Pallets are the literal pillars of transport and storage. Their use significantly speeds up loading, makes industrial and manufacturing processes more efficient and allows goods to be moved and stored more easily. Manual and for mechanical loading so that even a single simple pallet truck can easily move large quantities of goods. Simplified warehousing sort by and because they minimise contact with the floor, they protect goods from damage, moisture or dirt.
Their grouping
Pallets can be grouped according to several criteria.
One such aspect is the Material fromuk:
- Fa: It is the most common because it is cheap and easy to repair. They can be used for single or multiple deliveries.
- Plastic: Durable, easy to clean and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Often used in the food industry.
- Metal: It is robust and therefore suitable for transporting and storing heavy goods.
- Paper: Lightweight, recyclable material. Mainly used for one-off transport.
The pallets Featurecan be grouped according to the number of pathways, single or multi-pathways.
One-way pallets are designed for one-way transport, so they are an easy, low-cost solution, usually for short-distance transport. Multi-way pallets, on the other hand, have a more robust design, which ensures a longer service life and allows for the transport of heavier goods.
The different designalso increase the range of options:
- Open pallets: They are easily accessible from all 4 sides. One of them is the partially open version, which, due to its design, only allows access from 2 sides for a manual pallet lifter.
- Closed pallets: More stable, but harder to access products that are generally only suitable for two-way lifting. One type is the Stringer pallet, where the load is carried by thick boards running along the two long sides and in the middle of the pallet, thus closing it off at the sides.
- Block printing: In this design, the weight is supported by cubic blocks, mostly in a 3×3 arrangement. They are accessible from all directions.
Regulation
For pallets they must comply with several standards which regulate the quality of products and the materials used to make them.
One of these is ISPM 15-(International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15), which is an international set of rules and ensures the quality of the wood used. It requires heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide gas treatment (MB) of the wood at 56 ℃ for 30 minutes.
These procedures prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases through wood packaging materials used in international trade. Wood treated in this way is marked with an IPPC stamp.
And the most important European standard is EPAL (European Pallet Association). This is the EUR/EPAL pallet regulate the manufacture, repair and quality control of. It ensures that pallets are uniform, interchangeable and meet the requirements of international transport.
Main regulatory areas of the EPAL standard:
- Size and design: The EPAL pallet is 1200×800 mm in size, consisting of 11 wooden planks and 9 wooden blocks, the size and layout of which are defined. The load capacity under uniform load is 1500 kg.
- Material quality: Only good quality, crack-free timber treated according to ISPM 15 can be used. The use of toxic chemicals or hazardous substances during production is prohibited.
- Markings and identification: The EPAL pallet must bear the EPAL logo, the HT marking, the manufacturer's code and the year of manufacture.
- Quality control and improvement: The standard requires inspections and audits under strict conditions both during production and afterwards. Pallets can only be repaired in EPAL approved repair workshops.
This strict set of rules ensures that pallets are interchangeable and recyclable, thus contributing to a sustainable and efficient logistics system.
