Not all wood crates are built the same—literally! At Valley Box, we've been designing and manufacturing custom wood crating for decades, so we know a thing or two about what makes a crate strong, secure, and reliable.
One key difference in crate construction is how the panels attach to the base, and while it might seem like a minor detail, it can have a big impact on durability. In this article, we’re breaking down the difference between a Style A crate and a Style-A-Insert crate, explaining why it matters, and helping you decide which option is the best fit for your shipping needs.
In Valley Box's opinion, in most cases the Style-A-insert method is superior in strength.
Note: "Style A" is a term from the PPP-B-601 page 33 for Standard Specification for Open and Covered Wood Crates.
Style A Insert
Style-A-Insert crates feature a deck inserted into the vertical panels, with nails driven horizontally. This configuration offers greater shear strength, better water resistance at the base, and improved alignment when the top box is replaced. Valley Box considers the Style-A-Insert method superior in strength.
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Style-A-Insert has the crate deck inserted into the vertical panels of the top box. |
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The nails holding the top box panels to the deck go in horizontally. There is tremendous shear strength in the fastener running parallel to the ground. |
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water shed - sealed better at the bottom |
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Loose top box it aligns better when replaced |
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sides rests on skids and deck. |
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when lid is removed panels are prevented from "racking" because they are squared up along the deck edges. especially good for loose lid. |
Style A
Style A crates have vertical panels resting on top of the base, with nails driven upward into the panel cleats. This design may have less shear strength, making the sides susceptible to detachment, especially from minor forklift impacts.
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Style A the vertical panels sit on top of the base. |
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the skid is inset an inch or two on each side then we nail up into the panel cleat. Style A’s have less shear strength in the fasteners and the sides can pull off especially from minor forklift impacts on the side walls. |
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Water shed can infiltrate's the seam along the deck. |
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Loose top box designs are not practical challenging with a style A, typically the top box is nailed from underneath. but once the payload is on the deck its not possible to nail from underneath.
top box can shear off when pushed around |
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sides rest on top of deck |
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when lid is removed panels will often "rack" into a polygon/hexagon? shape because they lack support that keeps the vertical side squared up to one another.
This can also happen when being pushed around with a forklift and the top box can detach from base. |
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Overtightening banding can distort the vertical panels because they are only supported by nails ta the bottom. |
When comparing the Style-A vs Style-A-Insert crate construction methods:
Style A crate design may have less shear strength, making the sides susceptible to detachment, especially from minor forklift impacts. Additionally, water can infiltrate the seam along the deck.
Style-A-Insert crate design configuration offers greater shear strength, better water resistance at the base, and improved alignment when the top box is replaced.
Valley Box considers the Style-A-Insert method superior in strength.
