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 stably 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, and four-way pallets, which are used for heavier loads.
Wood pallets can be made of several types of wood, such as (hardwood, softwood, recycled). We 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 clean and can be kiln-dried without causing any damage. Oakwood, on the other hand, is famous 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 because it offers stiffness, durability, and reusability. Wooden pallets make it easier to carry heavier 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 transporting 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 three times less expensive than plastic and hold more weight than plastic. They can easily be repaired and reused as well. Wooden pallets can protect your shipment, whether transported by truck or plane.
What are wood pallets? History of wood pallets.
Wooden pallets have been an essential part of modern logistics development, and they were one of the KEY logistics tools in the 20th century. The production of wooden pallets accounts for at least 43% of hardwood used in the U.S. Their structural foundation allows shipping containers to be placed on a pallet, 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 those for wooden pallets being transported within the U.S. These regulations state that all wooden pallets must be heat-treated before use and have an ISPM15 mark to show they comply. Heat-treated wooden pallets are necessary for international transportation to ensure that the wood is free of pest infestations. When purchasing international or heat-treated pallets, you must 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, unique registration number, treatment code, and Forestry Commission logo.
