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Plastic storage boxes come in a huge range of sizes and types, so choosing the best for your needs can be quite complicated, but the following will give you an idea of the points to consider.

Let us help you select what you need.

As specialists in plastic containers and boxes for storage and transport, we can offer expert advice and assistance in choosing just the right product for your needs, so please telephone us to discuss your requirements – it could save you buying the wrong product!

To give you a brief introduction to what to consider when choosing a plastic storage box or container, here are some guidelines:

Strength

As all these storage boxes are made from plastic, the strength to weight ratio is dependent on the actual design. There are many different forms available, but all will have a combination of flat areas crisscrossed with reinforcing ribs. It is these ribs that provide the strength and rigidity as the size increases.

You will need to consider the weight of the contents of any container or box, as the base will need to have sufficient strength to fully support the weight of the contents. For lightweight contents, a purely flat base may be all that is required, but as the weight increases, there is an increasing need for cross ribbing under the base of the container.

Size

small – for small parts storage, often used with storage racks or louvre panels.

medium – for general and specific storage, transport and handling. The sizes usually enable lifting by hand, but that is obviously dependent on the contents.

Sizes range in length, width and depth (height); many will be stackable and inter-stackable – ie size of smaller ones designed to stack on larger ones, ie 2 x 400mm x 300mm would stack on top of a 400mm x 600mm

Depths (height) varies from shallow tray to full depth. Much would depend for choice on the contents and how much vertical separation is required.

Most sizes would remain reasonable for manual handling, and choice may be dependent on this for actual loaded weight suitable for manually handling.

large – for bulk storage, handling and transport.

Bulk storage would normally require mechanical handling equipment, and many large plastic containers are made with pallet type bases to provide easy fork truck handling. Some will include enclosed fork sockets so that emptying can be accomplished by fork rotation.

Ventillation

Most plastic boxes are solid in order to protect from external moisture, but some items to be stored will have their own moisture that will require some degree of drainage. For this reason, some plastic containers have a ventilated base, which will allow any moisture to drain away, rather than be contained in the base of the container.

Some products will need more ventilation still, and for these purposes, ventilated sides are available to increase the air flow from inside to outside the container. All combinations are available. ie: ventilated base only; ventilated sides only; and ventilated base and sides.

Food grade storage

If you are storing unwrapped food stuffs it is important to only use food grade plastic boxes and containers; there are specific ranges available for food storage, transport and dispensing, so please ask us for advice.

Visibility

Standard colour for most plastic boxes and containers used to be grey, but today, many are available in a range of colours for colour coding contents or simply for identification, or aesthetic purposes.

Some are also two colour, most often those that stack when full and nest when empty, by turning to the opposite direction – the twin colouration aids this positioning.

Some ranges are available in transparent plastic, which can aid identification of contents by simple viewing.

Lids

Most plastic boxes and containers are open topped, but there are various options for protective lids.

Loose snap-on lids are available for many ranges, whereas attached lids are available on others. Attached lids can be single hinged, or split with two hinged halves; these latter enable nesting of lidded containers when empty, as the two halves of the lids hang down to the side of the container, allowing the nesting.

Also available on some ranges are larger lids that fit over multi-stacked containers, usually based on pallet-stacked sizes.

Stackability

Nearly all plastic boxes and containers will stack one on top of another of the same type; and many are designed to inter-stack as described above, two smaller on top of one larger.

Some are specifically designed to combine in order to fit standard euro pallets, thus maximising storage space and handling facilities.

The height to which any particular container can be stacked will depend on its design strength and the weight of the contents; so if you plan high stacking heights, you should consider the overall weight and strength combination carefully – or ask us for advice.

Storage out of use

One of the benefits of plastic storage boxes and containers is flexibility and repetition of use, particularly for transport purposes; and many are designed to nest inside one another when empty in order to reduce the space required for storage when not in use, and particularly for return journeys if used for transport.

There are different methods of nesting: some stack in one orientation but nest when turned through 180 degrees.

Attached split lid containers stack when lids are closed, but nest when they are open.

Other containers have bale arms, which swing into place for stacking support, but allow nesting otherwise.

Internal divisions and inserts

Depending on what is required to be contained, some ranges of plastic containers have a choice of internal inserts available for subdivision of the storage area inside an individual container. Some inserts can be manufactured specifically for individual uses, such as for manufactured parts storage and transport.

Antistatic

If the container is to carry static sensitive items, then specifically made antistatic containers are available for this purpose.

Labelling and identification

Identification and labelling of contents is usually required, and various facilities are provided for this purpose, including label wallets, or card slots or clips. Also dimple patches are often provided for adhesive labels that can then be removed and changed reasonably easily.

For more general labelling, many containers can have surface printing of logos etc added.

Security

If the security of the contents is an issue, there are various locking facilities available, ranging from simple padlock holes, to seals that have to be broken for the lids to be opened.

Other accessories

There are several other accessories available, such as extra handles, locking devices, drain taps etc that can be fitted to containers.

Order picking

Specific containers for order picking situations are available that have hinged access panels, either transparent of solid, in either the end or side of the container, depending on your requirements; these allow access to any individual container in a stack, for the purpose of accessing contents.

Automatic handling

Where automatic handling systems are in use, there is a need to ensure the design of container is compatible with the equipment in use, either for lifting of moving on conveyors etc, which may require specific gripping grooves or channels etc. so please contact us to discuss the details of your situation.

Handling and Mobility

The handling of the containers whether full or empty can require simple equipment such as dollies and trolleys, or mobile or static racks; all of which will aid the use and manoeuvrability.

Some larger plastic containers can have castors fitted to the individual container, which can help with basic manoeuvrability, particularly when full.