New plastic crates and bulk containers

When new is worth paying for

A program spec. Automotive and other closed-loop programs often name a footprint, a height and sometimes a maker's model. ORBIS says its 48x45 BulkPak footprint is the AIAG standard. If your customer's packaging spec lists a part number, a used box that is close will be rejected at the dock, and new is the safe buy.

A food line. When product touches the container, the plant usually wants a clean history and the maker's paperwork for that exact resin and part. New stock is the easiest way to get both. We make no food-contact claims ourselves; the maker's documents say what each part is made for.

A matched fleet. Conveyors, automated storage and robotic depalletizers expect identical boxes. Mixing two makers' versions of the same nominal size can jam a line. New lets you order one part, one color and one marking for every unit.

Your name on the wall. Branded or color-coded totes discourage shrinkage, keep returnables flowing back to the right owner, and help pickers sort zones. Molded-in logos and hot stamps are cleanest when applied at the plant on fresh parts.

What to specify

A dimension beats an adjective. The list below is what a maker needs to quote the right part, and what we ask for on the quote form. Measure outside and inside, because walls on bulk containers can be thick enough to change what fits.

• Footprint and outside height, plus inside height if your product sits close to the top
• Wall: solid for parts and powders, vented for produce that needs airflow (see vented vs solid)
• Deck: solid or ventilated, and whether you need a smooth floor for bags or liners
• Base: runners, picture-frame base or feet, and 2-way or 4-way fork entry
• Doors: none, one or two drop doors, and on which side (see drop doors)
• Lid: none, loose, or hinged attached lid
• Load: product weight per box and how high you stack, static in storage and dynamic on the truck
• Tare weight limits, if your scales or freight tariff care
• Color, hot stamp, label holders or barcode plates
• Count, delivery address, and whether there is a loading dock

Maker part numbers we quote from

These are published figures from maker pages read in November 2026. They show the spread between parts that share a nominal footprint. Capacity ratings in particular vary by page and by load type, so we confirm every number against the maker's current sheet before a quote goes out.

Reading a spec sheet

Return ratio tells you how many folded units ship in the space of one standing unit. ORBIS lists 2.7:1 on the GP4048-34; PHS lists 2:1 on its 45-inch-tall model. A higher ratio means fewer trucks on the empty leg, which matters on long lanes (see return ratio).

Stacking is given two ways. ORBIS rates the GP4048-34 at six high static and three high dynamic, meaning six in a warehouse column but three in a moving trailer. If a sheet only gives one number, ask which it is. Our stacking limits guide explains why the two differ.

Minimums and lead times to ask about

We don't promise ship dates or minimums for any maker. They change with resin supply, plant schedules and whether a part runs from inventory or gets molded to order. What we do is put these questions to the maker for you and return the answers in writing with the quote:

• Is this part stocked, or molded to order?
• What is the minimum per part number, and per color?
• Is there a minimum or setup charge for a hot stamp or custom label?
• Does a nonstandard color or insert need its own run?
• Does it ship from one plant, and how far is that from you?
• Is a partial truckload possible, or is a full trailer the practical unit?

New, used or refurbished

New costs more per box but arrives identical, documented and with a full service life ahead. Used suits storage, internal moves and loads where a scuffed wall doesn't matter. Refurbished sits between: repaired, washed and regraded boxes from a known family. Many buyers run new for the customer-facing loop and used for the yard. Tell us both jobs and we'll quote each one.