Folding Crate Range

ENKO Plastics specialise in the manufacturing and supply of reusable produce trays, crates, and boxes for the agricultural, livestock and fresh produce markets throughout Europe. Traditionally their product range consisted of a wide range of fixed size stacking and stack/nest products. When their customer base showed interest in utilising folding crate systems, ENKO approached TRIG to assist with the design and engineering of a bespoke new range.

Through our focused research phase, we identified that there are several metric standard base size formats used throughout ENKO’s customer network and that it was important that the new products could inter stack with existing Euro box stock. However, we identified that the height of crates in demand varied dependant on the customers produce. As such we produced part and tooling concepts which could facilitate several crate heights utilising a common base and multi insert production tooling. Due to existing patents in this area TRIG needed to design and develop a new and unique closure mechanism which could “knock up and knock down” quickly and would not be legally challenged by ENKO’s competitors. To future proof the new range we also considered the latest automation, conveying, handling robotics and auto washing lines to ensure compatibility.

The combination of a unique and defendable folding and locking mechanism and the flexible / modular tooling approach which allows multi-height sides to be produced from a common mould base, has been key to ENKO’s success. This has enabled ENKO to bring this product to market and achieve record sales in a very short timescale. Due to the product’s strength, its stacking compatibility to existing fixed size Euro crates and its range flexibility it has been specified by many leading producers as their preferred folding crate range. We continue to work with ENKO to develop this range further through adding more sizes / styles to suit their ever-growing customer demands.