Need a special-size pallet without the high cost?

A revolutionary new plastic pallet design available from Nelson Company can be customized to at least 9 different sizes for your small and unique pallet size requirements. Even better... it’s available at a fraction of custom pallet prices.

Introducing the Semi-Custom Series 350 Plastic Pallet...

9 Unique Sizes. Large or Small Quantities. Variety of Industries.

The 350 series is designed with 16 block legs which allow the pallet to be cut into a variety of unique sizes, ranging from 48” x 40” to 24” x 20”.

The 350 can be delivered as half-pallets, quarter-pallets or intermediate size pallets - all at very attractive prices. Whether you need small or large quantities the possibilities are almost endless. 

Use for One-Way or Captive Applications

The 350 series plastic pallet is offered in a durable, multi-trip HDPE/PP material or a ridged, single-trip lower-cost ACM material. Be sure to ask your Nelson representative which material is right for your application.

Save Money and Time

The materials handling industry has seen an increase in demand for small custom pallets in every industry to help companies optimize unit load costs. Why? No one wants to pay for unused space on a truck or a container.

Here's another benefit - retailers can get more flexibility for in-store displays. Stores can easily move product onto the sales floor without restacking. Think of the time savings!

The 350 series semi-custom plastic pallet is perfect for these industries and more:

• Medical
• Food
• Retail
• Electronics
• Air freight
• Produce

Still Considering a Custom Pallet?

Even if your company has the budget and demand for designing a custom plastic pallet, the following common challenges may change your mind:

• Custom plastic pallets are expensive to design.
  Unless you need over 30,000 plastic pallets per year, creating a custom-size mold is simply not cost effective.
  
  
• Custom pallet molds depreciate quickly
  Much like an automobile, the minute you drive it off the lot (start using the mold), you’re that much closer to buying a new one.
  
  
• Finding a source for custom pallet molds is difficult
  If cost and depreciation are not enough to discourage you, think about the time, hassles and pitfalls of finding an outside source for handling the production and maintenance of your expensive mold. 

How would you use this semi-custom plastic pallet? Tell us and ask for a sample today to see how the 350 series pallet can save you time and money.

Happy Earth Day!

One of Nelson’s specialties is wood pallets. It may be hard to believe but wood pallets and the lumber industry are not bad for the environment. We decided to dispel some common myths about wood pallets and the environment in celebration of Earth Day.

Myth: The wood pallet industry kills trees to make pallets.

Fact: This is simply not true. Trees are not cut down to make pallets. The lumber used for pallets is a byproduct of the lumber used in the construction of houses and furniture. Any lumber that is not aesthetically acceptable for these purposes is used for pallets.

Myth: Wood pallet manufacturers don’t care about trees.

Fact: What? We love trees! As a wood pallet manufacturer, we must care about trees and the environment. Trees are a renewable resource. Trees are a crop that is harvested. When one tree is cut down, two more are planted. In fact, in 2012 4.3 trees were planted for every person living in the United States. Currently there is 119% more standing timber in North America than there was in 1950! If we don’t have trees, we cannot manufacture our product.

Myth: Landfills are filled with wood pallets.

Fact: According to a study by Virginia Tech and the USDA Forestry Service, less than 3% of the almost 700 million pallets manufactured each year are dumped into landfills. Wood pallets have a long life cycle. If a wood pallet is damaged, the first response is to fix it. Wood pallets are repaired over and over again. Once a pallet’s life cycle is complete, the first option is too dismantle it. The parts can be used to repair other pallets or to manufacture a pallet of recycled parts. If its parts are unusable, the pallet can be ground up for mulch, charcoal, or many types of fuel. But if a wood pallet does end up in a landfill, don’t worry its biodegradable!

Myth: Wood pallets have no place in the green, sustainability movement. 

Fact: Wood pallets are super green! They are reusable, repairable, and recyclable. A survey conducted by Modern Materials Handling found that 73% of pallets are recycled. Pallets are one of the most recycled products in the United States.

How are you celebrating Earth Day? Planting a tree? Pledging to recycle? Can Nelson help? Let us know by commenting below!

Post by: Kaitlin Manning, Creative Director 

John Clarke and Kent Longardner represented Nelson Company at the ISTA Transpack Forum in Orlando, Florida for three days at the end of March.

