Nestable rigid U-crates

A high density nesting packaging element comprising:

• a preformed, rigid U-shaped member having a U-shaped cross-section defined by a base wall and opposing upstanding side walls, the U-shaped member being formed from a laminated construction of paper board that is subsequently formed into the U-shape cross-section, the base and side walls and the intersection of the base and side walls being rigid relative to one another such that the upstanding side walls are not foldable onto the base, the base wall having a thickness and having at least one slit formed therein, the slit extending longitudinally along the base wall and formed from an inner surface thereof into the thickness of the base wall to define spaced apart opposing surfaces of the slit, the surfaces of the slit being parallel to one another, the slit having a width of less than about 1/32 inch between the surfaces of the slit and extending through about 60 percent to about 70 percent of the base wall thickness, the base wall being openable along the slit so as to form a generally W-shaped configuration cross-section such that others of the members, when so opened to form the W-shaped configuration are nestable with each other, and wherein when the base wall is closed to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the U-shaped member in the U-shaped cross-section.