Steel Mesh Baskets are produced in different sizes and shapes. Many companies have them custom fabricated to suit their specific requirements. They vary in that the sides and floors may all consist of some type of mesh. Sometimes the floors are solid steel and the sides are mesh. The mesh can vary in size. A couple of common sizes are (2" x 1") mesh, (2" x 2") mesh, measured centre to centre. Also, expanded metal can be used. The thickness of the wire in these mesh will determine the strength of the sides and floors. The greater the wire thickness, will help prevent the sides from becoming damaged when in operation. A determining factor of the holding capacity of these baskets is the structure of the floor base. The greater the number of cross members in the floor will give added strength to these baskets. Also the size and gauge of hollow structural tubing used in the frame will determine the durability and capacity. These baskets are at times constructed so as to have all four sides collapse. This feature allows companies to save on storage space when baskets are not in use. It also allows for a greater number of empty baskets to be returned, per truck load, to their original facility. Most companies when considering ordering the manufacture of new metal wire mesh stackable baskets, take great care in deciding the optimal dimensions for them. For example, the size of the metal wire mesh baskets are constructed to accommodate the optimum number of product parts in each steel mesh wire basket. Another consideration of the size of the steel wire mesh baskets is having them stacked and being able to be loaded in a 53 foot tractor trailer efficiently. One of the dimensions is usually 48 inches wide. This allows two wire mesh baskets to be placed in a tractor trailer side by side across the width of the trailer, maximizing space. The widths of the trailers usually vary from about 99 inches to 102 inches. The lengths, again, can be a measurement that maximizes the packaging of the product.These wire mesh baskets are usually stacked two or three units in height in the trailers, according to the overall height of the wire mesh baskets. The number of metal wire mesh baskets that are loaded into a transport trailer depends on the total weight of the load. There are maximum weight restrictions that a truck can safely carry. The maximum weight that a transport is allowed to transport is dependent on the number of axles and the spacing between the axles from one another. Some metal wire mesh baskets may have widths varying from 30 inches to 33 inches. This allows three stacks of baskets to be positioned across the floor of the trailer totalling anywhere from between 90 inches to 99 inches. When metal wire mesh baskets, containers, are handled in the different factories by the fork lift or tow motor operators, they have to take special care when inserting the forks underneath the metal wire mesh baskets. The reason for this is so that the operators do not poke the fork ends into the sides of the steel wire mesh baskets, containers. If this is done this would puncture holes in the mesh and thereby jeopardize the safety and the ability of the steel wire mesh baskets to hold product properly. Another factor when choosing the mesh on the sides and floors of the used wire mesh baskets, is the mesh openings. The openings have to be suitable so that the product being placed in the baskets will not escape through the holes in the wire mesh sides and floors.