Forum attendees gained valuable new information about transport packaging and the distribution of products from recognized industry leaders from around the world - including our very own John Clarke.

Kent reflects on 5 Things he learned at the 2013 ISTA TransPack Forum.

In addition to case studies and presentations, John and Kent exchanged ideas and discussed critical issues and solutions with industry peers. The opportunity to gather for knowledge sharing is just one way John and Kent continually expand their skill set as industrial packaging professionals.

As you'll see, it wasn't all work and no play for John and Kent. The event was held at Walt Disney World after all...

1. Unit Loads are a Major Focus within the Transport Packaging Industry
   A large percentage of ISTA presenters discussed unit load handling. Many speakers mentioned distribution environment problems with specific palletized products shipped as a unit load. All concerns could be corrected with properly designed unit loads addressing the packaging, pallet and material handling equipment.
   
   With more companies understanding the importance of unit load design, more effective test procedures are being developed to create quantitative results. As test procedures like EN 12642 or ISO 1053 progress, we will be able to better quantify how well the pallet, packaging and material handling equipment work together to contain the products safely within the distribution environment.
   
   
2. Companies Expect Packaging to be More Innovative without Increasing Costs
   Cost savings has always been an important factor for packaging engineers when analyzing product packaging. Recently, there has been a slight shift to prompt innovation instead of only focusing on cost savings. This puts pressure on packaging designers as well as suppliers. However, this new process of not emphasizing cost savings alone will allow suppliers with new products, new designs or innovation to compete with current packaging.
   
   
3. United States Marine Corp has Unique Packaging Issues
   Kevin Smith from the Marine Corp discussed his experience managing logistics for the US military. The military products are subjected to common hazards including shock, vibration and climatic. Yet, one hazard most packaging engineers do not design for is sand storms. The range of military products shipped is very wide from food and medical supplies to bullets and helicopter blades. The military is also focused on sustainability, especially repurposing. For example, certain containers are designed to ship supplies, but are reused as office walls at a base.
   
   
4. Fun Facts about Walt Disney World, ISTA Forum Venue
   The ISTA Forum was held at the Walt Disney World Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Orlando, Florida. Since this was the backdrop for the packaging forum, we learned some fun facts about Walt Disney World.
   
   Walt Disney World resort is about the size of San Francisco.
   
   Only about 35 percent of its more than 27,000 acres has been developed.
   
   1,850 tons of garbage are recycled annually.
   
   Magic Kingdom alone averages about 47,000 visitors a day.
   
   Stormalong Bay's sand-bottom swimming pools in the water recreation area at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts hold 750,000 gallons of crystal clear water - a world record.
   
   An estimated 1.65 million pairs of eyeglasses have made their way to Disney World's lost-and-found bins since 1971.
   
   Every year the park finds an average of 6,000 cellphones, 3,500 digital cameras and 18,000 hats.
   
   
5. Nelson Company Well Represented at Volleyball Tournament 
   The Nelson Company was represented by John and Kent at the 2013 ISTA volleyball tournament. After a grueling tournament their team was victorious in finals winning the championship game. It was all for fun with a great group of participants which helped make the conference enjoyable, memorable and a great annual event.

Did you attend the 2013 ISTA TransPack Forum in Orlando?
Tell us what your learned by commenting below. 

Post by: Kent Longardner, Technical Sales Manager

Freight terms can be confusing.

Acronyms, abbreviations, shorthand, and jargon make up the shipping freight lexicon. Many terms commonly used in the freight world can often leave people in a state of confusion.

Below are some of the terms everyone working in (or with) the freight industry should know: 

1. LTL and TL
   LTL is an acronym for Less Than Truckload. This means the shipment does not require a full 48 or 53 foot trailer. There are many carriers that specialize in or offer this service.
   
   Like full truckload carriers, LTL carriers specialize in a variety of services such as lift gate and residential pick-ups; deliveries; guaranteed services; protect-from-freeze; transit and bottom-line-cost to name a few. Rates for LTL freight are determined by class, weight, pick up and destination zip code.
   
   TL is an acronym for Truckload. The quantity of freight required to fill a trailer; usually more than 10,000 pounds.
     
2. PRO Number
   A pro number is a sequential numbering system that is used to identify freight bills. A Pro number is like a social security number for your shipment because it is unique to every individual shipment.
   
