CrateMate: The American-Made Storage Crate Built by Rogers Manufacturing

Part of the America250: Built Here. Built Better. series — celebrating the American makers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs behind every FLI Products innovation.

The milk crate is one of the most enduring storage solutions in American life. Durable, stackable, open-sided for visibility, and sized for real-world use — it's a design that has worked for decades. The problem is that most milk crates available to consumers today are cheap imports that crack, warp, and fail after a season of real use.

CrateMate is different. It's a heavy-duty, American-made stackable storage crate engineered for the way real Americans actually live — from grocery pickup runs to RV travel, from contractor job sites to garage organization, from camping trips to college dorm rooms.

And it's made right here in the United States, by one of America's most trusted manufacturing families.

Built by Rogers Manufacturing — 135 Years of American Craftsmanship

CrateMate is manufactured by The Rogers Manufacturing Company, located at 72 Main Street, Rockfall, Connecticut 06481. Founded in 1891, Rogers Manufacturing has been producing quality American-made products for 135 years — a manufacturing legacy that predates most of the brands you know by name.

Rogers is a family-owned plastic injection molding facility specializing in thermoplastics, producing more than 3,000,000 units per year across 7,000+ orders annually. Their capabilities span rapid prototyping, custom molding, engineering, mold refurbishing, and mold maintenance — the full spectrum of precision American manufacturing.

CrateMate joins Blade Guard and CordSafe as the third FLI Products brand manufactured by Rogers — a testament to the depth and reliability of this 135-year American manufacturing partnership.

Made in the USA — Since 1891

CrateMate is manufactured in Rockfall, Connecticut by The Rogers Manufacturing Company — a family-owned plastic injection molding facility that has been producing quality American-made products since 1891. That's 135 years of manufacturing expertise, 3,000,000+ units produced per year, and a commitment to American jobs and American craftsmanship that predates most of the brands you know by name.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, CrateMate is proud to be part of a manufacturing legacy that has called New England home for over a century. When you buy CrateMate, you're not just buying a storage crate — you're buying into 135 years of American industrial tradition.

Designed and manufactured in the USA. Built to last.

Built for Real American Life

CrateMate was designed around a simple insight: Americans need storage that moves with them. Not a shelf system that requires installation. Not a bin that cracks after one winter in the garage. Not a basket that collapses under real weight.

CrateMate is heavy-duty, stackable, and sized for the way real people actually use storage:

• Grocery pickup — stop chasing groceries across your cargo area; CrateMate keeps bags upright and organized from store to kitchen
• RV and travel — stackable storage that fits RV basement compartments, truck beds, and cargo areas without sliding or tipping
• Contractor and job site — a modular toolbox alternative that organizes by trade, by job, or by SKU
• Camping and outdoor — gear transport that stacks in the truck and unpacks at the campsite
• Garage organization — turn shelves into organized storage systems without wall hardware or installation
• Emergency preparedness — labeled crates for first aid, emergency food, and essential supplies
• College dorm — move-in, move-out, and stay organized all semester

Tom Whitaker uses CrateMate on his farm and in his truck — for garden harvests, tool transport, and the kind of everyday hauling that requires something that won't let you down.

"I've broken more cheap plastic crates than I can count. CrateMate is the first one I've used that actually holds up to real farm work — heavy tools, wet produce, rough roads. And it stacks clean, which matters when you're loading a truck in a hurry. Made in Connecticut, built like it should be." — Tom Whitaker, FLI Products Advisor

Two Sizes for Every Need

• CrateMate 24QT — maximum capacity for larger items, camping gear, grocery hauls, and worksite equipment. Available in 1-pack and 3-pack.
• CrateMate 16QT — ideal for tool storage, books, shoes, pantry items, and smaller loads. Available in 1-pack and 3-pack.

Both sizes stack securely with each other and with standard milk crates, maximizing vertical storage space without shelving units or wall hardware.

Why Retail Buyers Choose CrateMate

For retail buyers in the storage, organization, automotive, and outdoor categories, CrateMate delivers what import alternatives can't:

• 7–30 day domestic replenishment vs. 90–140 day overseas lead times
• No tariff exposure — stable, predictable pricing
• HDPE construction — industrial-grade high-density polyethylene, the same material used in cutting boards and outdoor furniture
• Consistent quality — Rogers Manufacturing's precision molding means every crate meets spec, stacks true, and holds its rated load
• Multi-category appeal — grocery, automotive, outdoor, contractor, and home organization all in one SKU
• Made in USA story — a retail differentiator that resonates with Walmart, Tractor Supply, Rural King, and Bomgaars customers

FLI Products and the Walmart Open Call

CrateMate is part of FLI Products' commitment to the Walmart Open Call program — Walmart's annual event connecting American-made products with Walmart buyers for potential shelf placement. CrateMate is already available at Walmart, and its broad cross-category appeal — from grocery pickup to automotive to outdoor — makes it a strong candidate for expanded placement across multiple Walmart departments.

Learn more at corporate.walmart.com.

Follow the conversation: #WalmartOpenCall #MadeInUSA #America250 #CrateMate

Heard on Made in America

FLI Products is a recurring guest on Made in America with Rita Compton and Michael King — hosted by Rita Compton, known as America's Inventor Lady. Kevin Cody of FLI Products has appeared on multiple episodes sharing the story behind CrateMate and the Rogers Manufacturing partnership.

Listen here: Made in America Podcast

Where to Buy CrateMate

CrateMate is available at the retailers you already trust:

• Walmart — in-store and online
• Amazon
• Lowe's
• Tractor Supply
• Target
• Wayfair
• Zoro
• Best Buy
• Wingra Direct
• Newegg
• The BBQ Superstore
• West Marine
• And directly at fliproducts.com

Part of a Bigger Story

CrateMate is one of 18 American-made products in the FLI Products portfolio. Explore the full America250 series:

• America250: Built Here. Built Better. — The FLI Products Story
• AnchorStake: Planting a Stake in American Manufacturing
• Bait Up: American-Made Live Bait Containers
• Blade Guard: Built by Rogers Manufacturing Since 1891
• C-Bites: American-Made Plant Support Clips
• CordSafe: Weatherproof Cord Covers by Rogers Manufacturing
• Shop All Made in USA Products

Shop CrateMate — Made in USA →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is CrateMate made?

CrateMate is made in Rockfall, Connecticut by The Rogers Manufacturing Company — a family-owned American plastic injection molding manufacturer founded in 1891 with 135 years of manufacturing expertise.

What sizes does CrateMate come in?

CrateMate is available in 16QT and 24QT sizes, each available in 1-pack and 3-pack configurations.

What material is CrateMate made from?

CrateMate is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) — the same industrial-grade material used in cutting boards, outdoor furniture, and commercial containers. Impact-resistant, weather-resistant, and 100% recyclable.

Do CrateMate crates stack with each other?

Yes. CrateMate crates stack securely with each other and with standard milk crates, maximizing vertical storage without shelving units or wall hardware.

Is CrateMate available at Walmart?

Yes. CrateMate is available at Walmart in-store and online, as well as at Amazon, Tractor Supply, Target, Wayfair, and other major retailers.

What is the Walmart Open Call program?

Walmart Open Call is Walmart's annual event connecting American-made products with Walmart buyers for potential retail shelf placement. Learn more at corporate.walmart.com.

Who is Tom Whitaker?

Tom Whitaker is a retired manufacturing professional, hobby farmer, and FLI Products advisor with 40 years of practical experience. Learn more at fliproducts.com/pages/learn-from-tom.