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There's a lot at stake when you're tasked with buying plastic pallets. And, let's be real. The bean counters are always on you to find the best price, amirite? We can do you one better. We'll match you with the best value pallet. What's that? That's experience talking. I'll explain.  With 100+ years of material handling experience under our belt, Nelson Company knows a thing or two about saving money. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-experience-matters-when-you-buy-plastic-pallets.cfm When it comes to plastic pallets, you could be leaking profits in sneaky places and not even know it. Nobody likes that. Chances are pretty high that our experts have been in your shoes before. That means we're in a good spot to optimize your system in ways you haven't considered.  Profit from these 5 advantages and more when you partner with Nelson Company for plastic pallets. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-5-advantages-of-using-the-plastic-pallet-experts-at-nelson-company.cfm Nearly every consumer and industrial item you interacted with today took a ride on a pallet. Let that sink in for a minute. Your morning coffee. That phone in your pocket. Those new tires on your car. Even the pulleys and electronics that took you safely up to the seventh floor in the office elevator. All of it. There's a chance I'm not telling you anything new. But, have you ever asked why one company chooses wooden pallets and why another chooses plastic pallets? This post is part 7 of a 10-post series on plastic pallets 101. (Part 6 examines plastic pallet destinations and handling.)  31% of companies choose plastic pallets (as published in the 12th Annual Pallet Report by Modern Materials Handling.) This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-top-6-benefits-of-plastic-pallets.cfm 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. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-answer-this-question-before-buying-plastic-pallets.cfm The standard pallet size in North America is 48x40 and has been for decades. I detailed uses for the 48x40 along with nearly 40 other pallet dimensions in my previous post, Industry Standard Pallet Sizes: A Complete List. As a follow-up, I am specifically shining a light on plastic pallets and six (6) sizes commonly sold in the US. This post is part 5 of a 10-post series on plastic pallets 101. (Part 4 explains capacity ratings.)  ISO (International Organization for Standardization) approves specific plastic pallet sizes for making global trade easier. These sizes include the North American 48x40 and the Asian 43x43. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-common-plastic-pallet-sizes.cfm Look at any plastic pallet spec sheet and you’ll see capacity ratings detailing how much weight the pallet can handle. These numbers are important to safety so let’s examine them now.  Ratings are determined using evenly distributed loads meaning your product should be spread uniformly across the pallet. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-capacity-ratings-for-plastic-pallets-explained.cfm Wondering about the material used for manufacturing plastic pallets? You may want to flip that question around and ask, what plastic material does my pallet application need? That's because plastic pallets can be made from a variety (and blends) of different materials to support specific environments.  These popular plastic pallet materials (and others) provide unique properties for specific job requirements. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-what-material-is-used-for-plastic-pallets.cfm Plastic pallets are built to support a wide variety of functions and environments. Each function typically relies on a specific design style to safely and efficiently get the job done. Use the guide below to dive into an overview of styles and the duties they carry out.  The scope of plastic pallet design includes runner configurations, weights, molding styles and materials. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-plastic-pallet-functions-and-designs.cfm The basic anatomy of a plastic pallet can be boiled down to three main parts: a top deck, the bottom support and the sides. Easy, right? Not so fast. Plastic pallets are available in a dizzying array of styles and options designed to work with specific loads, environments and equipment. How do you choose? The guide below will help you get started.  Hundreds of plastic pallet designs are available in a mixed variety of top, bottom and side styles. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-plastic-pallet-anatomy.cfm Want to learn about plastic pallets fast? This quick video will get you up-to-speed on everything from styles and materials to the safety and money-saving benefits of using plastic pallets. Below the video is a brief summary of the topics we cover with timestamps for skipping to a specific section. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-video-plastic-pallets-101.cfm The question I get most often from customers wanting to buy plastic pallets is, "how many fit on a truck?" Seems like a straightforward question, right? Well, if we're talking about standard 48x40 plastic pallets, I can tell you that we've got 26 to 30 skid spots to work with on a typical 53' dry van tractor trailer. Next comes some basic math (and maybe a tape measure). Most times we can come up with a solid count. Every once in a while we run up against an exception - usually because of a change in the truck scheduled to pick up the load.  Everything from pallet size to loading patterns to the interior dimensions of the trailer (and more) factor into calculating pallets per truck. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-how-many-plastic-pallets-fit-on-a-53-foot-truck.cfm Yes, you read that right. Plastic CP9 chemical pallets are available for quick delivery. Just recently, ten (10) truckloads of these brand new CP9 plastic pallets were successfully placed in the polymers and additives sector. A great choice for any industry, these 45x45 pallets are now stocked in our Columbus, Ohio and Memphis, Tennessee warehouses.  The broad 6-runner base on the NPP-4545-FP-CP9 evenly disperses weight for secure block stacking. Every so often a speciality pallet is the right choice for the job. Sure, we can say most plastic designs are strong. They're resistant to moisture and less likely to harbor smells or mold. Those are generally fine specs for nearly all applications. But in stricter circumstances, we sometimes need to consider how the pallet is engineered. Let's find out why and when that matters.  A one-piece plastic pallet is completely closed significantly limiting opportunities for pest infestations, water intrusion and structural failures. