Has searching for an FDA approved plastic pallet left you with confusion and sticker shock? Save money (and avoid buying the wrong pallet) with these tips for understanding what the FDA really wants in your pallet application.

You work with packaged food or pharmaceuticals and you've been told you need to purchase an inventory of FDA approved plastic pallets. You're not even sure you know what that means. Worse, the thought of complying with government regulations sounds complicated. Don't worry. Finding the right pallet is often easier than it first appears.

The FDA Code of Federal Regulations can seem confusing but it boils down to this: the FDA is concerned with the design, workmanship and material used in equipment meant to handle food and drugs (Title 21 CFR part 100.40).


What does this mean for incidental product contact?

• FDA pallets need to be easy to clean
  Hidden areas can trap debris or liquid which can foster contamination and bacteria growth causing adulteration of your product.
    
• FDA pallets need to be non-toxic
  The FDA does ban some substances outright and your pallets cannot contain them if they are to be used in a regulated facility.
    
• FDA pallets need to be in good repair
  Broken or dilapidated pallets can become part of the dangers of contamination rather than part of the solution. Broken pallets become hard to keep clean and pieces of broken pallets can end up in product.

Bottom line from the FDA on plastic pallets

When asked specifically about pallets, the FDA has answered repeatedly that for incidental product contact, a pallet must simply not pose an intrinsic hazard. Easy, right? It doesn't even have to be blue. For most applications, the less expensive standard black Plastic Pallet will be approved for use in FDA regulated applications.

So now you know the basics for using plastic pallets in FDA regulated facilities. When there is general, incidental product contact, a standard plastic pallet may be all you need. If your product contact is not incidental, please watch for my next post: FDA Pallets for FULL PRODUCT CONTACT.

Still not sure about which plastic pallet will work best for your FDA requirements? Get in touch with me or post your questions below. I am glad to help.

Post by: Hartson Poland, Business Development - Plastic

Transporting bulk bags just got a lot more interesting. Introducing the brand new Bulk Bag Pallet. It stacks. It stores. It nests. It saves. Available in 43x43, this uniquely-designed sack stacker is both a unit base and a divider for block stacking. 

​If the initials FIBC mean anything to you, then you know the extreme challenges of transporting and storing your granular products in big bags. The Bulk Bag Pallet is a plastic pallet made especially for the flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) you transport.

Your decision-making just got easier too because the affordable Bulk Bag Pallet offers multiple ways to save money:

• Save on Exporting
  Lightweight plastic makes this pallet a low-cost option for shipping overseas.
• Save on Transporting
  Safe double-stacking lets you load more of your product on one truck.
• Save on Warehousing
  Block stacking saves valuable space on the floor.
• Save on (Empty) Storage and Delivery
  With a nesting height of just 2.5”, approximately 1,200 of the Bulk Bag Pallets can fit on an empty truck (compared to the typical 500 count for wood pallets).

  
​One-of-a-Kind Container Pallet Design
So what about those tunnels? The sturdy plastic loops can help lessen damage to your Super Sacks from forklift tines and can also make it easier to separate stacked bulk bags. One last item… these pallets also work well with roller conveyors.

Ask us a question about the Bulk Bag Pallet in the comments below. There’s so much more to know about this exciting new design. Or check out the specs now for the 43x43 bulk bag divider.

Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing

Can wood pallets and plastic pallets both work in the same automated high-racking system? Yes - even if they are different sizes! You just have to shuttle them.

Pallet racking is everywhere. Warehouses, manufacturing plants and even your local home improvement store all need a way to store palletized products on their shelves.

Speed and maximum efficiency is the name of the game in high-racking systems. Product arriving on a misfit pallet can grind operations to a halt and quickly erode the economic benefits of this highly-optimized link in the logistics chain. Lightweight shuttles quickly and easily get your system back on track.

Here’s how the shuttle keeps your racking system humming:

• Pallet size doesn’t matter
  Pallets that don’t quite fit the dimensions for your system can be fitted with the shuttle for easy conveying or storage.
    
• Pallet material doesn’t matter
  From heavy duty wood to lightweight plastics, shuttles carry the load to make most any pallet compatible in your racking system.
    
• Pallet rackability doesn’t matter
  Nestable plastic pallets are known for their space-saving design for empty transport and storage. With shuttles, even nestables can rack.

The shuttle is your answer to oddball pallets entering your racking system. Imagine no more breakdowns in operations caused by ill-fitting or damaged pallets. Every pallet is transported smoothly when it rests on our expertly designed shuttle with pivot-mounted and bend-proof aluminum beams. Complete shuttle specs and a shuttle video can be found on our website.


