Answer this Question Before Buying Plastic Pallets

So you've been asked to buy plastic pallets. And, after looking at 200+ options, you're lost. How are you ever going to narrow down your choices? Well, any good pallet pro will ask this important question, “where’s the pallet going and how?”

It's a great question for eliminating plastic pallets that won't work. Just know there will probably be more to answer. This post is part 6 of a 10-post series on plastic pallets 101. (Part 5 explains common plastic pallet sizes.)

Before shopping for a plastic pallet, know where it's going and how it will get there.

Plastic Pallet Destinations
The destination for your plastic pallet will often fall into one of two camps:
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1. You Won't Get the Pallet Back

• An export pallet or one that's going one-way needs to be tough enough to safely do the job. Durable plastic lets you “send it and forget it.”
• Although any material can work, look for ACM or PO. This material has a lower lifespan, but also a lower price point.  
• If the pallet is jetting off on a plane for export, lightweight plastic will help to keep your airfreight costs lower.
• Across town or across the globe, you'll save with open-deck, nestable plastic pallets. This dynamic design duo uses less material for a lighter load and lower price compared to heavier pallets. Ship one-way using new or used plastic pallets.

The CPP330/ACM Plastic Pallet is a lightweight nestable pallet with an open top deck perfect for shipping one-way.

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2. You Keep the Pallet In-House or Recover

• A captive or multi-trip pallet is heavy-duty enough to survive years of rough handling in your warehouse or bouncing between multiple stops in your system.
• Look for pallets made from HDPE or HDPP. Both offer long life. PE is most common and is the workhorse of warehouses. Choose the more rigid PP material if you're placing these in an unsupported rack.
• Designed for reuse, a captive or multi-trip pallet may be priced higher, but over the life of the pallet, cost-per-use can often be measured in fractions of a penny. Buy new plastic pallets for your warehouse or choose multi-trip in used condition.

The NPP-4840-FP-E6OD Plastic Pallet is ideal for closed loops in the Electronics, Food, Retail, Medical and Pharmaceutical industries.

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Plastic Pallet Handling
Beyond destination requirements, consider your operating conditions:

1. What Equipment are you Using? 

• Forklifts and pallet jacks may not be compatible with every pallet design. Know the capabilities of the equipment you're using to move pallets.
• Ask about a pallet's height profile and side openings to fit your specific equipment including conveyors, racking systems or automated palletizers.

2. What are you Loading on the Pallet?

• Know the load the pallet will be supporting. Securing 55-gallon drums on a pallet will have different requirements than boxes or bulk bags.
• Plastic pallets offer a multitude of Swiss Army-like add-ons including grommets, non-slip surfaces, stretch wrap hooks and safety rims and more for safer handling.

Don't Forget to Test your Plastic Pallet
You think you've found a pallet that best fits your destination and handling situation. That's great. You're almost at the finish line. But, before you place that order, you may want to give that pallet a good test run. Why? Every load and system is different. And while everything may seem to line up perfectly on paper, something unexpected may be discovered during your real-world application.

Are you looking to buy plastic pallets? Let one of our pallet pros help you get answers to the important questions. Ask your own question below or get in touch today.

Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing