Bi-color Stack And Nest Crates Aid Handling

Stacked crates — Color coding helps quickly identify stacked vs nested status.

As agribusinesses gear up for the next picking season, Goplasticpallets.com says that it has experienced a rise in demand for its bi-color stack and nest crates which the company launched last spring.

Since January, Goplasticpallets.com has sold an impressive 25,000+ bi-color crates from its stack and nest (S&N) range to farmers and larger producer organizations and cooperatives for everything from leaf harvesting to soft fruit handling. These striking two-color crates are being used right from the field to the packhouse, where the fresh produce is washed and then repacked into the same crates for its onward journey.

Ben Messingham, UK Sales Manager for Goplasticpallets.com, said: “In recent months we’ve noticed more and more Agri customers shifting away from using bale arm crates in favour of our bi-color stack and nest crates.

“Agri customers today expect their picking crates to deliver more than just durable storage. A growing level of environmental awareness and concerns for hygiene means that customers are increasingly looking for more robust, longer-lasting solutions that can be easily washed, and for crates that can be conveniently stored when not in use. Our bi-color stack and nest crates achieve all of this and more!”

Manufactured from HDPE, the bi-color stack and nest crates are extremely robust with smooth walls making them easy to clean and offering a large internal storage capacity – up to 60 liters.

The clever two-color design helps growers stack and store the crates safely and efficiently. When full, the crates can be easily stacked by matching the colors, and when empty, by turning the crates 180 degrees the other way and alternating the colors they conveniently nest inside each other.

Several advantages this bi-color stack and nest crates have over conventional bale arm crates include:

nesting capabilities – bi-color S&N crates can nest up to 80% space-saving depending on design, many growers find the 50% nesting crate a good selection as it is squarer in shape which is better for larger produce like lettuce and cabbage.
durability – the absence of a bale arm means that bi-color S&N crates are less vulnerable to damage and offer an extended life span.
easier to clean – the hinge on the bale arms crates can make these more difficult to clean, where bi-color S&N crates can be thoroughly cleaned with ease as they have no moving parts.

Goplasticpallets.com’s bi-color stack and nest crates come in a number of different heights from 123mm to 320mm with the option of either a solid or perforated base and side walls. As standard they come in the choice of red and grey or blue and grey, however, for larger orders other color options are available.