6.2  Basic design features of a box/crate

[German version]

Load-bearing box/crate packaging is made up of three elements:

  • the floor (1)
  • the side and end walls (2)
  • the lid (3)


Figure 48: Elements of a load-bearing box/crate,
exemplified here by a box with a cut-lumber cladding




6.2.1  Design features of a cut-lumber/sheet material box


Figure 49: Example: Construction of a box with vertical cut-lumber cladding

Key (Figure 49):

1 Transverse skids 6 Diagonal members
2 Longitudinal skids 7 Lid-support members
3 Floor boards (may be spaced in the case of a crate) 8 Edge boards
4 End beams 9 Lid (boards may be spaced in the case of a crate)
5 Cut-lumber cladding (may be spaced in the case of a crate) 10* In the case of large, wide boxes:
The lid-support members are additionally supported by vertical members
      Between the edge boards and lid in the case of boxes:
An additional barrier layer of twin-wall sheet or film and hardboard





Figure 50: Example: Construction of a box
with sheet material cladding, OSB or plywood

Key (Figure 50):

1 Transverse skids 6 Edge boards
2 Longitudinal skids 7 Lid-support members
3 Floor boards 8 Edge boards
4 End beams 9 Barrier layer
5 Plywood/OSB cladding 10 Plywood/OSB
    11* In the case of large, wide boxes:
The lid-support members are additionally supported by vertical members

With this type of construction, no diagonal members are required in the walls, as the sheet materials have a sufficiently high shearing modulus.






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