A crate includes a base and a pair of end walls that extend upward from the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the base between the pair of ends walls. A band extends along the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls. The band includes at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.

A nestable beverage crate includes a base, side walls and end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns connecting a side upper band to the base. Each end wall includes a plurality of end columns connected an end upper band to the base. The side upper band and the end upper bands each have a plurality of peaks and valleys and are asymmetric, such that adjacent crates will have peaks aligned with valleys and vice-versa. For purposes of preventing shingling, the effective vertical width of the side upper bands and the end upper bands of these two adjacent side walls is the full distance between the upper edge of the peak and the lower edge of the valley, but the nesting height of the crate is only the vertical width of the upper bands.

Disclosed is a method for inspecting bundles, wherein receiving containers equipped with containers are transported by a first transport device and wherein the containers each have a marking in their bottom regions which unambiguously identifies the containers, wherein an image recording device records at least one image of the bottom regions of the containers located in the receiving container and at least one information is output which is characteristic of the markings arranged on the containers and/or of at least one property of the containers.