Plastic Pallets

Eight Signs that Plastic Pallets May be Right for You

1. Your application has sanitation requirements.
2. Pallet replacement and disposal costs are high or increasing.
3. Your expendable packaging costs are high.
4. Pallet splinters and protruding nails are a problem.
5. Substandard pallets are a frequent cause of equipment jams.
6. Pallet repair is becoming your second business.
7. Import shipments are delayed because of insect problems.
8. Your pallet costs are increasing.

The right plastic pallet for your storage and shipping needs!

Offering a variety of sizes and types of plastic pallets such as nestable and/or stackable pallets, rackable, fire retardant, and plastic export pallets for your work-in-process, storage and distribution applications.

In the last few decades, companies have converted from wood pallets to plastic pallets because they are quickly recognizing the economic, ergonomic and environmental benefits that they offer:

Economic - In a closed loop system, plastic pallets make a tremendous number of trips before being recycled.  On a cost per trip basis, they represent great savings over wood pallets.  They rapidly realize their initial investment and continue to perform during the course of their service life.

Ergonomic - Plastic pallets provide a safe and comfortable handling solution, which improves workplace safety.  They are dimensionally stable, consistent in weight and non-porous.  In some cases, they are lighter than wood and their smooth and contoured construction is free of nails, splinters and rust.

Environmental - Using plastic preserves natural resources, while reducing waste.  Wood pallets consume precious natural resources; up to 10 million trees are cut each year to produce wood pallets.  When retired from service, wood pallets are sent to landfills.  Plastic pallets offer a much longer life and can be recycled into other useful products at the end of their service life.

Additional benefits of plastic pallets include:

• Reduction in Product Damage due to plastic pallets durability, consistent support, and smooth molded design. They won’t warp, shrink or change mass over time.
• Reduction in Work Injuries - plastic pallets are lightweight and easy-to-handle and no splinters, nails, broken boards, etc. to deal with.
• Improved Sanitation - most chemicals, etc will not compromise the integrity of plastic pallets, they don’t absorb moisture or support the growth of mold, mildew or fungus.  Plastic pallets don’t harbor or insects, approving these plastic export pallets for export use.

Wood Versus Plastic Pallets
Performance Characteristic Comparison

Wood Pallets

• Moderate initial cost
• Service Life:  3 to 5 years
• Trips per pallet:  Low to moderate

• Moderate initial cost, rapid economic payback
• Service Life:  250 trips
• Trips per pallet:  High

• Inconsistent construction
• Frequent breakage requires repair
• Risks product damage
• Multi-piece construction not always automation friendly

• Consistent dimensional accuracy
• Strong, durable construction
• Reliable
• Smooth, all plastic construction protects product (no nails, rust or splinters)
• Compatible with conveyors and many automated handling systems

• Porous material subject to contamination and pest infestation

• Smooth plastic surface is easily cleanable, many pallets offer flow-through design for easy washing
• Hygienic pallets available
• Some styles available in FDA approved materials

• Nails, splinters and rust
• Sharp corners
• Instability due to breakage

• Reduced risk of employee strain and injuries due to splinters, nails and rust
• Smooth deck and contoured corners for comfortable handling
• Better stacking ability

• Generic, unattractive design

• Aesthetic design suitable for retail environment
• Customized color and identification

• Disposal challenges
• 8th largest component in landfills

• Easy to recycle
• Environmentally responsible.  When recycled at the end of its service life, the life cycle of the pallet does not end.
• Reduces packaging waste and disposal costs by eliminating wood pallet disposal