SharkCrates focuses on efficiency and innovation amid growing demand

Founded in 2018 by Nate Collins, SharkCrates designs and manufactures reusable wooden shipping crates and pallet collars that help companies reduce waste, improve efficiency, and cut costs. The Milwaukee-based company combines software-driven design tools with hands-on manufacturing to deliver customized, sustainable packaging solutions.

Over the past year, rising demand has prompted the company to rethink how it uses space and manages workflow.

“We were building up a lot of work in process, and that was eating up valuable space,” Collins said. “Now we’re working toward a one-piece flow where we touch the parts once. They hit the ground and go out the door.”

SharkCrates has reconfigured its entire warehouse, installing a custom-built machine designed by a local partner to streamline production. The change marks a major step forward for the company.

“We’ve rebuilt and rethought the entire layout of our warehouse and how material flows from point A to point B,” Collins said. “We just fired up our new line this week—it’s the first full day it’s running.”

The new system, developed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) Manufacturing Solutions, aims to make SharkCrates’ production process 30% to 40% faster and more ergonomic. The upgrade reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to “do more with less,” Collins said, while meeting the needs of a growing customer base.

Expanding with pallet collars

Alongside operational improvements, SharkCrates recently launched a new product line: pallet collars. The foldable wooden frames convert standard pallets into reusable, stackable boxes that protect goods in transit or storage.

“They turn a pallet into a box,” Collins explained. “They’re reusable, made from pine lumber, and a great alternative to plastic.”

While common in Europe, pallet collars are relatively new to the U.S. market. Collins first encountered them overseas and saw an opportunity to bring the concept stateside. SharkCrates’ version stands out for its flexibility—customers can use an online configurator to design custom sizes to fit their needs.

Software-driven speed

Collins describes SharkCrates as “a software company that happens to sell crates.” The company’s proprietary quoting and production system allows customers to design and order products in minutes.

“We can go from first quote to delivery almost faster than anyone else in this space,” he said. “That turnaround speed, especially for custom crates, is one of our biggest advantages.”
With its continued investment in technology and efficiency, SharkCrates is positioning itself for sustained growth in the reusable packaging market. The company’s mix of innovative design, smart manufacturing, and commitment to sustainability highlights how Wisconsin manufacturers continue to adapt and lead in a changing global industry.

To learn more about SharkCrates, connect with the company here.