A-Frame Crates
Back to Wooden Crates
Know What You're Looking For?
Need More Help With Your Crate?
A-Frame Crates for Safe & Efficient Shipping
ONE WAY SHIPPER or REUSABLE
An A-frame crate is the trusted solution for shipping stone, glass, tile and other sheet goods upright and secure. By holding materials on end instead of flat, an A-frame shipping crate reduces the risk of cracking, optimizes container space and provides reliable protection for fragile or oversized loads. As one of the leading industrial wood crate suppliers, Millwood engineers custom A-frame designs to match your product specifications, shipping environment, and handling needs.
Protect Fragile & Oversized Materials
Flat-packed shipping can lead to breakage and wasted space. A-frame crates angle sheet goods securely against reinforced lumber supports, making them ideal for heavy stone slabs, large-format tile, architectural glass or other products that require safe handling in transit.
Custom-Built for Your Application
Every A-frame crate can be built with or without a pallet base, forklift entry or reusable features depending on your shipping program. Millwood’s packaging engineers design each solution to reduce risk, improve handling efficiency and deliver cost-effective performance.
Custom Requirements? No Problem
We know that no two applications are the same. That’s why we leverage our ISTA-certified Millwood Lab to engineer custom industrial crating solutions tailored to your exact load and handling requirements. Our approach avoids:
-
Over-engineering that drives up cost or
-
Under-engineering that risks damage.
-
Instead, we deliver just-right solutions backed by packaging science.
Why Choose Millwood As Your Crating Supplier?
-
Customer Centric Approach: We collaborate closely with customers, providing personal service and responsive support to meet your unique needs.
-
Industry Expertise Since 1985: With over four decades of experience, Millwood understands the complexities of crating design and supply chain logistics.
-
Innovative Design & Testing: Our in-house ISTA-certified lab and custom design enable tailored, optimized crating solutions.
-
Manufacturing Experts: From sawmilling, resawing, assembly, heat treating and mold prevention, we have the experience and knowledge to serve you.
-
Sustainability Commitment: We are committed to efficiency without compromising our environment.
Proven Solutions that Complement our Crating Options
Millwood Lab
Our ISTA-certified test lab gives customers confidence that their crating and packaging solutions will perform in real-world conditions. By simulating shipping and handling environments, we test, verify and optimize designs to reduce product damage, minimize waste and improve supply chain efficiency.
Custom Design
Millwood guarantees full 3D modeling and drawings for every RFQ within 24-48 hours. Our design team will review your specifications to ensure that your custom engineered crating solution meets your application requirements, with our operations team ready to rapidly scale production capacity as needed.
Providing Supply Chain solutions
We’ve hand-picked these products to create a comprehensive solution that complements your crating needs.
Certified pallet heat treatment that eliminates pests and ensures compliance with global ISPM-15 regulations. Export-ready, chemical-free and eco-friendly.
Steel, polyester and polypropylene strapping engineered for load containment. Works with tensioners and sealers to secure heavy or high-value goods.
Hand and machine stretch wrap options that contain loads, prevent shifting and protect against dust and moisture with cost-efficient application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an A-Frame crate used for?
An A-Frame crate is used to ship and protect sheet goods, such as glass, stone or large panels, in an upright position. This design reduces damage risk during transport compared to stacking products flat.
Beyond safety, the A-Frame structure maximizes space efficiency and makes handling easier with forklifts and pallet jacks. Industries like glass manufacturing, countertop suppliers and construction materials rely on A-Frame crates to move fragile or oversized goods securely. The angled support frame reduces pressure points, minimizes breakage and keeps products stable during long-haul shipping or export. Millwood’s A-Frame crates can be engineered to fit unique product dimensions and weight requirements.
Are A-Frame crates reusable or one-way?
Most A-Frame crates are designed as one-way solutions for safe delivery of fragile or heavy materials. This ensures your goods arrive securely and allows the crate to be disposed of or recycled after use.
However, depending on the material specifications and reinforcement options chosen, A-Frame crates can be built for multiple trips or reuse within a facility. Customers in closed-loop operations sometimes request heavier-duty A-Frame designs for repeat use. Millwood engineers evaluate your load, handling environment, and shipping frequency to recommend whether a standard one-way crate or a reusable A-Frame is the best fit. This flexibility ensures cost efficiency while protecting valuable sheet goods throughout the supply chain.
Can A-Frame crates be customized for my products?
Yes, A-Frame crates can be fully customized to match your product size, weight and protection requirements. Custom options help ensure fragile sheet goods travel securely with less risk of shifting or breaking.
Millwood’s packaging engineers design crates with reinforced bracing, protective padding and load-bearing supports tailored to your needs. For companies exporting products internationally, A-Frame crates can also be heat-treated and stamped to meet ISPM-15 compliance standards. Whether you need to ship glass panels, stone slabs or other unique sheet goods, a custom A-Frame crate reduces waste, improves handling efficiency and enhances safety during storage, loading and transit. This level of engineering makes them ideal for specialized industrial applications.
Are A-Frame crates compliant for international shipping?
Yes, Millwood offers A-Frame crates that meet ISPM-15 requirements for international shipping. These crates are heat-treated and stamped to comply with global regulations for wood packaging.
International customers often face delays or fines if packaging does not meet phytosanitary export rules. Using ISPM-15 certified A-Frame crates ensures your shipment passes customs and avoids costly disruptions. Beyond compliance, Millwood designs A-Frame crates for export durability, including reinforced support for long ocean or air shipments. By combining regulatory approval with structural strength, these crates give you confidence that fragile sheet goods will arrive safely at their destination, whether shipping across North America or to global markets.
What industries benefit most from A-Frame crates?
A-Frame crates are most commonly used in industries that ship fragile, flat, or sheeted products. This includes glass manufacturers, stone and countertop suppliers, construction materials and specialized equipment producers.
These industries rely on A-Frame crates because the design supports materials upright, reducing stress and breakage risk during transport. For example, glass and stone slabs are far less likely to crack when shipped vertically compared to stacked flat. In construction and industrial manufacturing, A-Frame crates are a safe way to ship large panels, sheet metal and heavy composite materials. Millwood’s expertise in custom A-Frame design ensures that companies in these sectors can ship valuable goods efficiently, safely and in compliance with domestic and export standards.
How are A-Frame crates made?
A-Frame crates are built with a sturdy pallet base and angled supports that form an “A” shape, creating a stable frame for shipping sheet goods upright. The frame is reinforced with bracing, fasteners and cross supports to prevent shifting during transport. Depending on the application, padding, blocking or additional strapping may be added to protect fragile surfaces. For export shipments, Millwood can heat-treat and stamp the wood to meet ISPM-15 requirements. Each crate can be engineered to match the dimensions, weight and handling methods of your product, ensuring durability, compliance and safe arrival across domestic or international supply chains.