Wax Cardboard Core Boxes vs. Plastic Core Trays

Pros

Easy to transport large amounts due to its flat pack nature – entire ‘drill hole’s worth’ can be taken to the rig
Lightweight material; one-person lift is possible
Comes with a lid and, along with it, a large flat area to write notes on

Cons

Can collapse when laden with heavy objects
Due to its flexible material, the dividers can slant when there’s core inside – not the perfect setup for imaging/scanning
Not good for humid or cold climates where moisture is predominant
Companies additionally invest in shed structure and shelving for storage
Being a shorter box than its peers, the core has to be broken more to fit into the box
Assembly before use is required

Conclusion

Cardboard boxes do the job they are intended to do. However, if assembling a core box is a new concept to you, we don’t recommend you start now with these cardboard wax core boxes.

Why try plastic core trays?

Plastic core trays are not new technology, but aside from having a proven track record of durability, it has evolved into more than a basic core sample container. More and more innovations are built into the plastic core tray that are eliminating entire sections of the downstream processes that in turn lead to savings in money and man-hours.

Pros

It’s been proven in high (140°F/60°C) and low (-58°F/-50°C) temperatures around the world
Designed to be stacked in pallets and left outside for the entire life of the mine
The expense of building a storage shed or having racking is completely removed
Chemically inert product, not susceptible to sulfide corrosion
Lightweight to carry
High-impact resistant and built to last
Not susceptible to termites or rotting
No need to DIY assemble the boxes on site

Cons

As they are not flat-pack, they can be a little bulkier, leading to higher transport costs
You are limited to the sizes the manufacturer offers, as the injection mold tooling is expensive to set up

Conclusion

With the Pros vastly outweighing the Cons, it’s no surprise that the plastic core tray is steadily becoming the most predominant form of storing and transporting core across the globe.