The Importance of Pallet Specifications

A Summary

 Pallets are the primary interface between the finished goods and the material handling equipment. The pallet’s integral role is often overlooked or minimized. It should not be.

·      Pallets provide a safe, effective shipping and storing platform         throughout demanding and diverse situations in the unit load          process.

·      A proper pallet specification should take into consideration not only the unit load weight requirements, but all of the material handling situations the load will encounter including: free span racking, conveyor travel, forklift handling, and AGV systems.

·      Pallet specifications can be designed to accommodate any unique automated equipment performance requirements.

·      Pallet specifications involve among other things the product, its configuration and packaging type.

·      If you are over-packaging your product to compensate for non-uniform pallets, it is costing you money. 

Summing up, an appropriately designed pallet can reduce product damage rates by eliminating or lessening the consequences of impacts, protruding objects and heavy loads.  Correct specifications can increase material handling efficiency in all phases of the unit load process.

A Case History: Saving Money By Using Your Pallet Providers As The Consultants They Are

A regional soft drink bottling company made the decision to switch from wood to plastic pallets. It was an expensive choice; on average, plastic pallets cost four times more than wood. But the bottling company’s packaging engineer was dissatisfied with the performance of the wood pallets he was buying.  NWPCA talked with his pallet broker who said his criteria when buying the wood pallets was “Make them 37 x 37 and get them for me cheap.” 

Pallet users can have quality pallets at a cost effective rate if they use their pallet provider as a consultant.  NWPCA members are supplied with expert unit load information. Together, the pallet provider and the product manufacturer, plant manager, packing engineer or whoever is involved in the movement of the goods, can develop specifications for the specific product being shipped.

Pallet Users Should Establish Criteria for Pallet Specification

To reduce costs and ensure the protection of the unit load, pallet users should establish criteria for pallet specifications and your pallet provider can help.  Here is a list of general guidelines to be considered in the development of specifications for your pallet needs.

General Description

Ø       Size and description

Ø       Schematic drawing with dimensions and component placement

·         Component Dimensions

Ø       Top deck, bottom deck, stringer or block and stringer board

Types of Pallet Platforms Available

NWPCA and PDS^©

Many NWPCA members have the added benefit of being licensed Pallet Design System PDS^© manufacturers. PDS^© is a computer program that allows the pallet maker to generate the best suited pallet design for a specific load and can generate several options for wood selections to further reduce costs. 

NWPCA is currently working with Virginia Tech in the development of a PDS^© program for remanufactured pallets.  This will offer pallet users even more options.