Empty Cartridge Crate

A crate for empties that still need sorting

This crate gives your team one fixed place for spent cartridges after refills, nozzle checks and print runs. It helps keep mixed cartridge stock apart from live stock, which matters when black, cyan, magenta and yellow units all land on the same bench.

For offices and design studios, it keeps used units in order until they move to return handling or recycling. In a wide-format room, it also helps separate standard cartridges from larger-format consumables where the work area can fill up fast.

Sizes and crate styles used in refill rooms

We supply crate options that suit small front-counter storage and larger back-room collection points. The right format depends on how many cartridges you hold between collection runs and how much bench or shelf space is available.

• Compact crate for low-volume offices and studio counters
• Mid-size crate for mixed cartridge holding and sorting
• Deep crate for higher empty counts in active refill rooms
• Lidded option for dust control in storage areas
• Open-top option for faster sorting at the bench

Most customers want a crate that is easy to lift, easy to label and easy to clean. If you keep empties near refill bottles, chip reset tools or packaging stock, a crate with a plain front face makes the contents easy to identify.

Where this crate suits the work best

It suits Westville offices, Durban print rooms, Pietermaritzburg studios and city dispatch areas where cartridges move through more than one hand. Ballito and Hillcrest customers often use one crate for the front office and a second crate near the refill point so empties do not drift across the room.

It also works well where cartridges are returned in batches from multiple printers. If your team handles dye ink cartridges for everyday colour work and pigment units for sharper text or more durable output, a separate crate for each stream keeps the returns cleaner.

• Office print points with regular cartridge changes
• Design studios with mixed colour output
• Wide-format rooms with steady consumable turnover
• Dispatch areas handling emptied stock for return or recycling

Fitting the crate into your refill and return routine

The crate does not need installation, but it should sit where cartridges are removed, checked and stored without crossing a busy walkway. A low shelf, side table or under-bench position usually works well, as long as the lid or opening is still easy to reach.

For refill rooms, the crate is best used with a simple label system and separate holding areas for cleaned empties, faulty units and cartridges still waiting for inspection. If you use chip resetters or refill kits, keep those tools in a different tray so used cartridges do not get mixed with working stock.

• Place near the refill bench or printer service point
• Keep out of direct sun and damp walls
• Use labels for model groups, colour groups or return status
• Do not stack heavy boxes on top of the crate

Care that keeps the crate clean and useful

An empty cartridge crate stays useful when it is wiped out regularly and kept free of loose ink, torn labels and dried wipe cloths. If a cartridge has leaked, let it drain onto absorbent material first, then place it in the crate only when the outside is dry enough to handle.

In Durban's coastal air, a covered crate helps reduce dust sticking to damp residue around the cartridge base. If you run a busy shop floor, a weekly clean with a mild cleaning solution is usually enough, and the crate should be checked for cracks, bent corners or worn handles.

• Wipe the inside before a new collection cycle starts
• Keep a bag or liner ready for messy returns
• Check for ink build-up around the base corners
• Replace any cracked lid or damaged handle early

Details to confirm before ordering

When you order, it helps to know what cartridge sizes you handle, how many empties you hold at one time and whether the crate must fit a shelf, trolley or dispatch bin. Some teams also want separate crates for standard cartridges, high-yield units and wide-format consumables.

Please confirm the crate style, preferred size, colour, lid preference and whether you need a label surface for sorting by model or by return status. If you are using our contact form, include the room type, the usual empty count and whether the crate will sit in a shop, studio or back office.

• Cartridge families used in your printers
• Expected empty count before return handling
• Need for lid, open top or label panel
• Storage space available in metres or shelf width
• Whether the crate is for sorting, recycling or courier prep