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Crate facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Perspective Wooden Crate
Wood crate

A crate is a type of container often used in shipping. It can be made of wood, but crates made to carry bottles are often plastic. Steel and aluminium crates are also used.

History

The word crate comes from the word: Latin: cratis. The earliest packaging materials were made of wood and wood fiber. The first crates used to transport anything were hampers or baskets. They were made of twigs, strips of wood, roots, and reeds. Whatever was available that could be woven into a container. Baskets were used to hold and transport food and goods. Later glass and ceramic jugs were protected by baskets.

The first documented reference to a shipping crate in the United States is in a 1930 handbook, Technical Bulletin No. 171 written by C. A. Plaskett for the US Department of Agriculture. His writing implies that crates were defined before that time. C. A. Plaskett was known for his extensive testing and defining of various components of transport packaging.

Construction

While both can be used for shipping, a crate is different from a box. A crate has a frame while a box generally does not. Crates are rigid containers built for the purpose of protecting the contents. Crates can be made of wood, plastic, metal or other materials. Crates usually need to be designed to exactly fit what it is they are protecting. Reusing a crate that does not fit the contents can waste space and harm the contents.

Images for kids

  • Plantação de banana 11

    Shipment of bananas in wooden crates

  • US Navy 030830-N-6187M-001 Sailors remove a hoisting sling from an ammo crate carrying 2000-pound Mark 84 general purpose bombs

    A crate used to transport ordnance

  • Crate (PSF)

    An open frame style crate used for a bicycle

  • Method of crating enameled sanitary ware

    An early open style crate for heavy cast iron

  • Plywood Mil-C-104 crate with front panel removed (model)

    A sheathed (closed) plywood crate

  • HLI-002

    A sheathed (closed) lumber crate

  • Wood crate sample picture

    Wooden crate with cleating

  • Plywood sheathed crate 2014-03-25

    A plywood sheathed crate with a pallet-like bottom.

  • Woda.mineralna.w.skrzynkach

    Reusable mineral water bottles in crates

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Crate Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.