For this manufacturer of precision machinery, shipping was a constant headache. They purchased traditional wooden crates to protect their high-value parts, but this conventional method presented three major operational bottlenecks:

• Labor-Intensive Packing and Unpacking: Securing traditional crates meant warehouse staff had to use nail guns and/or screws. Upon arrival, the manufacturer’s customers had to pry the crates apart with crowbars, often destroying the wood and risking injury or damage to the product inside.
• Return Freight Waste: Because the manufacturer shipped to repeat clients, they wanted a closed-loop reusable crate system. However, shipping empty, fully assembled wooden crates back to their facility meant they were essentially paying high freight rates to ship “air.”
• Wasted Floor Space: Storing bulky, rigid crates on the factory floor consumed valuable square footage that could have been used for production and staging.

Looking for a smarter, reusable packaging solution, the manufacturer partnered with Basin Industries.

Instead of delivering traditional rigid boxes, we designed and constructed custom EZ Loc Crates that met our customer’s needs. Built from durable plywood manufactured with exterior-grade glue, the EZ Loc system replaces traditional nails and screws with specially designed, heavy-duty clips. In the end, we delivered the engineered crates to the manufacturer, ready to be packed, shipped, collapsed, and returned for reuse.

Basin Industries tailored the EZ Loc Crates to fit the manufacturer’s exact needs, utilizing several key features of the product line:

• Custom Sizing & Protection: Panels were sized precisely to fit the manufacturer’s machinery (staying within the maximum 48” wide by 96” long individual panel dimensions). Custom foam lining was added, and shipping pallet cushions replaced standard runners for maximum shock absorption.
• Export Readiness: Because the client ships globally, Basin Industries provided all crates fully ISPM Certified for international export.

The implementation of EZ Loc Crates yielded immediate, measurable improvements across the manufacturer’s supply chain.

The biggest win for our customer was the collapsibility of the new system. Once the end-user receives the product, they simply unclip the panels. Disassembled, the EZ Loc Crates collapsed down to less than 10 inches high. This allows the end-users to stack multiple collapsed crates onto a single pallet. Return shipment volumes dropped substantially, turning a previously cost-prohibitive return program into a highly profitable, closed-loop system.

By eliminating nails, screws, and crowbars, the manufacturer drastically reduced the man-hours required to seal their outgoing products. Warehouse staff simply secure the panels with the specialized clips in minutes. Just as importantly, their end-users appreciate the safe, frustration-free unpacking experience that requires no heavy tools.

Whereas traditional crates can be destroyed after one or two trips, EZ Loc Crates are inherently designed for a long lifecycle of reuse. In the event of forklift damage or a misplaced component, the manufacturer no longer has to scrap the entire crate. We easily supply replacement panels and clips, extending the lifespan of the packaging fleet and maximizing the customer’s ROI.

Beyond the features utilized by this specific manufacturer, the EZ Loc Crate system is designed, built, and customized by Basin Industries for almost any industrial shipping need:

• Reusable shipping crates that are easy to assemble, disassemble, and return
• Rapid, tool-free securing via specialized clips
• Collapses to under 10” high for space-saving storage and reduced return shipping volumes
• Damaged individual panels and clips can be easily replaced
• ISPM Certified for international export
• Customizable internal dividers and shipping fixtures
• Integral or separate beveled loading ramps for easy rolling access
• Optional casters and lifting handles for superior mobility
• Custom stenciling for brand visibility and shipping instructions