   
3. FOB
   This acronym stands for Freight On Board. The term FOB is commonly used to indicate who pays loading and transportation costs, and/or the point at which the responsibility of the goods transfers from shipper to buyer.
   
   FOB Shipping Point or FOB Origin indicates the buyer pays shipping cost and takes responsibility for the goods as soon as the goods leave the seller's premises.
   
   FOB Destination designates the seller will pay shipping costs and remain responsible for the goods until the buyer takes possession.
   
   
4. BOL
   The Bill of Lading is a legal document between the shipper of a particular good and the carrier. A BOL details the type, quantity and destination of the good being carried.
   
   The bill of lading also serves as a receipt of shipment when the good is delivered to its predetermined destination. This document must accompany the shipped goods (no matter the form of transportation) and must be signed by an authorized representative from the carrier, shipper and receiver.
   
   
5. Consignee
   The consignee is the individual or business that receives the freight being shipped.
   
   
6. Billing Terms
   Billing terms are an important part of the freight lexicon. TPB stands for third party billing. This is a scenario where neither the shipper nor the consignee is responsible for paying the freight charges. Instead there is a third party who is responsible for the charges.
   
   Freight Collect is a term that means the freight will be paid by the person receiving the shipment.
   
   PPD & Add  stands for prepaid and add. This means that the shipper pays the freight company then bills the customer the actual freight charge.

Is there a freight term that you don't understand? Let us know by commenting below and we will explain it for you!

Post by: Amber Potts, Customer Service Representative

Pests travel via wood products.

Many of the pests that cause damage to trees, wood and other wood products catch rides to new habitats on wooden packaging used for shipping common consumer goods, auto parts and other products.

One of these pests is the Emerald Ash Borer.

Here's what you need to know about this destructive wood pest.

1. Who: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a small emerald green beetle that feeds on ash trees. The borer is a type of beetle that is metallic green in color. It has a slender body and measures approximately 1/2" in length. Normally found just under the bark of ash trees, an average sized adult can fit on a penny.
   
   
2. What: The emerald ash borer is an extremely destructive plant pest that damages trees. Since its arrival, the emerald ash borer has been responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees. One of the most frustrating things about the emerald ash borer is that it is very difficult to determine whether an ash tree is or is not infested due to the gradual decline.
   
   
3. Where: The emerald ash borer's native habitat is China and eastern Asia. The ash borer is believed to have arrived in North America, specifically Michigan, by hiding in wood packing materials. The emerald ash borer has now been detected in 13 U.S. states including: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as well as some parts of Canada.
   
   
4. When: While the exact arrival date of the emerald ash borer into the U.S. is unknown, it was first identified in 2002 in Michigan.  Within a couple of years, the emerald ash borer had spread to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Scientific communities believe that the beetle may have been living in the United States for up to 12 years before it was identified.
   
   
5. Why: Since the greatest threat of spreading the emerald ash borer is by transporting freshly chopped wood (firewood and/or packaging), many states now have quarantine procedures. The quarantine is for wooden packaging and it requires ash lumber to be treated prior to crossing state lines. The U.S. Department of Agriculture took this action to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer to non-infested areas of the United States. 

Help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer in the industry and in your neighborhood.

It's important that you encourage people outside of our industry, like your friends, family, and neighbors, to help stop the emerald ash borer. Stopping the pest on all levels will benefit the wood packaging industry.

• Don’t move firewood
  When we move firewood, we unknowingly contribute to the spread of the beetle. The larvae of the emerald ash borer hides under the bark of firewood. The best way to prevent the spread via firewood is to not move the wood and to buy local firewood.
  
  
• Visually inspect your trees
  The best way to stop an infestation is early detection. The symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation are usually dead branches near the top of the tree, leafy sprouts growing from the lower trunk, or bark splits with s-shaped tunnels.
  
  
• Spread the word
  Talk to your neighbors about the emerald ash borer.
  
  
• Know your State and Federal regulations
  It is important to understand these regulations. If you have any questions, the wood packaging experts at Nelson can help you navigate the latest emerald ash borer quarantines set by the USDA.
  
  
• Ask questions
  If you purchase any ash wood product or firewood, make sure you question its origin.

Do you have an experience with the Emerald Ash Borer or similar pest? Share your pest issues with us by commenting below.

Post by: Jonathan Haynes, Nelson Sales Representative