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-when-should-you-consider-one-piece-plastic-pallets.cfm Everything from raw materials to finished goods are sitting on pallets in warehouses around the world just waiting for their next move. How they're sitting and where they're going are both important details for choosing the right plastic warehouse pallet. Let's take a look at some questions that will help point you in the right direction.  Choosing a plastic warehouse pallet depends on your storage environment and handling equipment as well as where it is going and the type of load it is carrying. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-how-to-choose-a-plastic-warehouse-pallet.cfm To understand nestable pallets better, think about coffee cups. When you're not using these cups at home, you probably store them in a way that saves space in the cupboard, right? The shape of most coffee cups lets one cup to rest inside another to take advantage of vertical storage space. It's the same with plastic nestable pallets. They're just a lot more stable.  Similar to a stack of empty coffee cups, nestable pallets save space when not in use. Many in the pallet industry would reflexively answer four. That's because 48x48 drum pallets can easily hold four 55 gallon drums without hanging over. Everything from caustic chemicals to the raw ingredients used in the food we eat moves in 55 gallon drums. So, it should come as no surprise that the 48x48 drum pallet is the second most popular pallet size in the US. Popular? Yes. The only solution? Far from it.  Drum pallets like this plastic CP9 can transport diesel for the petroleum industry, glycerin for pharmaceutical manufacturers, chicken soup for food processors and so much more. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-how-many-drums-fit-on-a-plastic-pallet.cfm Don't worry. You haven't done anything wrong. Not yet, at least. I know, I know. You're in a hurry and don't really want to talk about hygiene and plastic pallets, but hear me out. Choosing the wrong pallet could wind up costing you - in time, money, or something worse.  What makes a plastic pallet hygienic? That depends on your environment and goals. Supply and demand for used plastic pallets is already, by nature, organized chaos. Add in the recent global pandemic and the market is being thrown one curve ball after another. First, inventory was scooped up by early panic buying. Then, trade restrictions forced import and export activity to plunge. As world economies responded to change, some industries came to a screeching halt while others ramped up to around-the-clock manufacturing. These unprecedented disruptions strained certain segments of the used pallet market.  Secure stretch wrap on built-in corner hooks or add up to 12 optional grommets on the new NPP-4545-FP-CP9. Early in my career, I was introduced to the CEO of the company that had just hired me to help make plastic pallets. "Mr. Leo" as he was affectionately called, shook my hand and welcomed me to the team. To help me get my head around what I had just gotten myself into, Mr. Leo said, "Our pallets cost a lot of money. But remember. They are the cheapest product out there!"  Have you done the math? A heavy-duty pallet may actually save you money. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-cost-per-pallet-vs-cost-per-use-in-a-closed-loop.cfm Trying to decide which type or grade of plastic your pallet should be made of? With a variety to choose from, choices can be overwhelming. I hope this post helps you to make the best decision.  Plastic resins like these are used in making plastic pallets. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-what-material-is-used-for-plastic-pallets.cfm It has been a tough but successful year and you have decided to take the wife and kids to Disneyland. Yes, the original one in California. You're packing the kids into the hotel and you see this big sign next to the door that says something about the premises containing chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects. WHAT???? Gloria! Grab the kids! We are outta here!  According to a recent announcement by Governor Andrew Cuomo, Looking to California, New York will consider its Own Prop 65. If you read my last post, 6 Benefits of Using Plastic Pallets in Colors, you already know that black is the most popular color for plastic pallets. In this post, we'll take a look at the top five popular plastic pallet colors, examples of how each color is used and why color costs more than black.  Used plastic pallets offer big savings on yellow plastic pallets and other popular colors. The market for used plastic pallets is strong and for good reason. Reusability. Plastic pallets are generally engineered for durability. Even the ones manufactured for one-way shipping can often survive multiple trips. The staying power of plastic has increased circulation numbers and introduced an interesting opportunity.  Minor cosmetic damage is OK as long as it does not impact the functionality or integrity of a used plastic pallet. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://blog.nelsoncompany.com/home/7-reasons-more-companies-are-choosing-used-plastic-pallets The most popular standard pallet size in US inches is 48L x 40W. How popular? The 48x40 accounts for approximately 30% of all wooden pallets produced each year. The 48x40 standard was set by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) more than forty years ago. For this reason, you may hear it called a GMA pallet. But, not all 48x40 pallets are designed to GMA specs nor are they all used in the grocery industry. Interestingly, that's true of most any "industry standard" pallet. Even though a pallet may have originally been standardized for a specific trade, its use is often not exclusive to that industry alone.  Wooden pallet sizes are expressed in order of stringer length x deckboard length. For example, GMA pallets are 48x40 (not 40x48). Sizes for non-wood pallets are usually listed by the longest length first. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-industry-standard-pallet-sizes-a-complete-list.cfm OK, so you run a cold storage operation and the FDA has been in a time or two talking about the FSMA and other interesting subjects. So far you are in full compliance, but you thought it might not be a bad idea to look into switching to plastic pallets for your sub-freezing storage.  Any operation with consistent temperatures below 0°F should consider using true freezer grade pallets. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-when-do-i-need-true-freezer-grade-plastic-pallets.cfm |
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