PAllets

Pallets are shipping containers. The pallet has the simplest design. The basis is the bars on which the platform of the boards is attached. According to the generally accepted definition, a pallet is a container unit that has a platform used for collecting and picking cargo.

With the help of such containers, goods are moved by specialized equipment (forklifts), as well as their transportation and storage.

The pallet has a more complex design and can be unified according to certain requirements. But the functional purpose is the same. In fact, pallets and pallets can be considered as a separate container or as a basis for packaging. 

History

The first mention of the use of pallets can be attributed to the times of Ancient Egypt. With their help, stone blocks were delivered to the construction site. The devices had the simplest design and were moved manually. In appearance, they resembled drags.

This type of container became more widespread at the beginning of the 20th century. At first it was an ordinary runner made of wood - two bars with an upper deck. But this decision was inconvenient. The development of factories and industries required more efficient solutions for transporting goods to the place of loading, as well as for their storage and transportation. Therefore, in 1925, the design of the skid was slightly improved by adding a lower deck, which became the first prototype of modern pallets. They were used mainly for transportation by rail and their size was strictly tied to the internal dimensions of freight cars. 

 During the Great Depression, this direction practically did not develop, which was facilitated by a significant reduction in production, but during the Second World War, the issue of moving, packing and transporting goods became relevant again due to the need to transport a large volume of military products. During this period of time, the first standards appeared, again, tied to the dimensions of railway wagons and truck bodies. Pallets were made of wood due to the cheapness and availability of this material.

This approach made it possible to significantly speed up the loading and unloading process and made it possible to group the cargo in batches. Also, the use of pallets has significantly increased the capacity of warehouses. 

 NWPCA is credited with being the first industrial scale pallet manufacturer to introduce major dimensional standardization.

 

 

destination

 The main purpose of pallets is the storage of goods, their transportation and storage. Considering that the load can be different, as well as the methods of movement, there is a difference in the design.

For example, in construction, pallets are used to complete medium and light weight goods, and pallets are used for products with a significant mass. Therefore, containers are used that have a difference in strength characteristics and the ability to withstand certain loads.

The same can be said about the method of loading and unloading, which, again, depends on the weight of the container with the cargo.

Container units of medium and light weight are unloaded by forklifts or manipulators, so it is more convenient to use pallets designed specifically for this type of unloading for storage.

Pallets with a heavy load are unloaded by truck cranes, so their design must provide for the possibility of hooking with slings. It can be said that it is the functional purpose of the container that dictates the features of its design, as well as the requirements for resistance to loads and the material used for manufacturing.

 

Pallet TYPE

Flat pallet. It has the simplest design, consists of a frame and flooring.

Single deck. Has flooring on one side only.

Double deck. It has top and bottom decks.

Reversible. Belongs to the category of flat pallets with two decks, each of which can be used to complete the load.

Irreversible. Belongs to the category of flat pallets with two decks, but only one deck is used to complete the load.

Two way. The design provides input of a fork capture from two parties.

Four way. Forks can be carried out from four sides.

Partially four-way. Capture is possible both from two, and from four parties.

Reinforced. Flat-pallet base design with additional details to reinforce the frame.

With a free opening. Provides the ability to insert a fork without the need to lift the container and tear it off the surface.

With bottom flooring around the perimeter. The bottom flooring is a frame with one or more boards located in the center of the structure.

With the bottom flooring around the perimeter and the central boards arranged crosswise. The central elements have a cruciform arrangement.

Nested. With conical supports at the bottom and similar recesses at the top. When storing empty containers, the supports go into recesses, which saves free space.

Asymmetrical. Single or double deck, with a deck having a different design on each side.

With protruding flooring. The flooring (top or bottom) on one side protrudes beyond the supporting elements.

With add-ons. It has additional elements that perform a specific functional purpose.

Manufacturing materials

Depending on the material of manufacture, pallets are divided into disposable and reusable. The first category includes products in the production of which metal, wood or plastic is used. To the second - products made of cardboard of various densities, recycled materials, low-grade wood or plywood. They usually have a lightweight design. Therefore, they only last one cycle of use.

Metal pallets

 

The main advantages are a high level of strength, hygiene, withstand many cycles of use, are suitable for industrial applications, including conveyor production, there is a possibility of repair. Disadvantages - high cost.

Wooden pallets

 

Advantages - low cost, simple production, sufficient level of strength, can withstand several cycles. There is a possibility of repair. Disadvantages - not suitable for conveyor production, unhygienic, require special handling, quickly damaged and lose their functionality.

Plastic

 

Advantages - sufficient strength characteristics, hygiene, resistance to various kinds of influences, suitable for conveyor applications, a wide scope of use, including in the food industry. Disadvantages - high cost, no possibility of repair.

Corrugated board pallets

 

Advantages - they can be both disposable and reusable, hygienic, meet all standards, have a small weight, are made in various shapes and designs, and have a low cost. Disadvantages - not designed for heavy loads due to limited resistance to loads.

Metal pallets are the most versatile and durable, but they are also the most expensive to manufacture. In second place, you can put plastic because of the wide scope, good resistance to stress, the possibility of conveyor use and hygiene. Not so long ago, wooden pallets would have been in third place, but they are gradually losing their relevance due to the need for special processing and instability to mechanical damage. Such shortcomings significantly limit their scope of use. 

 

pallet standards

In industry and manufacturing, different pallet standards are used. The most common:

 EUR pallet 

  • has the appropriate label
  • size - 800x1200x145 mm
  • here is a marking of the country of the manufacturer in alphabetical form
  • the frame is made of two wide and one narrow boards without chamfers
  • the flooring consists of 5 boards, two narrow and three wide
  • Finnish pallet 

  • has a stamp, as well as the date of issue and the manufacturer's code
  • size - 800x1200x145 mm
  • frame of three boards - one wide and two narrow
  • flooring of 7 boards, alternating in width - one wide, two narrow
  •  American pallet 

  • size - 1200x1200x145 mm
  • lower part of three boards
  • upper part of seven boards
  • board thickness - not less than 6 mm
  •  Cargo pallet

  • size - 800x1200 or 1000x1200 mm
  • appropriate label is missing
  • board thickness - from 20 to 22 mm
  • product 800x1200 is an analogue of a euro pallet
  • product 1000x1200 is an analogue of the Finnish pallet
  • Pallet 1000 x 1000

  • has an equilateral base
  • At the moment, there are a large number of varieties of pallets with different design features - rigid, folding, with additional removable or non-removable elements. An example is pallets designed for packing, storing and transporting car tires, equipped with folding racks located at the corners of the structure. They are necessary to install pallets on top of each other and prevent creasing of products. When storing containers, the racks are folded, as a result of which the pallets take up a minimum of space. 

    Enterprises and industries often use custom-made pallets and pallets. Their characteristics are determined by the product being produced, the requirements of the production process, the size of the conveyor belt and other features of the work activities. Such products are also relevant in automated warehouses.

     

    If you are interested, please contact us by Tel.: +420296183160  or Email: info@tapy-sro.com