Pallets, Distribution and Warehouses
Resources
|
 |
Home
Pallets
A pallet is a flat piece of equipment used for moving goods onto and for lifting goods off trucks and lorries or putting into storage. The pallets are lifted by a forklift truck a pallet jack, a front loader or some other kid of other jacking equipment. The pallet makes a structural foundation which makes handling and storage easier. The goods are placed on a pallet and then secured with straps.
Most of the time the pallets will be made of wood, but you can also get pallets that are plastic, metal and even cardboard.
Plastic Pallets- What you need to know
Compounded by the need to conserve the environment, pallet business has faced a major setback due to high cost of wood. This has forced the manufacturers to look for a sustainable material distribution, transportation and storage option. Many pallet manufacturers are now shifting their attention from wood to plastic that is not only cost effective but also light in weight, durable and reusable. Plastic pallets are gaining ground in the wide market including beverages, pharmaceuticals, automotive, groceries, foods, and the postal services. They are normally made by thermoforming, injection molding, compression molding and structural foaming. Each of these production methods is believed to have an advantage when it comes to end use applications, performance and productivity. Through injection molding, one is able to produce products with tight ribs, geometries and tolerance. Structural foam also is a low cost production process that uses low pressure and low cost aluminum tools. The end product is stronger and can endure heavy loads.
One major concern with wood pallets is their disposal but with the introduction of plastic, this has been solved amicably. Plastic can be reused by recycling resin and regrinding scrap hence making them more cost effective. Another benefit with plastic pallets is that they do not require treatment with pesticides to avoid pest migration during exportation. Again, when it comes to sustainability, plastic pallets are a notch higher compared to wood especially in automation ware houses where repeatability is the order of the day. Plastics have consistent designs and dimensions unlike the wooden ones that are likely to pull apart and splint off. So, if you are looking for pallets with light weight, clean ability and durability, consider plastic pallets. They can be easily found in stores near you or online provided you know how to get them at cheaper cost.
|