Meat Crates

Beecraft’s meat crates are developed specifically for the meat industry and meet the stringent requirements of the EHI Retail Institute. They drain, which is the property that separates a meat crate from any other food-grade container.

Meat releases liquid throughout handling and storage. A crate that retains it becomes a reservoir at the base of the load, and every subsequent step moves that liquid around the process. Drainage removes it where it forms.

The range covers the standard European sizes — E1, E2 and E3, including ET specifications. They stack and wash on the same equipment, so most operations run more than one size and match the crate to the cut rather than standardising on one.

Choosing a size. Depth decides it. E1 suits thinner cuts and portioned packs that would be crushed under their own weight in a deeper crate, and keeps the filled weight manageable where crates are handled manually. Deeper crates carry more but run part-full if the product does not suit them — and a part-full crate costs the same to move, wash and store as a full one.

In retail meat supply chains the crate specification is frequently set by the retailer rather than the supplier, so confirm what is required before ordering.