What is a Pallet? Everything You Need to Know about It!

A Pallet is a horizontal platform, typically affixed to a superstructure. A bottom deck allows commercial goods to be shipped stably by giving them support so pallet jacks, forklifts, front loaders, and other jacking devices can lift them. If you are a professional and need some advice on plans to buy your pallet jack, check out our article: “Everything You Need To Know Before Buying A Pallet Jack!.”

Pallets allow for efficiencies in storage and handling by providing the base for assembling, handling, and transporting materials and products. They can also be used in many creative ways when reused, as we show you every day on this website!

In history, pallets have been essential to modern logistics development, and it was one of the key logistics tools to emerge in the 20th Century. Learn more about the history of pallets. While most pallets manufactured in the world are made of wood, pallets can also be made of:

Each material has advantages and disadvantages.

The Wooden Pallet

This is by far the most common pallet. Wood pallets offer a great combination of weight, stiffness, durability, and cost. Besides, a broad pallet recycling infrastructure helps promote the refurbishment and reuse of wooden pallets. Also, custom pallet sizes can be easily built from timber components. Here is some general information about wood pallets:

  • In the USA, the standard size of a wood pallet is 48″ x 40.”,
  • Typically, the wooden pallet consists of three or four stringers that support deck boards, on top of which the goods are placed,
  • Most of them are made from “waste” lumber, which may not look good for pallet furniture grade wood, but are just as strong as good looking lumber,
  • Saddles foam and protective supports,
  • When made from “waste” lumber, they don’t reduce natural foliage as no trees are cut to make them,
  • Timber pallets are reusable and recyclable; they can be reused in new pallets or beautiful objects if you follow all the ideas we provide at 1001Pallets for pallet recycling ;)
  • Pooled Wood pallets are durable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable,
  • Cost-effective, reconditioning quality options are an advantage of wood pallets:
    • Grade #1A “Super” Heavy Duty Pallets: Hardwood construction, 5 bottom boards, for rackable pallets and one-way or return shipping,
    • Grade A: hardwood/softwood mix, 5 bottom boards, repaired with plates (no stringer inserts), for rackable pallets, and one-way or return shipping,
    • Grade B: hardwood/softwood mix, repaired with stringer inserts for rackable pallets and one-way shipping.

Pallet wood is treated to be more durable and to protect it from insects. If you need more information on pallet safety, check out our article: “Check if your pallets are treated?”. You’ll be able to decode the IPPC stamp that could be found on any wood pallets.

The Paper Pallet

Paper pallets are also referred to as “eco pallets.” They are made from corrugated fiberboard, partial wood decks, or engineered with laminated paperboard (the more robust are made of paperboard composite honeycomb).

The Advantages of Paper Pallets:

  • Lighter weight than wood or steel, approximately 10kg lighter than a wood pallet,
  • Thinner than wood, more products shipped on a load, it means a higher cargo weight,
  • Ideal for one way non-returnable,
  • Disposable & Recyclable,
  • Very flexible to adapt to special transport needs,
  • Meet Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) requirements,
  • Avoids the export restrictions on wooden pallets (ISPM-15 exemption for international shipments), and reduces delays for shipping to foreign countries,
  • No fumigation or certification is required,
  • Environmentally friendly,
  • Clean and dust-free,
  • Ability to maximize truck space by using pallets that are the exact size required,
  • Low profile design possible, geared to reduce cube utilization while in shipment,
  • No nails or wood splinters, no mold, no fire retardants,
  • Promotes safer handling,
  • High strength up to 1.0 ton,
  • Suited for cleanroom environments in medical, pharmaceutical, and non-wet food applications. Free of contaminants, they comply with phytosanitary ISPM regulations governing export shipments without the need for additional treatment and replaces heat-treated pallets,
  • Simple design and offer the possibility of printing identification or RFID for enhanced marketing advantages.

The Disadvantage of Paper Pallets:

  • Susceptible to moisture (unless coating added),
  • ISPM-15 compliant wood pallets can be cheaper
  • Paper pallets do not match the strength and stiffness of comparable timber pallets (to rack them, IKEA had to upgrade their warehouse racking to support them fully,
  • Not durable,
  • Lack of stiffness compared to most other pallet materials.

Paper pallets continue to evolve as new designs result in better-performing paper pallets, and new water-resistant coatings help with moisture while not impeding recyclability.

