Abstract: A crate for beverage bottles and the like has separators for the bottles in the form of clusters of pillars extending upward from the lattice work bottom of the crate, each cluster being centered on the intersection of four bottle cells of the crate. The pillars of the same cluster are separated by one or two vertical slot-like gaps extending to the crate bottom to receive the partitions of a disposable bottle pack, so that the bottles can be loaded in the crate after they have already been placed in the disposable bottle packs in which they will go to consumer. The bottom of the bottle pack is provided with holes to allow the bottle separator pillars of the crate to extend up into the bottle pack. Instead of a single bottle pack fitting into the crate, two or more smaller bottle packs may fit adjacently into the crate, with their adjoining walls fitting into the same slot-like gaps of the pillar cluster.

Abstract: A pallet which is formed by edge welding at least one rigid deck insert and four frame bearers to form a rigid frame and smoothly connecting eight supporting legs having supporting webs therewithin. The deck insert is molded as a single piece having a grid pattern. Each frame bearer is made by edge welding an upper boom, a lower boom and an intermediate web formed in a grid pattern matching the grid pattern of the deck insert, each individually molded. The smoothly curved outer surfaces of the eight legs and their supporting webs continue into and mate with corresponding surfaces and webs in both the deck insert and the frame bearers.