The shift to plastic core trays from traditional wooden or metal ones has brought clear, practical advantages. Here’s a breakdown of why many in the industry now prefer plastic trays—based on durability, efficiency, and safety.
1. Durability and Weather Resistance
-
Plastic trays don’t warp, rot, or rust. Unlike wooden trays, which absorb water and degrade, or metal trays, which corrode, plastic remains stable in all conditions—rain, heat, humidity, or snow.
-
They are particularly useful in tropical, or coastal environments where wood deteriorates rapidly and metal oxidizes.
2. Lightweight, Yet Strong
-
Plastic trays are significantly lighter than metal or wood, reducing fatigue and injury risk during handling.
-
Despite being lightweight, high-quality plastic trays are engineered to hold heavy core loads (often >50 kg) without bending or cracking.
3. Safety and Ergonomics
-
No sharp edges, nails, or splinters. Wood trays often leave splinters; metal trays can have sharp, rusting edges. Plastic trays are smooth and molded with user handling in mind.
-
Safer for drillers, field technicians, and geologists working long shifts.
4. Standardized Design for Core Logging
-
Plastic trays are molded with consistent dimensions, allowing seamless stacking, transport, and compatibility with core logging benches and scanners.
-
Most come pre-numbered or with slots for depth markers and labels, which improves efficiency in the field and reduces human error.
5. Long-Term Cost Efficiency
-
While upfront costs are higher than wood, plastic trays last years, compared to months for wood in harsh conditions.
-
They’re reusable, non-reactive, and low-maintenance—offering better ROI over time.
6. Improved Core Preservation
-
Plastic trays don’t absorb moisture or leach chemicals into the core. This is especially important when cores need to be archived long-term for geotech, metallurgical, or legal reasons.
-
Also preferred for photo logging and digital scanning due to clean, uniform surfaces.
7. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance
-
Many sites now discourage or prohibit wooden trays due to their short life span and waste footprint.
-
Plastic trays are recyclable and easier to decontaminate if exposed to hazardous materials.
Plastic core trays are the clear winner in terms of field performance, safety, and lifecycle cost. The minor upfront investment pays off in reduced manual handling risks, cleaner workflows, and longer-term data preservation.