will cost more to replace or repair it than it would to protect it in the first place.
Before jumping into business with a new provider, there are a few critical questions that should be asked in order to rule out potential challenges later in the working relationship. Follow Valley Box's blog 8 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Shipping Crate Company
Although there is no foolproof approach or solution that can meet every need, companies can greatly reduce costs and increase safety by being shrewd when selecting crates and following these 7 deadly sins.
