What are wood pallets? Everything you need to know.
First off, a pallet is a horizontal platform that’s a flat structure used to transport goods in a stable way while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack front loader or erect crane. A wooden pallet consists of three or four pieces of plywood that support deck boards with the goods placed on top. A standard wood pallet in the U.S. is 48”x40” but can also be customized by size. There are also two ways to make a pallet: Two-way pallets, which are designed to be lifted by the deck boards or Four-way pallets, which are used for heavier loads.
Wood pallets can be made of several types of wood, ex. (hardwood, softwood, recycled). We most commonly use two kinds of wood for pallets, pine, and oak. Pine is the most used wood for making pallets because it is readily available, cheap and is a clean product that can be kiln-dried without causing any damage. Oak wood on the other hand, is popular for its strength, which can, in turn, save a little bit on cost since you can get by with thinner components and fewer boards used for the pallets. However, pallets can also be made with plastic, metal, paper/cardboard or recycled materials but most are made of wood. The wooden pallet is the most common pallet because it offers stiffness, durability, and reusability. Wooden pallets make it easier to more heavy goods and allow you to stack a multitude of items on top of one another.
Pallets are a good way to store things efficiently by providing a base for assembling, handling, and to transport heavy / large materials and products. They make it easier to move through standard doors and buildings and make handling more convenient. Wooden pallets are also 3 times less expensive than plastic and they hold more weight than plastic. They can easily be repaired and reused as well. Wooden pallets can protect your shipment whether being transported by truck or plane.
What are wood pallets? History of wood pallets.
Wooden pallets have been an essential part of modern logistics development as one of the KEY logistics tools in the 20th century. The production of wooden pallets account for at least 43% of hardwood used in the U.S. Its structural foundation allows for shipping containers to be placed on a pallet and secured with straps, stretch wrap, or shrink wrap and then shipped.
What are wood pallets for international transportation?
However, shipping wooden pallets internationally requires different regulations than wooden pallets being transported within the U.S. These regulations state that all wooden pallets must be heat-treated prior to use and have an ISPM15 mark to show they comply. The reason why heat-treated wooden pallets are necessary for international transportation is to reassure that the wood is free of pest infestations. When purchasing international or heat-treated pallets, it is vital that you check that they carry the correct mark or stamp on the wood, acknowledging that they comply with proper regulations. This stamp should consist of an IPPC logo, country code and unique registration number, treatment code, and Forestry Commission logo.
