Crate spec ticket
| Inside dimensions | Minimum clear L x W x H in inches |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | Pounds the crate must carry |
| Condition tolerance | Cosmetic wear accepted, or sound structure only |
| Use | Domestic, return leg, spare, or export |
| Marks | Whether a valid IPPC mark on the wood is required |
| Quantity | One or a lot |
What used and reconditioned mean
A used crate has already made a trip. A reconditioned crate has been inspected and repaired: loose cleats re-fastened, broken boards replaced, bent fasteners removed. Both start from the same fact: they are not new, and no two are identical.
That variation is the central point of this page. A used crate can be an excellent buy for the right job. For the wrong job, it is a risk that shows up at the other end of the journey.
We tell you what we know about each lot when we quote it, and we do not promise a mark or a finish that the wood does not carry.
Where used crates make sense
Domestic moves are the main use. A load going between two US plants over a controlled route does not need an ISPM 15 mark, so a sound used crate does the job at a lower cost than a new build. Spares and service parts are another fit: low volume, often a single box, and no great loss if the crate is scuffed.
Return legs make sense too. A crate that shipped parts to a customer can come back with replacements. Internal plant transfers and temporary storage round out the list.
If your loop is closed, returnable crates may be better still, since they are built to be reused.
Where they do not
Do not choose a used crate for a heavy, high-value or delicate load unless the structure has been checked against the gross weight. A cracked skid or a loosened lag bolt may not be visible from the outside. Do not choose one for a long sea passage where moisture will find every gap.
Do not choose one for export if you cannot confirm the wood still carries a valid IPPC mark. Condition cannot be assumed from the look of a crate. Read our used crates for export guide before you decide.
Export and re-marking: what NELMA says
Under NELMA's inspection program, finished pallets, skids, crates or boxes are stamped with the facility's IPPC stamp on at least two opposite sides. A remanufacturer must re-stamp each component with its own agency-issued HT stamp. In plain terms, a crate that has had boards replaced is partly new wood, and the new wood needs its own treatment and stamp.
We therefore do not promise a treatment mark on any used crate. If you need one for export, tell us the destination country on the quote and we will say what can and cannot be done. Always check the destination's plant-protection authority as well as APHIS.
How we inspect and recondition
Before a used crate goes on a quote, we look at the structural members: the skid, the runners, the cleats and the fastened joints. We check the lid and the walls for splits and soft spots. We look for staining that suggests moisture and for signs of contamination.
Reconditioning means repairing what can be repaired, replacing what cannot and taking out what is unsafe. A crate that fails inspection is not sold as sound. The quote describes the condition in words, because a score can look precise and mean little.
- Skid and runners checked for cracks and rot
- Cleats and fasteners re-set or replaced
- Lid and walls checked for splits
- Staining and odour noted
- Marks recorded as found, not as hoped
Used crates against new builds
Price is the pull of a used crate, but the comparison should include the whole journey. A new crate is built to your gross weight and dimensions, so its strength is known. A used crate is built for someone else's load, and its strength has to be judged. If the load is light and the route is short, judgement is cheap. If the load is dense, the route long or the receiver strict, the saving can disappear.
There is also a fit question. A used crate comes in the sizes it was built in. If your load needs a different inside height or footprint, modification may cost more than a custom build. We say so when that is the case, and we point you to the custom or standard sizes program instead.
Plan for one more thing: the paperwork of ownership. Used crates may carry old stencils, shipper references or marks from a previous user. We cover or remove marks that could confuse a carrier or a customs officer, and we tell you what remains.
What to send for a used crate quote
Send the minimum inside dimensions L x W x H in inches, the gross weight in pounds and the destination country. Add whether the move is domestic, a return or an export. Say how much wear you will accept: scuffs and old marks are cosmetic, a split in a runner is not.
If a new crate is the better choice, we will say so. A used crate that fails in transit costs more than the difference.
Questions buyers ask
Can I use a used crate for export?
Only if the wood carries a valid IPPC mark and the destination accepts it. Replaced boards need their own HT stamp under NELMA's rules. We do not promise a mark on a used crate.
Are used crates strong enough for heavy machinery?
Sometimes, after the skid and runners are checked against the gross weight. For heavy or high-value loads we usually recommend a new heavy-duty build.
How is condition described?
In words on the quote: what is sound, what has been repaired and what is worn. Condition varies, so we do not give a single grade.
Do you pay for or collect used crates?
This page covers selling used and reconditioned crates only. Send what you have in mind and we will tell you what we can quote.