various organizations, agencies and documents. This is the result of the small size of the industry and the fact that a single, finite definition of an item that is different every time it is made can be difficult to define. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, for example, doesn't allow crates on airplanes because it defines a crate as an open transport container. Although a crate can be of the Open or Framed variety, having no sheathing, a Closed crate is not open and is equally as safe to ship in as a wooden box, which is allowed by IATA. Other crates Milk crates and bottle crates are a form of reusable packaging used to ship to retail stores and to return empty bottles to the bottler or packager. These are usually moulded plastic designs expected to make several round trip shipments. Wood structures are also used. See also Banana box or banana crate, a type of box designed for transportation of bananas Box Bulk box Case (goods) Container compression test Dog crate Gestation crate ISPM 15 Wooden box References Bibliography Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, McKinlay, A. H., "Transport Packaging",IoPP, 2004 ASTM Standards D6039 Standard Specification for Crates, Wood, Open and Covered D6179 Standard Test Methods for Rough Handling of Unitized Loads and Large Shipping Cases and Crates D6199 Quality of Wood Members of Containers and Pallets D6253 Treatment and/or Marking of Wood Packaging Materials D6255 Standard Specification for Steel or Aluminum Slotted Angle Crates D7478 Standard Specification for Heavy Duty Sheathed Wood Crates Containers Shipping containers