Rebul Packaging

Crates do not fit?

You organise for a crate to be made because it will at least reduce the risk of damage and insurance claims for the more delicate and valuable items that you move. But on pack day, you find the crate does not fit. “HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!” you shout in frustration. Unfortunately crating is not a part of every job, each item being crated is unique and different consultants may give the crater a different perspective on what needs to be done. Your intentions are good and you may just accept that sometimes things just happen, but hope they won’t happen again. You may have even been saying this for a few years. Error in measurements can be provided by the consultant or your client, and can be a out by little or a lot. Either way, it causes big problems on pack day; problems you would prefer did not exist. Here are a few ways to greatly improve the likelihood of the crates fitting as you wanted them to.


1. Simplify Measuring: Better measuring techniques is the first place to start no doubt. This may arouse laughter in many, because it may be you or people you know. Some just aren’t comfortable with numbers, but moreover when measuring a lot of items everyday, it is hard to get every one right. It is ok – there is hope. We have defined a simplified measuring process for consultants that shows them how to measure easily, consistently and what is the priority to focus on. Our online system also allows the consultant to provide measurements in whatever measuring unit they feel most comfortable with (mm, cm or metres). Our experiences teaches us that you will encounter more problems if a consultant is forced to use a measuring unit they do not prefer (just because the person building the crates prefers it).


2. Appropriate Wrapping Space: If consultants provide internal crate dimensions to the crate maker, this leaves the amount of wrapping space up to the consultant, which also varies between consultants. It also means the crate will not be any bigger than the dimensions provided.
On the other hand if dimensions provided are of the exact object, and we add on wrapping space, it means the crate will always be bigger than the dimensions provided. We use our experience of crating different objects to determine what is most appropriate in each case.


3. Assume something is Wrong: We assume something is wrong with every set of dimensions we receive. This mindset helps us ensure we look at each set of dimensions objectively, and only make crates when it makes sense what we are making the crate for. While people make mistakes, we are accountable to do everything possible to ensure our crates provide the needed protection. And this starts with the object fitting comfortably within the crates. We manufacture around 250 crates each week for the removals industry around Australia and identify on average measurement errors in 15% of all crates requested. In doing so, we prevent 1,800 of our clients’ crates per year, from being taken out on jobs only to embarrassingly find they will not fit. That is also 1,800 more instances where the client says “Wow, fantastic, excellent”, instead of ….. something much less flattering.


4. Be Proactive: We bring anything that is out of the ordinary to the attention of our clients before the crates are made. Sure, it is impossible to catch them all, but experience and proactivity go a long way. We do not just make what we are asked to make, we always double check first.


5. Description: The more accurate the description, the more likely errors will be picked up. If we find a description to vague, we will contact our client for better understanding, regardless of the dimensions. Only when the dimensions and description correlate, do we then proceed.


If you think about it, what is it really worth to you in the instance an incorrectly sized crate arrives on site? The relationship with your client, the potential insurance claim? These things are avoidable, given the attention to detail and process. Rebul has an online system designed to mitigate many of these things, and the rest we do just as a matter of working closely with our clients. When it comes to protecting valuables - little things make a big difference. And that is the most understated thing I can possibly say.