What Are Corrugated Trays Used For?
Corrugated trays (also called cardboard trays or kraft shipping trays) are shallow, open-top containers designed for transporting and displaying lightweight items. Common applications include:
- Plant nurseries: Transporting seedlings, small pots, and garden supplies
- Beverage distribution: Carrying bottles, cans, and packaged drinks
- Food service: Organizing prepared foods, bakery items, and catering supplies
- Retail and warehouse: Organizing small parts, hardware, and inventory items
- Event and catering: Transporting supplies and equipment to venues
Corrugated Tray Specifications
Our kraft corrugated trays are manufactured from 200#/ECT-32 corrugated cardboard, a standard test that measures crush resistance. This ensures your trays can handle moderate weight without collapsing.
What does 200#/ECT-32 mean? The 200# refers to the bursting strength (200 pounds per square inch), while ECT-32 measures edge crush test (32 pounds per linear inch). This combination provides excellent strength-to-weight ratio for shipping and storage.
Benefits of Buying Corrugated Trays in Bulk
Wholesale corrugated trays offer significant cost savings for businesses that need reliable, reusable transport solutions:
- Lower per-unit cost: Bundle quantities reduce your packaging expense
- Reduced freight: Trays ship flat, minimizing dimensional weight charges
- Space-efficient storage: Flat-folded design stacks compactly in your warehouse
- Quick assembly: No tape, glue, or tools required - just fold and load
- Eco-friendly: Recyclable kraft material reduces environmental impact
How to Assemble Corrugated Trays
Assembly is simple and takes seconds:
- Remove tray from flat-folded bundle
- Pop up the four corner panels
- Fold the side flaps upward to create the tray walls
- Lock the corners into place (design varies by tray style)
- Load your items and transport
No tape or adhesive required - the tray structure holds itself together once assembled.
Corrugated Trays vs. Corrugated Boxes: Which to Choose?
Not sure whether you need trays or boxes? Here's the difference:
- Corrugated trays: Open-top design for easy loading/unloading, best for short-distance transport and display
- Corrugated boxes: Fully enclosed with lid or flaps, better for long-distance shipping and stacking
Choose trays when you need quick access to items, frequent loading and unloading, or visual display. Choose boxes when you need full protection, stacking strength, or long-distance shipping.
Order Wholesale Corrugated Trays Today
Browse our selection of kraft corrugated trays above. All trays ship fast from our warehouse and are available in bulk quantities. Need a custom size? Contact us for a quote on custom corrugated trays tailored to your specific application.
Questions about corrugated tray sizing or strength? Our packaging specialists can help you choose the right tray for your application. Call us at 1-888-321-2248 or email [email protected].
Corrugated Trays - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a corrugated tray?A corrugated tray is a shallow, open-top cardboard container with fold-up sides, used to carry and display small to medium loads such as plants, bottles, and food service items. Prism Pak corrugated trays are made from 200#/ECT-32 kraft corrugated board and ship flat, so you fold them up only when you need them. What does 200#/ECT-32 mean on a corrugated tray?200# is the bursting strength rating (200 pounds per square inch) and ECT-32 is the edge crush test rating (32 pounds per linear inch). Together they describe a standard single-wall kraft corrugated board that handles moderate weight without collapsing - strong enough for produce, bottles, and packaged goods while staying light enough to keep freight costs down. Do corrugated trays need tape or glue to assemble?No. Corrugated trays assemble in seconds with no tape, glue, or tools - pop up the four corner panels, fold the side flaps upward, and lock the corners into place. The tray holds its own shape once assembled, which is why they are popular in high-volume nursery and food service operations. What is the difference between a corrugated tray and a corrugated box?A corrugated tray is open on top for fast loading, unloading, and display, while a corrugated box is fully enclosed with flaps or a lid for protection and stacking. Choose trays for short-distance transport, frequent handling, and retail display; choose boxes for long-distance shipping and stacked pallet loads. Are corrugated trays food safe?Yes. Our kraft corrugated trays are made from FDA-compliant materials that are safe for food contact, which is why they are used by bakeries, caterers, produce packers, and food service operations for prepared foods and bakery items. Can I order corrugated trays in a custom size?Yes. Prism Pak stocks corrugated trays in standard sizes for immediate shipment and quotes custom tray sizes for specific applications. Call 1-888-321-2248 or email [email protected] with your interior dimensions and load weight for a custom quote. Who uses corrugated trays?Plant nurseries, beverage distributors, bakeries and food service operations, retail and warehouse teams, and event caterers use corrugated trays to move and display lightweight loads. They buy in bulk because the trays ship and store flat, cutting both freight and warehouse space. |
