Sealed.Stacked.Certified. Shipped.
Packaging engineered for frozen seafood exporters, pharma cold-chain, and premium food brands — every crate tested to temperature, built for freight, and printed for customs.
Material Spec Sheets
Every spec is published, ungated, and matched to your shipment profile. Pick the liner that holds temperature from your dock to the end customer's receiving bay.
Standard Cold-Chain
The workhorse of perishable freight. Cost-effective, lightweight, and proven across millions of frozen protein and dairy shipments.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.033–0.040 W/m·K |
| Temp Hold (−20°C) | 72–96 hrs @ +35°C ambient |
| Density Range | 15–30 kg/m³ |
| Compressive Strength | 70–250 kPa |
| Water Absorption | <3% by volume |
| Recyclable | Yes — EPS stream |
| FDA Compliance | 21 CFR 177.1520 |
| Typical Wall Thickness | 38mm / 51mm / 76mm |
Pharma & Ultra-Cold
Twice the R-value of EPS at the same wall thickness. Required for biologics, vaccines, and dry-ice applications down to −70°C.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.022–0.028 W/m·K |
| Temp Hold (−70°C) | 96–120 hrs w/ dry ice |
| Density Range | 32–48 kg/m³ |
| Compressive Strength | 150–400 kPa |
| CO₂ Permeability | Dry-ice compatible |
| Recyclable | Limited — check local |
| USP Class VI | Available on request |
| Typical Wall Thickness | 25mm / 38mm / 51mm |
Box Board Performance
The outer corrugated shell carries handling marks, compliance print, and bears the crush load of a full pallet stack. Choose the coating for your moisture environment.
Seafood & Wet Ice
Paraffin-impregnated flutes resist moisture penetration for 12+ hours of wet-ice contact. USDA approved for fresh and frozen seafood export.
| Water Resistance | Cobb test <25 g/m² |
| Wet Compression (BCT) | ≥850 kg sustained |
| Wet Ice Contact | 12+ hrs without delamination |
| USDA Approved | Fresh & frozen seafood |
| Stacking Strength | 4 pallets high loaded |
Condensation & Humidity
LDPE surface coating handles condensation in transit from cold storage to ambient receiving docks. Printable for compliance labeling.
| Water Resistance | Cobb test <15 g/m² |
| Print Compatibility | Flexo / digital / thermal |
| Condensation Hold | 24+ hrs no delamination |
| Recyclable | Coating must be separated |
| Stacking Strength | 3 pallets high loaded |
Find Your Packaging
Input your temperature requirement, transit window, and destination climate. We'll output the exact liner and shell combination your product needs — with the rationale, not just the answer.
Side-by-Side Performance
Normalized performance metrics across insulation systems. Every figure is derived from ASTM test data, not marketing copy.
Wax-Dipped vs. Poly-Coated
Both meet USDA requirements. The right choice depends on whether your crate sees wet ice or condensation.
| Property | Wax-Dipped | Poly-Coated |
|---|---|---|
| Cobb Water Absorption | < 25 g/m² | ✓< 15 g/m² |
| Wet Compression (BCT) | ✓≥ 850 kg | ≥ 720 kg |
| Wet Ice Contact | ✓12+ hours | 4–6 hours |
| Print Quality | Limited (wax surface) | ✓Flexo / digital / thermal |
| Condensation Handling | Moderate | ✓24+ hours |
| Recyclability | EPS stream (wax boards) | Coating separation required |
| USDA Seafood Approval | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per Unit | Higher (wax dip process) | ✓Lower (coating line) |
Certifications & Client Results
Every spec we publish is backed by third-party test data. Every certification on file. Customs officers read our labels because they're printed to be read, not to be filed.
"We ship 18,000 lb of sockeye weekly from Kodiak to JFK. ColdChainCrate's wax-dipped double-wall holds compression under 4-pallet stacks in the reefer trailer and never shows moisture bleed at the receiving dock. Our USDC inspection pass rate went from 91% to 99.2% after switching."
"We distribute temperature-sensitive biologics across 14 states. The PUR 51mm qualification package — ISTA 7E data, stability study, and IATA P650 cert — was complete in 6 business days. Our QA team signed off without a single deviation request. That's unheard of in pharma logistics."
"Our marbled wagyu ice cream ships from our Portland production line to 200 specialty retailers nationwide. The first shipment I sent with ColdChainCrate's selector recommendation — PUR 38mm, 2-phase gel at −21°C — arrived in Denver in August looking like it came out of a display freezer. Product temp logged 4.2°F above set point max. Perfect."
The Cold-Chain Packaging Guide
48 pages. Every spec table, material comparison, pallet dimension map, and freight compatibility chart in a single PDF. Used by procurement teams at 200+ food and pharma distributors.
Download the Guide
Free. No paywall. One email so we can send you the right version for your shipment type.