Attached-lid containers
An attached-lid container, or ALC, is a tote with a two-piece lid hinged to its long sides: closed, the halves lock together and the box stacks; open, the flaps hang down and empties nest. It is the standard closed shipper for store delivery, order picking and any loop where the contents need to arrive untouched.
- Common footprint
- About 21x15 (ORBIS, Buckhorn, Akro-Mils)
- Lid
- Two hinged halves, interlocking
- Return ratio
- 5.4:1 on Buckhorn AR21151702
- Metric option
- 600x400 mm (IPL Schoeller)
Lid, hinge and body, piece by piece
The lid. Two flaps meet in the middle. Buckhorn says its lids carry interlocking fingers that close the box and add stacking strength, so the flap of one tote can bear the base of the next. The lid opens away from the opening, and on IPL Schoeller's Kaiman it opens on two sides.
The hinge. Steel pins run through molded knuckles. Buckhorn lists steel hinge pins on the AR21151702, and Akro-Mils describes reinforced steel hinge pins on its ALCs. Pins carry the abuse, so a worn knuckle is the first thing we look for on used stock.
The body. Tapered walls let open containers nest. Akro-Mils adds a textured bottom that grips conveyors and a padlock eye. ORBIS molds holes for security ties into its FliPak FP182. Buckhorn makes the AR21151702 from injection-molded HDPE.
Handling extras. ORBIS offers lids and dollies for a 21x15 hand-held footprint, noting that not every option fits every product. A dolly lets a store associate roll a column of closed totes off the truck and down an aisle without lifting each one, which is why a matched dolly is worth asking about in the same quote as the containers themselves.
Attached-lid models compared
Most US distribution ALCs sit near 21 x 15 in outside; see the 21x15 size page. Buckhorn also lists alternate 9 and 12 in heights for its 21 x 15 family. IPL Schoeller's Kaiman and Integra lines are built on the 600x400 mm module. Numbers are each maker's published figure, not a measurement of ours.
| Maker | Model | Outside | Capacity | Tare | Return ratio | Per 53 ft trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORBIS | FP182 FliPak | 21.8 x 15.2 x 12.9 in | 1.8 cu ft; 800 lb static load | 6.5 lb | Not listed | 3,600 |
| Buckhorn | AR21151702 | 21.8 x 15.3 x 17.0 in | 60 lb, 2.1 cu ft | 6.9 lb | 5.4:1 | 600 stacked, 3,120 nested |
| Akro-Mils | 39170 | 21-1/2 x 15-1/4 x 17 in | 100 lb, 17 gal | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| IPL Schoeller | Kaiman 600x400x400 | 23.6 x 15.7 x 15.7 in | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| IPL Schoeller | Integra NG 602x397x416 | 23.6 x 15.6 x 16.3 in | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Empty space on the way back
ORBIS says its FliPak family, offered in more than 20 sizes, cuts the empty return footprint by up to 75% when the lids are open and the bodies nest. Buckhorn's sheet for the AR21151702 shows the same idea in trailer terms: about 600 closed totes per 53 ft truck against about 3,120 nested. That is why stores and pharmacies can send empties back on the same truck that delivered full ones.
Two practical notes. First, a nest only works when every lid flap hangs fully open; a half-closed flap jams the column. Second, ORBIS and Buckhorn print different figures because their walls and heights differ, so compare models, not brands. The return ratio guide and our trailer fill tool help size a lane.
Security, seals and who uses them
A closed ALC can take a plastic zip tie or a numbered seal through the lid holes, so a store or branch can see at once if a tote was opened. IPL Schoeller says the Kaiman hinge design gives "evidence of tampering" and sells security seals as an accessory. It also notes that its Integra NG, aimed at e-commerce and retail, is not compatible with the Kaiman range, a reminder that similar-looking totes from one maker may not mix.
Buckhorn names distribution, grocery, retail, wholesale pharmaceutical and general manufacturing as users; ORBIS points the FP182 at health and beauty care items and pharmaceuticals; Akro-Mils lists order picking, closed-loop distribution and storage. See distribution and 3PL, grocery and retail and wholesale distribution.
Used ALCs: the checks that matter
Attached-lid totes leave service in large, uniform batches when a chain changes tote programs, which makes used lots attractive for warehouses that just need closed boxes. Our used page covers sourcing; grades are defined in used container grades.
- Hinge pins and knuckles. Look for bent pins, missing pins and cracked knuckles. A flap that droops won't interlock.
- Interlock fingers. Close each lid. The halves should meet flat with no gap you can slip a finger under.
- Seal holes. Torn tie holes defeat the point of a sealed shipper.
- Old branding. Hot-stamped logos and barcode labels may stay; tell us if they must go.
Details we need to quote
Send them through the quote form; a photo of the hinge and lid is often the fastest way to match an existing fleet.
- Outside size and height (for example 21 x 15 x 12 or 17)
- Required load per tote and whether it rides a conveyor
- Seal or padlock use, and any color or hot-stamp needs
- Quantity, new or used, and the return lane
- Food or pharmacy contact, and prior contents for used stock
Questions
Do attached-lid containers stack when the lid is open?
No, open containers nest instead. They stack only with both lid halves closed, which is what carries the box above.
Can I get replacement hinge pins?
Ask us with the part number molded on the tote. Pins differ between models, so we check with the maker for that exact container rather than guessing at a fit.
Are ALCs food safe?
We don't claim that for any container. Ask for the maker's material statement for that model and tell us what used totes carried; the food contact guide lists what to request.
What does 800 lb static load mean on the ORBIS FP182?
It is ORBIS's figure for weight resting on a closed tote that isn't moving. Moving loads on a truck or forklift are a separate, usually lower, limit; see stacking limits.
Sources
Figures on this page come from these pages, last reviewed 2026-11-08. Makers update their sheets; confirm a model's figures on its current sheet before you order.