Paying an arm and a leg for pallet freight these days? What if you could get 3 truckloads of rackable pallets delivered for the price of one traditional load?
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In previous discussions about pallets, I touched on the nature of the load that a pallet might be expected to handle. If you are a pallet geek like me, the term “unit load” is often used to describe the goods that are configured in such a way as to be easily handled by that pallet.
So, I guess the unit load is and has always been associated with pallets, right? Well, not exactly. Although we can trace the use of pallets all the way back to ancient times, the common use of pallets to handle the unit load did not get going until World War II. Why is my 2x4 lumber not 2 inches by 4 inches?
Many decades ago, lumber purchased from a sawmill physically matched the common dimensions we use today. So why does that pine or spruce 2x4 from your local lumber yard now come up short? The short answer is modern surfacing and shrinkage. Over time we've come to accept these nominal (approximate) dimensions as standard. But there's still a catch. Shrinkage can be highly variable. This makes it very difficult to manage and regulate dimensional accuracy. Will a return program transform your expendable packaging expenses into reusable packaging assets?
Start by asking yourself four key questions about your packaging usage and distribution system. Plastic lumber offers captive pallets a new future.
Captive pallets are designed to save money by being reusable. Plastic lumber is repairable and durable. Plus, it can be custom made to fit your specific requirements. Sounds pretty good so far. But will it work for you? Below we explore the benefits and drawbacks to plastic lumber pallets. What makes a pallet rackable? Well, we've been spending some time on that question including getting into pallet structure, material stiffness and the seven racking systems we most commonly find in industry.
Part of the discussion included assigned load ratings. In most cases, rackability ratings assume the pallet can safely bridge a span between supporting structures. The ability to dependably and securely bridge that span is what makes a pallet rackable. |
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