New Analysis of the Manufacturing Game: Industrial and Manufacturing Blogs

Posted on: 31 March 2017

Shipping companies usually use crates for storage, handling and transportation of various goods. Crates come in different materials, including wood, plastic, steel and aluminium. If you are a newcomer in the shipping business, you will want to start off on the right foot. One way to do so is by using the right type of shipping crates. While each type of shipping crates offers a unique set of perks, here is a run-through of some key attributes that make the use of aluminium crates so widespread in the Australian shipping industry and many other parts of the world.

Aluminium crates are light in weight yet robust.

Thanks to their high strength-to-weight ratio, aluminium crates are lightweight yet sturdy enough to withstand heavy loads. Compared to some alternatives, these crates will not get damaged easily when subjected to the abuses of normal shipping. The lightweight advantage of aluminium crates helps save on shipping costs because the lighter the crates, the more goods you can carry in a single trip. 

Aluminium crates offer superior corrosion-resistance.

Manufacturers of aluminium products enjoy one great advantage over several other metal fabricators — they can make highly corrosion-resistant products. Aluminium does not usually exist as bare metal but rather as an oxide of the metal (aluminium oxide). This makes the metal highly resistant to virtually all elements, such as humidity and sea water, which cause corrosion and rusting.

Aluminium crates dissipate heat much faster.

Thanks to its high thermal conductivity and reflective nature, aluminium can quickly dissipate a significant amount of radiated heat away from its surface. This makes aluminium crates ideal for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, such as electronics. In cold environments, aluminium crates don't weaken. On the contrary, their tensile strength becomes greater and they retain ductility.

Aluminium crates are safe and hygienic.

Aluminium crates are commonly used to transport food and pharmaceutical products because they are tasteless, odourless and easy to clean. Hence, they won't contaminate any food items or drugs meant for human intake. 

Aluminium crates come in a variety of aesthetic finishes.

Aluminium can be painted or powder-coated in virtually any colour, so that users can choose a product that is functional but aesthetic as well. Hence, you can order for custom crates with your very own company colours. 

Aluminium crates have been around for quite some time and they have clearly proven their worth in the shipping industry. Therefore, using these crate types for your shipping would be a good move.