Pallet Types & Information

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A wooden pallet

A plastic pallet with nine legs, which can be lifted from all four sides

A pallet is a flat transport structure designed to support a variety of goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by any mobile forklift or other jacking device. The goods are placed on top of the pallet, and can be secured to it by straps or stretch-wrapped plastic film. While the majority of pallets are made of wood, pallets manufactured from plastic, metal, paper can also be found. A pallet is sometimes colloquially called a skid, by back-formation from skid loader. A wooden pallet costs anything from a few dollars per unit to ten times that number, depending on quantities and type ordered. In North America a standard black plastic pallet costs (wholesale) from $20 - $70 US Dollars. They are available in bulk to businesses but usually not to individuals. While a wooden pallet is close to a plastic one in value, it is in general cheaper to buy. But the life expectancy of a wooden pallet is relatively short as plastic pallets can last much longer in normal use. Plastic pallets are stronger, more hygienic and safer in some applications. Using plastic pallets can be environment-friendly if they are disposed of properly after their longer life.

Pallet Construction

Types of Pallets

Although pallets come in all manner of sizes and configurations, all pallets fall into two very broad categories: "stringer" pallets and "block" pallets.

Stringer Pallet

Stringer pallets use a frame of three parallel pieces of timber (called stringers). The top deckboards are then affixed to the stringers to create the pallet structure. Stringer pallets are also known as "two-way" pallets, since a pallet-jack may only lift it from two directions instead of four.

Block Pallet

Block pallets are typically stronger than stringer pallets. Block pallets utilize both parallel and perpendicular stringers to better facilitate efficient handling. A block pallet is also known as a "four-way" pallet, since a pallet-jack may be used from any side to move it.

 Materials Used

The cheapest pallets are made of softwood and are often considered as expendable, to be discarded as trash, along with other wrapping elements, upon reaching destination. These pallets are of a very simple construction which permits lifting from one of two opposite positions only. Slightly more complex hardwood pallets and most plastic pallets and metal pallets can be lifted from all four sides. These costlier pallets usually require a deposit and are returned to the sender or resold as used. Many of these "four way" pallets are color coded according to the loads they can bear, and other attributes.

Wooden pallet construction specifications can depend on the pallet's intended use: general, FDA, storage, chemical, export; the expected load weight; type of wood desired: recycled, hard, soft, kiln Dried or combo (new & recycle); and even the type of fasteners desired to hold the pallet together: staples or nails.

Plastic pallets are usually made of a plastic resin which is more durable and lighter weight than most plastics. Plastic pallets can not easily be repaired when broken which is why they are mostly used by logistics service providers who can easily replenish stock for its customers. Plastic pallets offer several benefits over traditional materials like wood, such as they are resistant to odor and can easily be sanitized for international shipping. Plastic pallets also work better with toxic materials for purposes of sanitation and plastics are impervious to most acids.

Businesses in retail or manufacturing with accommodations for loading and unloading standard sized pallets and internal procedures for taking advantages of the modular nature of the pallets usually have a distinct advantage over businesses which do not exploit standardized pallets. The exceptions are those establishments which sell small quantities of luxury items such as jewelry stores or extra large items such as cars. But even they are at least indirectly affected. For instance, the distributors of costume jewelry and like items would normally use pallets in their warehouses and car manufacturers have long ago integrated pallets in their logistics systems for transporting components from their suppliers and for moving around spare parts.

Phytosanitary Compliance

A stamp indicating an approved ISPM 15 compliant heat treated pallet

Due to the International Plant Protection Convention (abbreviated IPPC), most pallets shipped across national borders must be made of materials that are incapable of being a carrier of invasive species of insects and plant diseases. The standards for these pallets is specified in ISPM 15.

Pallets made of raw untreated wood, are not compliant with ISPM 15. To be compliant the pallets must be treated by either of the following means under the supervision of an approved agency.

• Heat treatment The wood must be heated to achieve a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for at least 30 minutes. Pallets treated via this method bear the initials HT by the IPPC logo.

• Chemical fumigation The wood must be fumigated with methyl bromide. Pallets treated via this method bear the initials MB by the IPPC logo.

Pallets made of non wood materials such as steel, aluminum, plastic, or made of engineered wood products, such as plywood, oriented strand board, or cardboard do not need IPPC approval.

Modified: February 14, 2007