Kitting Trays

Q: What are kitting trays?

Kitting trays are effectively small, vacuum formed plastic trays used to organise parts on assembly lines. Widely believed to have originated for the cleaning and assembly of guns and firearms, kitting trays are now commonly used in lean manufacturing environments.

Standard or ESD component trays

Improve the efficiency of your production lines

Similar to the larger vacuum formed trays for transporting larger components or parts around a factory or production facility, manufacturers typically use kitting trays for assembly operations (i.e. to contain all of the parts/components required for a specific process).

Commonly used in lean manufacturing environments, they are also often used as a staging tray in industrial part assembly. ESD electronics kitting trays are also popular for handling and storing static sensitive items. Read More

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Description

More info on kitting trays

Kitting trays are widely used for assembly operations or as staging trays for parts assembly in commercial and industrial applications.

Particularly common in electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries, kitting trays are typically (but not always) a vacuum formed tray (similar to the larger versions used as container inserts). Effectively, component trays protect and organise the parts required for a specific assembly operation.

Trays of this type can help productivity – as all of the necessary parts are readily available to the assembly operative – but also helps to prevent costly slow down or stoppages to production lines.

They can also help highlight when specific parts or components are running low at a glance and aid the handling of items when moving between storage and production areas.

They are generally robust and long-lasting and are often nestable to minimise storage requirements when not in use.

Anti-static and ESD component trays

Another option for kiting trays is to manufacture them in an ESD (electro static discharge) safe material.

ESD component trays are perfect for sensitive electronic components such as chips, PCBs and other parts that static discharge can seriously damage.

Regardless of whether your kitting trays require conductive performance, the moulded plastic material offers general physical protection to your items too.

They can also be manufactured to custom sizes/configurations to suit your specific parts and products, to be compatible with outer handling containers (as per vac formed trays), or even any automated handling processes.

Key benefits of kitting trays at a glance

Improves organisation of parts on production and assembly lines.
Enhances the productivity of your workforce.
Provides physical protection for parts.
Trays can be specified in ESD-grade material.
Custom sizes and configurations match your components or application.
Durable, long-lasting plastic construction.
Nestable for efficient storage when not in use.
Compatibility with outer containers and other equipment if required.

FAQs

Common questions regarding kitting trays

This section covers the most common questions you may have if looking for kitting trays.

However, if you have any other questions not listed here, please get in touch, and a member of the GWP team can assist. You can reach an expert on 01793 754 457 or by emailing correx@gwp.co.uk.

What are kitting trays?

Kitting trays are effectively small, vacuum formed plastic trays used to organise parts on assembly lines. Widely believed to have originated for the cleaning and assembly of guns and firearms, kitting trays are now commonly used in lean manufacturing environments.

What size kitting trays are available?

Whilst a broad range of standard-sized kitting trays are available, it is more common to specify bespoke dimensions and configurations (although please note this is subject to minimum order volumes).

Are kitting trays anti-static?

Kitting trays can be supplied in ESD safe material (i.e. protecting from electro static discharge) if required. ESD component trays are a commonly specified option, with electronics, automotive, and other assembly or manufacture of products often containing static-sensitive items (such as PCBs, microchips etc.).

What are kitting trays manufactured from?

Kitting trays can be manufactured from several different materials, although this is commonly ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol) and – most commonly – HIPs (High Impact Polystyrene sheets). Correx can also be used to manufacture kitting trays.

What is the difference between kitting trays and vac formed trays?

Kitting trays are effectively smaller versions of the larger vac-formed trays used within outer tote containers for transporting larger parts and components around a factory or production environment. The two terms are often interchangeable, depending on the industry.

Buy kitting trays

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Are your warehouse kitting trays cost-effective? Are they easy to use? Do they last numerous trips and uses? Do you get them when you need them? Do they protect your components or products from breakages and surface damage during handling and transit?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, or even “I don’t know”, then GWP Correx® can make a significant, tangible difference to your operations.

How? By working closely with you to analyse your assembly and handling processes, you can identify any inefficiencies and wasted spend.

And if you have never sourced a specific product before, you can benefit from a custom-designed solution tailored to your exact requirement and application. Plus, you can receive free impartial advice, no obligation quotes on any requirement, and the highest levels of customer service at all times.

Insert options

Enhance your plastic trays

Besides the wide range of benefits offered by plastic trays (including kitting trays), you can source a range of insert and dunnage options to enhance them further.