Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve got answers. Our most frequently asked questions are below but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
RFQ and Ordering FAQs
On the metal and wood side of our business, you can order as few as one (1) rack, box, crate, cart or skid. On the corrugated cardboard side of our business, a small order would have to trim out of sheets on hand.
Please give us a call with your sizes and we will work with you to get your minimum quantity.
No; you do not need a formal drawing or sketches to get a price estimate. General weight, shape, size and quantity of your packaged items is often enough for our engineering design team to build a plan for you.
If your product is detailed in nature or you do not feel comfortable with providing that information in your initial communication, one of our representatives will be happy to give you a call or make an appointment to meet with you at your location.
Basin Industries works with customers to set a realistic schedule for manufacturing your final packaging product; in many cases we can offer delivery in under one week. If the final size can be determined in advance, we can put you in our schedule even before your project is completed.
We will do everything we can to meet your required ship date.
In most cases, we can offer same-day price estimates. If additional fabricated materials are required, or if you are in need of a complex solution, quotation times will vary. We will deliver your prices within 24 hours of the final design.
Yes; Basin Industries produces samples and prototypes of new packaging items prior to full-run production. In most cases, the cost of producing samples can be credited against the final order.
Custom Packaging FAQs
Yes; we offer various forms of dunnage including (but not limited to) custom foam, wraps, shock-absorbing materials and anti-static protection. Our packaging solutions can be designed with shock-absorbing skids, floating decks and segmented compartments, etc. for added product protection.
Our custom aluminum and wood packaging solutions are a great alternative to heavy-duty (and heavy-weight) steel racks and skids. While not as strong or durable as steel, aluminum and wood packaging often meets our customers’ needs and can be designed to withstand heavy loads and rough handling.
All of our custom packaging is designed to be as lightweight and easy-to-handle as possible. Efficient logistics is a cornerstone of our business and a detail we cover very well.
Material FAQs
Steel is often an excellent choice for demanding returnable applications.
Custom steel racks, containers and pallets can be designed to support heavy loads, protect complex components and withstand repeated industrial handling. Steel also provides considerable flexibility for incorporating locating features, dunnage, stacking structures, forklift access and other application-specific requirements.
For closed-loop automotive and industrial programs in particular, a well-designed steel rack can remain in circulation for repeated trips rather than requiring new packaging for every shipment.
Steel can be a strong choice when the application requires:
- High load capacity
- Repeated reuse
- Resistance to demanding industrial environments
- Precise part positioning
- Stacking or racking
- Repairability
- Integration with manufacturing and material-handling processes
The initial investment may be higher than some expendable alternatives, which is why steel packaging should be evaluated based on cost per trip and expected service life, not purchase price alone.
Aluminum can provide many of the benefits associated with fabricated metal packaging while reducing overall weight.
That can be particularly valuable when packaging must be moved frequently, when weight contributes materially to transportation or handling requirements, or when corrosion resistance is important.
Custom aluminum racks and containers can also be fabricated for specialized industrial applications where strength is required but minimizing tare weight is valuable.
The tradeoff is that aluminum typically has different material costs, strength characteristics and repair considerations than steel. Whether those differences make aluminum the better choice depends on the application rather than on a universal rule.
Basin Industries works with both steel and aluminum, allowing material selection to be based on the customer’s operational requirements rather than the limitations of a single fabrication process.
Wood remains one of the most versatile materials used in industrial packaging.
Custom crates, skids and pallets can be built around products of unusual size or shape, making wood particularly useful for heavy machinery, industrial equipment, low-volume shipments and products that require substantial structural support without the economics of a permanent fabricated metal system.
Wood packaging can also be easier to modify for changing dimensions or one-off projects.
For companies shipping internationally, however, wood packaging may need to meet phytosanitary requirements such as ISPM 15. Those requirements should be considered during packaging planning rather than shortly before shipment.
Wood can be particularly effective when:
- Volumes are relatively low
- Products are large or irregular
- Packaging does not need to complete hundreds of return trips
- Custom blocking and bracing are required
- Heavy-duty shipping solution is needed without investing in permanent metal packaging
Plastic packaging can be a strong solution for applications that benefit from low weight, moisture resistance, cleanliness and repeated use.
Depending on the design, plastic pallets, containers and other packaging components can work well in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution environments where consistent dimensions and easy handling are important.
Plastic may also be useful where wood is undesirable because of moisture, contamination or international shipping considerations.
As with any material, however, plastic needs to be evaluated against the load, handling environment and expected lifecycle of the packaging. A lightweight plastic system designed for one application should not automatically be substituted into a demanding heavy-industrial program.
Basin’s packaging capabilities include custom plastic solutions alongside metal, wood and corrugated products, allowing these tradeoffs to be considered as part of the overall packaging design.
It is lightweight, relatively economical, highly customizable and well suited to a wide range of expendable and limited-use applications. Corrugated packaging can also be combined with inserts, partitions, protective materials and other components to create surprisingly sophisticated packaging systems.
For many products, a custom corrugated solution may be more economical than building a durable returnable container that will never actually return.
Corrugated packaging is often a strong fit when:
- The shipment is one-way
- Product weight is moderate
- Low packaging weight is important
- Volumes are high
- Storage space matters
- Packaging needs to be easily recycled after use
In other cases, corrugated material can be used as part of a hybrid system inside reusable racks or containers.
Yes! Some of the most effective industrial packaging systems combine materials.
A fabricated steel rack may use plastic or foam dunnage to protect finished surfaces. A wood crate may incorporate corrugated partitions. A reusable container may include replaceable components designed to accommodate multiple product variants.
The question is not necessarily whether steel is better than wood, or whether plastic is better than corrugated.
The better question is: What combination of materials provides the best protection, handling efficiency and lifecycle economics for this particular product?
A supplier with expertise across multiple materials is better positioned to answer that question without forcing the application into a predetermined manufacturing capability.
Sizing FAQs
Measure the length, width and height of your product in that order (L x W x H). Together, we can add additional room for dunnage and protection. Please have the shipping weight, mode of transportation and delivery destination ready at the same time.
For large racks, crates and boxes, please let us know if you want the delivered product assembled or knocked down.
No; with the exception of our line of wood EZ Loc Crates, all of our metal and wood packaging solutions, including steel racks, skids, wheeled carts, and wooden crates and boxes are custom-made to your exact specifications.
On occasion, we may have an overrun carton that may meet your requirements.
Basin Industries works with customers to set a realistic schedule for manufacturing your final packaging product; in many cases we can offer delivery in under one week. If the final size can be determined in advance, we can put you in our schedule even before your project is completed.
We will do everything we can to meet your required ship date.
Latest news
Steel, aluminum, wood, plastic and corrugated packaging each offer different advantages. Learn how product weight, reuse, freight, protection and lifecycle cost should influence your industrial packaging material selection.
Basin Industries will exhibit at Booth #3 at the 2026 Automotive Packaging Summit in Greenville, SC. Meet our team and learn about our steel, aluminum and wood capabilities for automotive packaging and material handling.
Basin Industries is accelerating its national growth strategy under EVP of Corporate Development James Fox, with a focus on acquiring strong industrial packaging, material handling and manufacturing businesses across the United States.
