Metal and aerospace plants in Union and Catawba counties move dense parts, and dense parts want heavy-wall, full flap, often short boxes. A 4‑wall or 5‑wall box, a 48 x 40 x 24 height and the maker's rating are the starting point.
The load decides everything
Metal parts are dense. A cubic foot of steel is many times heavier than a cubic foot of resin. A tall box full of parts is a box that weighs more than its walls can carry, and a short box holds the same weight in a lower, more stable stack. That is why a 48 x 40 x 24 inch box suits dense loads; one maker rates triple wall at 1,500 lb for that size (source).
What the region has
Monroe is home to ATI's titanium alloys operation, which makes materials for aerospace. In 2015 ATI announced a $69.8 million manufacturing facility next to its Monroe site, adding 70 jobs, and the state called ATI one of Union County's largest employers (source). Catawba County has machining and metalworking along with furniture and communications equipment. That is industry context, not a list of customers.
Matching box to part
Part
Box
Why
Forgings and billets
4‑wall or 5‑wall, full flap, short
Weight low and stable
Machined parts in trays
3‑wall or 4‑wall, partial or full
Trays carry the weight
Small turned parts
Full flap bottom with liner
Pieces and oil
Castings
5‑wall, short, on a pallet
Edges and weight
Rated, not guessed
Do not guess the capacity. Look at the wall count page and the weight capacity guide, then weigh a loaded box. If the number is near the top of a range, go up one wall count. Stack height matters: the bottom box carries every box above it.
Used or new
New boxes carry their full rating. A dry Grade A box can do many of the same jobs, and a Grade C box is for light, one-way moves. For heavy parts ask for Grade A or new. See the new or used guide.
On the sell side
Incoming material often arrives in heavy boxes. If your receiving dock fills with 4‑wall and 5‑wall empties, those are some of the most useful boxes on the market. Describe them on the sell page. The nearest area pages are Monroe and Hickory.
Ask for what you need
Send the part weight, how many go in a box and the footprint.
Where this lane runs
The plan for this site names these places as running metal, aerospace and heavy machinery. Each links to its own page, with ZIPs and neighbors.
CharlotteProduction technology and heavy machinery. The I-85 and I-77 junction; Norfolk Southern's 200-acre intermodal terminal at Charlotte Douglas replaced a 40-acre downtown yard. Send your ZIP.
GastoniaFiltration. Parkdale Mills is headquartered here; other manufacturers include Wix Filtration, Freightliner Trucks, Stabilus, Curtiss-Wright and Radici Group. ZIP 28052, 28053, 28054, 28055, 28056.
MonroeAerospace, titanium alloys and forging. ATI makes titanium alloys for aerospace here; Ludwig drums and timpani have been made in Monroe since 1984. ZIP 28110, 28111, 28112.
NewtonMachining and metalworking. Catawba County seat beside Conover. ZIP 28658.
ShelbyMetal products. Cleveland County seat; textiles were its chief industry from the 1920s. ZIP 28150, 28151, 28152.
Kings MountainMetal products. I-85 town on the Cleveland and Gaston county line. ZIP 28086.
YorkProduction technology and heavy machinery. York County seat west of Rock Hill. ZIP 29745.
CloverProduction technology and heavy machinery. York County town near Lake Wylie and the Gaston County line. ZIP 29710.
Mecklenburg CountyProduction technology and heavy machinery. The county the region's labor and freight revolve around; Norfolk Southern's intermodal terminal sits inside Charlotte Douglas airport between two runways. Send your ZIP.
Rowan CountyNon-metal mining. Further up I-85; Food Lion's headquarters is in Salisbury and Daimler Truck North America is a major county employer. ZIP 28144, 28146, 28147.
Union CountyAerospace manufacturing, titanium and specialty metals, metal forging. Southeast of Charlotte on US 74; ATI's titanium operation in Monroe is one of the county's largest employers. ZIP 28110, 28111, 28112, 28079, 28173.
Catawba CountyMachining and metalworking. Hickory, Newton and Conover on I-40; fiber-optic cable, furniture and tape makers. ZIP 28601, 28602, 28603, 28658, 28613.
Cleveland CountyDownstream metal products, production technology and heavy machinery. West on US 74 and I-85; employers listed include Clearwater Paper, Eaton, Greenheck, KSM Castings and STI Fabrics. ZIP 28150, 28151, 28152, 28086.
York County, SCProduction technology and heavy machinery. South Carolina side of I-77; logistics and transportation is 7.7% of employment and production 6.8%, per the regional partnership. ZIP 29730, 29731, 29732, 29733, 29734, 29715, 29716, 29708, 29745, 29710.
Lancaster County, SCMetal mining. Employers listed include Nutramax Laboratories, Continental and OceanaGold. ZIP 29720, 29721, 29722.
Chester County, SCUpstream metal manufacturing. On I-77 toward Columbia; employers listed include Boise Cascade, Carolina Poly, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Giti and Guardian Glass. ZIP 29706.
Questions from the dock
What gaylord is best for heavy metal parts?
A 4‑wall or 5‑wall box with a full flap bottom, often a short 48 x 40 x 24 height, with the maker rating checked against the loaded weight.
Can I stack boxes of metal parts?
Only as high as the bottom box can carry. Weigh a loaded box and compare it with the rating.
Do you buy empties from a machine shop?
Send the count, footprint, wall count and condition. We say what matches.
Request gaylords or a pickup
Count, footprint and wall count are enough to start.