The Plastic Pallet

  • Made from recycled and recyclable plastic,
  • Long useful life, 100% recyclable and can be ground up and turned back into a new pallet,
  • More than a 10-year lifespan,
  • Safe to handle; no screws, nails, splinters, or chipping,
  • Usable in all climate conditions,
  • An effective reusable plastic pallet program can reduce costs, drive sustainability and optimize a company’s supply chain,
  • Resistant to acids, alkalis, fats, solvents, and odors,
  • Waterproof, resistant to bacterial contamination, and does not absorb humidity ideal for food, paper, pharmaceuticals, and cement,
  • Resistant to stress and shock,
  • Easily stacked, handled, and cleaned (hot washed, steam cleaned, or chemically sanitized) to remove any bacteria,
  • Naturally ISPM 15 compliant: can be used for both domestic and export pallet overseas due to no interruption in delivery due to timber pallet regulation,
  • EURO pallet dimensions available,
  • High loading capacity and anti-slip surface,
  • Lightweight (from 5.5 kg for a standard 1200×800 mm), yet durable to protect your shipment while traveling to its destination.

Plastic Nestable Pallets:

  • Ideal for domestic and export pallet use,
  • Ideal for pallet stacking: manufactured for light, medium, and heavy-duty applications.

Plastic Rackable Pallets:

  • Allow for easy pallet handling and pallet stacking,
  • Will save space,
  • Allow a 4-way entry,
  • It can be manufactured using a fire retardant blend,
  • They are durable, nestable, lightweight, easy to clean, FDA/USDA approved, fully recyclable, slip-resistant surfaces.

Plastic Stackable Pallets:

  • Available in one-piece, two-piece assembled, and welded styles,
  • Designed for handling and shipping heavy product loads in warehousing, processing, and manufacturing environments,
  • Static load capacities up to 30,000 lbs,
  • Ideal for stack loading, conveying systems, distribution centers, and static storage,
  • An economical, environmental, and efficient alternative to wood pallets or skids,
  • Easy cleanable and available in FDA approved materials,
  • 100% recyclable,
  • Available in footprints from 32″ x 38″ to 48″ x 72″,
  • Consistent tare weights allow better inventory control,
  • Compatible with many palletizers, depalletizers, automatic strapping equipment, and high-speed automation systems.

Disadvantages of Plastic Pallets:

  • If plastic pallet cracks or breaks, repairs are not as simple because the material would have to be melted down and remolded,
  • More expensive compared to wooden pallets,
  • Generally not suitable for storage on shelves.

Read: Plastic Pallets, Are They Suitable for Diy Projects?

The Metal/Aluminum Pallet

  • Often have removable beams (can be used for firewood),
  • Fireproof and rust-resistant,
  • Free of bugs and other pests,
  • They do not splinter like wood pallets,
  • Designed to last a long time and maintain structural integrity,
  • Ideal for sensitive storage use,
  • Meet ISPM #15 international shipping standards,
  • 62 lbs, yet edge support rack capacity at 3,500 lbs,
  • A static capacity of 40,000 lbs and dynamic capacity of 10,000 lbs,
  • Almost full topside coverage,
  • Pallet jack capable of more flexibility,
  • Cleanable,
  • 100% recyclable – green for the environment,
  • Offer tremendous ROI (Return On Investment) for companies in the food products, storage and distribution, chemicals, and related markets; they are appropriate for food and chemical industries because they are easy to clean offering high sanitation,
  • The price point is less expensive than a comparable plastic alternative,
  • Offers advantages of capacity, usability, and recyclability,
  • By purchasing metal pallets, you save on:
    • Repair and maintenance expense
    • Product damage and breakage
    • Plant cleanliness
    • Related material handling cost saving (i.e., less damage to conveyors and forklift wheels, etc.)
    • Fire and safety expense

Aluminum Pallets:

  • Will, not rust, rot, warp, or burn, therefore giving a better ROI,
  • Fireproof quality may lower insurance rates,
  • Stronger than other pallets now being used, such as wood and plastic,
  • Reduce product damage and are lighter than some wood or other metal pallets, therefore reducing shipping cost,
  • Are stackable for space-saving efficiency,
  • Require virtually no maintenance,
  • Last for years and can withstand extremes in temperatures,
  • Ideally suited for closed-loop and automated retrieval systems,
  • Lightweight, durable, repairable, and 100% recyclable,
  • It can be customized.

The main disadvantage of metal/aluminum pallets is they are heavier in weight compared to other pallets, so they cost more to transport.

Are we missing some information? Do you have more information on the different sizes of pallets or different kinds of pallets? Do not hesitate to contact us, and we will update the article accordingly.

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