Are the cold temperatures harming your plastic pallets?

Below freezing temperatures. Snow. Ice. The Polar Vortex. Are the cold temperatures harming your plastic pallets?

As we grind through one of the coldest winters in decades, keep in mind that plastic pallets feel the cold too. In fact, because of the cold, plastic pallets are more vulnerable to damage and far less pliable.

Cold weather and plastic pallets don't mix. Your best defense against damage is better handling practices.

Cold Weather Problems and Solutions

We’ve come up with our top 2 cold weather problems and solutions to help protect your plastic pallets during the cold winter days.

1. Problem: Forklift Punctures
   When plastic is colder than normal or freezes, it becomes less impact resistant or more brittle. Simply put, it loses its elasticity. When it loses its elasticity, forklift tines don’t bounce off the blocks, they puncture the blocks. When the fork tines puncture the blocks, the block breaks and the pallet is compromised.
    
   Solution
   Remind your fork lift drivers to be extra careful when unloading plastic pallet unit loads on cold days.
    
2. Problem: Breakage During Assembly
   Another cold weather side effect is prevalent if and when you are assembling two piece plastic pallets. Some “nestable” plastic pallets come with "snap-on" runners to make the pallets rackable and stackable. Generally, these runners have snaps that attach the runners or bottoms to the pallet. The freezing temperatures make these snaps brittle and prone to breakage.
    
   Solution
   Prior to assembly, try to warm up the runners or bottoms by making sure they are in a warm part of your facility. The locking system will remain pliable and the bottom runners should snap on with ease.

Have you experienced any cold weather side effects when handling your plastic pallets? Let us know by commenting below.

Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales and Marketing