Can you see the shuttle working in your automatic high-racking system? Tell us how in the comments below.


Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing

Looking to get cash for your old plastic pallets? Learn the easy way for getting top dollar when selling your used pallets (while also avoiding the landfill). 

Our lesson starts here. The loading dock area of your production facility is running out of space. Your suppliers are sending you raw materials on plastic pallets. Your workers have been stacking those pallets against the walls day after day and now there isn’t an inch to spare. Sound familiar?

Here’s the good part. Those pallets you’re tripping over could be in demand. The trick is finding out who wants them.

Here’s how to get top dollar:

• Make sure the pallets are yours to sell
  Got proof they’re yours to sell? Excellent. A little history helps too. Remember… never sell pallets if you are unsure of ownership rights.
    
• Try to stack pallets by consistency in size and quality
  Shoot for pallets that are the same size and in good working condition. A little dirt or dust along with some small aesthetic damage can be OK but there should be no significant fractures or broken, dangling pieces. Ask yourself, “would I put my product on that pallet?”
    
• Take photos detailing marks and condition
  Good photos are the next best thing to an on-site inspection. Take photos of the pallet top and bottom. Get close-ups of part numbers and other markings. Also snap photos of the stacks and storage location.

Now you know the secret. Accurate details help you to get the best price. Stop stacking and start cashing in. Measure, take photos and fill out our Sell Your Pallets form. Oh yeah, here’s a bonus tip… if you seem to collect the same plastic pallets on a regular schedule, your used pallets just might be extra attractive to buyers.

What other questions do you have about selling used pallets? Send me a note or add your question to the comments below. I’m happy to help.


Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing

Scrap are plastic pallets that have major damage including:

• broken runners
• top deck damage
• missing support posts​

Plastic pallets are available in just about any custom color you want. They're more than just a prettier pallet. Find out how and why color is used.

Color improves Workflow Efficiency and More

The reasons for using uniquely-colored pallets are almost as varied as the colors themselves. Here are some of the top reasons for using custom color plastic pallets:

1. Designate pallets by plant function or area
2. Identify pallets to be used with a specific customer
3. Show ownership and reduce loss by matching company colors

Black Plastic Pallets are Most Popular
 
The majority of plastic pallets will be either black or gray simply because they cost less to make. These pallets are manufactured with a blend of post-industrial recycled HDPE or PP materials. Both are low cost, yet very durable. However, the recycled materials used in manufacturing will always be a blend of various colors. To achieve a consistent color, colorant needs to be added. Black and gray are the most cost-effective options.
 
Blue Plastic Pallets are FDA Approved

Blue plastic pallets are the second most common color. Blue is used to identify that a pallet is FDA Approved for direct food contact. These pallets are more expensive than a black or gray plastic pallet because they are made from 100% virgin material. Recycled material cannot be used in an FDA Approved plastic pallet.


Red, Green and Yellow Pallets Cost More

Custom colors including red, green and yellow will cost more. Like the FDA pallet, higher prices for custom color pallets include the added costs of virgin material and expertly-matched colorant. These colors are also more difficult to find, especially in smaller quantities. Most manufacturers will only make custom color plastic pallets with a full truckload minimum order. Custom color plastic pallets in less than truckload quantities (LTL) are available from some manufacturers that stock them (if you know where to look).

Even though custom colors may initially cost more, increased efficiencies and reduced pallet loss may actually prove to be a cost-effective solution for your distribution system. An experienced pallet professional can help you make color decisions. 

Do you have a question or a unique way of using color plastic pallets in your system? Tell us in the comments below.

Post by: Mike Simon, Midwestern Sales Executive

Have you ever wondered what kind of plastic is used in recycled plastic pallets?

Approximately 90% of the pallets manufactured today are made with recycled plastics. The blends are all different. Most are HDPE, while others use post-industrial scrap which may include rubber, polypropylene and even silicates. Ground up car bumpers are used in one of our pallet lines. While another line uses fiberglass in the manufacturing process.

When you think of a plastic pallet do you think about milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles?

Probably not… However several years ago, I toured a plastic pallet manufacturer in Canada and this company had truckloads of plastic bottles and containers that they used to create recycled plastic pallets. The process was very interesting:

1. The bottles and containers were dumped into a hopper
2. The hopper cut the containers into little pieces of plastic confetti  
3. The plastic flakes were fed into a giant washer that cleaned them
4. The plastic went from the washer through a dryer 
5. The flakes were stored in bulk containers until it was needed for the manufacturing process

The whole line was so efficient. Plastic pallets are just one example of what can be made by recycled plastic. Imagine what our landfills would look like if we didn't recycle!  

