Pallets, crates, containers, bins - Metal

The majority of materials handling containers, whether pallets, crates, pallet boxes or containers found in all sectors of the economy, are made from wood, plastic or metal.

Metal containers are characterized by their high mechanical strength. In particular, they can accommodate heavy parts; shocks during filling and handling will not damage metal crates and pallets too much.

Metals are also highly resistant to extreme temperatures. They are non-flammable and can, for example, be brought into contact with castings coming straight from demolding, which is not possible with plastics and wood. They can also be placed in refrigeration chambers, down to temperatures of -100 ˚C without risk of deterioration of physical-mechanical qualities.

Unlike plastics, metals do not generate static electricity, and are preferred for handling in explosive atmospheres.

Unlike wood, metal is not hygroscopic. It doesn't give rise to mold or mildew, which can be a problem when transporting foodstuffs. It also eliminates the risk of splinters and other wood debris finding their way into transported products.

Their good resistance to impact and stress, as well as to extreme temperatures, mean that metal containers are preferred when a long service life is required, and particularly for intensive use. Metal containers are particularly well-suited to inter-plant rotations or factory-customer shuttles, with their many round trips.

The manufacture of plastic pallets and containers requires expensive tooling. They are therefore reserved for large production runs (several tens of thousands). Users often have no choice but to select their containers from the standard ranges offered by suppliers. On the other hand, the manufacture of metal containers requires no specific tooling, apart from inexpensive welding templates. Manufacturers will generally agree to produce small runs of special containers (20 to 50 pieces), at the customer's request, or standard containers with the modifications requested by the customer, within acceptable lead-times. For the user, a made-to-measure product will sometimes be better adapted to his needs, optimizing his investment and logistics costs.

Finally, unlike other materials such as plastics, metal containers are generally easy to repair. What's more, their destruction does not generate environmentally harmful waste, as metal recycling circuits are well organized.