Utility Of Pallets

Wooden Pallets

•  Heavy stacks can be moved easily with the help of pallets.
•  Pallets support the load such that forklift trucks of varied sizes, pallet jacks that are drawn or pumped by hand, can haul them.
•  They are a cost-effective way of handling goods as they help in fast movement of more goods within less time.
•  Certain pallets can be used over and over again thereby saving the cost of buying one in need every time.
•  Wooden pallets once discarded can be used as a piece of furniture, fence for home, small cage for animals or to make crafts.

Types Of Pallets Based On Structure And Design

• Stringer Pallets: They use three or more than three parallel pieces of timber to which top deck boards are affixed for making the structure. A notch cut might be found in stringer pallets. Be it forklift or stringer, such pallets can be lifted from all sides.
• Block Pallets: They are known to be stronger than the previous ones. They consist of both perpendiculars as well as parallel stingers that help in handling efficiency. They are variedly known as “four-way” pallets.
• Flush Pallets: Pallets that are accompanied by deck board meant for flushing with stringers along the wooden pallets ends and sides are known as flush pallets.
• Perimeter base Pallets: All stringer pallets, as well as some block pallets, have bases which are unidirectional. Perimeter-based pallets contain bottom boards that are bi-directional such that orientation is possible in both the direction.
• Solid Deck Pallets: Solid deck pallets refer to those pallets in which there are no spaces in between the wood. They enable easy cleaning and transportation.

Types Of Pallets Based On Material Used

Wooden Pallets

• Wooden pallets: they are the most widely used pallets. Wooden pallets may either be made of hardwood or softwood which is determined by the used tree type. A commonly used tree for hardwood is oak and commonly used tree for softer wood is pine. They can be easily customized, reused as well as resold. They are light in weight and are available in a variety of options. However, they are easily breakable and prone to chemical or bacterial contamination in addition to bug infestation.
• Metal Pallets: These pallets are durable and sturdy. Commonly used metal for metal pallets are steel or aluminum. They are durable, pest free unlike wooden pallets, which are recyclable. They are highly priced, heavy and fall prey to rust.
• Plastic Pallets: These pallets are made from recycled bottles or polyethylene. Different processes are used for the construction of such pallets. They are resistant to weather and odor, light in weight and fire retardant and metal pallets. However, they are breakable and expensive.

Advantages Of Using Pallets

• Pallets enable reduction of warehousing apart from using airspace and floor space.
• Pallets help in the reduction of handling time by saving the time that would have been taken by a human doing the same task. This, in turn, reduces the number of overtime wages.
• It protects goods against damage.
• It helps in cutting down personal accident as it involves the handling of materials mechanically.
• It provides protection against pilferage as well.