Thanks to recycling, we can offer a diverse line of quality plastic pallets for every application. Recycling is just one way we help businesses shrink environmental impact when using pallets.

Does your company benefit from recycling? If so, please leave us a message below and tell us how. 

Post by: Penny Peirce, Sales Representative
Use of Bales of Crushed PET Bottles by Matthewdikmans licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Plastic Pallet Sizes Are Limited

This size may be determined by the measurements of your unit load or perhaps you’re just trying to match your wooden pallet size. But unlike custom wooden pallets, plastic pallets are limited in the sizes that are available. This is because each specific size and style of plastic pallet requires a mold or tool to manufacture it and the production of a custom tool is very expensive and time consuming.  

When a manufacturer makes the decision to spend the time and money to make a new tool, they generally have a commitment from one or more customers to buy large quantities of that specific pallet in order to justify the investment.  However, sometimes a manufacturer will have identified a need in the market for a certain pallet size or design. This need or void in the market often gives the manufacturer the confidence needed to invest in a new mold. 

Custom Plastic Pallet Volume Requirement

The volume requirement to justify a new tool will vary, depending on the style, size and weight of the potential pallet. Keeping this in mind, the “ball park” requirement is usually more than 25,000 - 30,000 pallets per year.

There are also situations where, regardless of significant volume, it still makes sense for an end user to have a new tool made. For example:
​  

• A custom design that solves a product damage issue and eliminates long term damage costs.
• ​​A design that eliminates the need for reduces the packaging costs associated with the unit load.

What if you are looking for a custom size plastic pallet and your needs don’t fit any of the criteria above? There is still an option for you. Existing plastic pallets can be cut down to match your size requirement. With the large number of current plastic pallet sizes and styles, there is usually a pallet that can be cut down to fit your needs or at the very least, get the size close.

What size pallet do you need? If you think it might be a custom size, leave a comment below. We can help you find the right solution for you need. 

Post by: Mike Simon, Midwestern Sales Executive 

In our last post about trending plastic pallet sizes, we reviewed the recent trends of small, square, and half plastic pallets. In part two, let's look at some trending solutions for custom plastic pallets. 

If you need a specific size wood pallet, you can custom design and manufacture a pallet in small or large lots to the exact size that is required. But with plastic, each specific size generally requires a new tool to be manufactured to mold that size. This process requires time, volume and a substantial financial investment in order to create a new size.  If you don’t have any of these to justify a new mold, you may have to get creative.

Custom Cut Down Pallets 
A wide variety of other plastic pallet sizes are possible by cutting them down from current plastic pallet sizes.  It all depends on where the cuts need to be on the pallet to make the size.  As long as the cuts don’t compromise the structural integrity of the pallet, they can be cut down to make a cost effective custom plastic pallet. We service the cut down plastic pallet needs of our customers at our Custom Plastic Pallet Shop in Baltimore, MD.

Custom Built PVC Pallets 
A new product out in the market is a custom built plastic pallet that can be manufactured to almost any size that you need.  Extruded PVC is cut to the required lengths and then assembled into pallets that strongly resemble the design of a wood pallet.  These pallets can be manufactured to the exact size, style and strength for your application but they are the most costly of the previously mentioned options.

Want help determining what the most cost effective solution for your plastic pallet need? Leave us a message below, we are happy to help. 

Post by: Mike Simon, Midwest Sales Executive 

As plastic pallet use continues to increase, the standard pallet size of 48x40 remains the most popular for both closed loop and single use shipping applications.  But, with the increase in demand for plastic comes the increase in demand for additional plastic pallet sizes.   

Here are some of the trending plastic pallet solutions that we have seen recently:

Small Pallets 
Manufacturers of smaller items such as small wire coils or a singular small box have been using our 200 ACM plastic pallet, which is a 32”x24” nestable pallet. This pallet is actually called a Euro Half Pallet as it is used in retail delivery applications in Europe.  It has become so popular for shipments in the US, we are now bringing this pallet over in containers and stocking them at our warehouses around the country.

Square Pallets 
Square pallets such as 43x43 are able to cube out a shipping container for maximum usage of space.  There is currently a good supply of used 43x43 square pallets coming into the US under loads from the Far East.  The Nelson Company acquires used square pallets, sorts, cleans and then resells them at a substantial savings for our customers while avoiding the landfill. Any scrap will be reground for raw material. 

Half Pallets 
Many major retailers have now started requiring plastic pallets for use with in-store aisle displays. The least expensive solution is to cut our 48x40 nestable pallet in half to make a 48”x20 or 40”x24” pallet for this application.

Keep an eye out for part two of this entry which will feature trending solutions for custom plastic pallets. 

Post by: Mike Simon, Midwest Sales Executive