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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 CP pallets are available in nine standard designs manufactured in metric dimensions. You can easily identify these chemical pallets by one of the CP designations (CP1 thru CP9) stamped on the pallet. In this post, we'll take a closer look at three CP pallets popular in the US and examine why these block style pallets originally designed for the chemical industry are becoming more common when shipping products into our global economy.  Stacks of CP3 chemical pallets ready for handling drums and bulk bags. Wood is our most common material for building pallets because it is strong and durable. To make sure your pallets avoid rot and stay this way, proper storage is essential. First, consider how long you will be storing pallets made from wood. For short-term storage of a few months or less (most pallets out there), the effects of outdoor storage such as moisture, sun, snow, etc. will usually not have an adverse effect on wooden pallet performance. But, long-term storage under poor conditions can lead to pallets that "look" bad, grow mold and can even become rotten and unsuitable for use.  Avoid rot damage to wooden pallets by keeping them stored properly. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-how-to-prevent-wooden-pallets-from-rotting.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. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-what-is-california-proposition-65-and-what-does-it-mean-for-pallets.cfm 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 When I wrote my original post, 6 Freight Terms Everyone Should Know, I had no idea it would become so popular. Since that time, a lot of interesting freight questions from all over the world have come my way. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. Shipping stuff seems easy enough, but sometimes it feels like you have to learn a secret new language just to get a freight bill paid. That's why I've decided to expand on my first freight terms post.  A driver that transports product to any location at any time without a schedule or route is known in the industry as an over-the-road (OTR) carrier. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-20-freight-terms-everyone-should-know.cfm 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 If you're shopping for plastic pallet containers, you may be wondering if you really need a lid. I get asked that question all the time. Especially if we're talking about stacking the containers. The answer is (as you probably guessed) that it depends.  Lids are molded with an inset to allow stacking. Optional hinges and locks aid in loss prevention. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-does-your-plastic-pallet-container-really-need-a-lid.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 Protecting rolled products from damage is one of the more challenging jobs for unit load material handling. If you work with heavy rolls of foil, film, paper, plastics or other high-value material, you know that damage during transport or storage can make the product unusable. That's a costly mistake no one wants to make.  This custom wooden roll pallet supports the entire length of cylindrically-shaped product. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-protect-roll-products-with-custom-pallet-design.cfm Air freight is the creme de la creme of all shipping methods and comes with a hefty price tag. But, can choosing the right pallet for air shipments really help "lighten the load"? Yes. Yes it can.  Lightweight and nestable plastic pallets save on air freight. Optional snap-on runners add secure stacking capabilities. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-shipping-air-freight-optimize-cost-with-the-right-plastic-pallet.cfm Recycled wooden pallets or remanufactured? It's a question that comes up often. Before we get into which pallet is better for your packaging needs, let's sort out the definitions of recycled vs remanufactured.  A popular recycled pallet is the 48x40 GMA grocery style pallet. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-should-i-choose-recycled-or-remanufactured-pallets.cfm 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?  Revolutionary design of the RackNest plastic pallet saves space on the truck and on the floor. 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.  Labor intensive material handling in New York City (1877) This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-history-of-the-unit-load-how-we-got-here.cfm 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.  Dimensional lumber is a term given to boards cut to standard sizes (specified in inches). This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-basic-rules-of-dimensional-lumber-nominal-vs-actual.cfm 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.  Metal Pallet Bridging the Span in a Rack This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-rackable-pallets-what-about-the-load.cfm Your pallets look clean, your production facility is exemplary, yet once you put your product on the pallet and stretch wrap the unit load, mold starts to appear! What's to blame and how can I avoid this from happening?  The perfect storm for mold growth. Ventilated plastic bins play an important part in North Carolina's sweet potato industry. So the next time you order up some sweet potato fries with a dusting of cinnamon you can thank the smooth and moisture-resistant qualities of ventilated plastic containers for keeping those taters fresh. That's because the way these spuds are planted, harvested and stored can all have a significant impact on the quality of the sweet potato.  Since 1971 North Carolina has ranked as the #1 sweet potato producing state. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-plastic-ventilated-containers-benefit-agricultural-industry.cfm In my last post we talked about how the STRUCTURE of a plastic pallet can impact the way it interfaces with pallet racking. In this discussion, we will address MATERIAL as it relates to the rackability of a plastic pallet. For our purposes here, we will assume our pallets need to bridge an open span in a rack. If you haven't been following along in this series, check out my 7 Ways to Use Rackable Pallets post to get up-to-speed.  Commodities plastics used in pallet manufacturing is one consideration when determining native stiffness. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-racking-is-your-pallet-material-up-for-the-job.cfm In my last post we discussed 7 basic types of pallet racks. Now that we know EVERYTHING (well, almost everything) there is to know about pallet racking, let's talk about how pallets interact with racks and why structure matters.  Rackable pallets must be stiff enough to safely bridge a span. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-rackable-pallets-structure-matters.cfm Trees are a renewable natural resource. Rather than produce all pallets from new lumber, the wooden pallet industry recycles hundreds of millions of pallets every year! The question is just how many trees are theoretically saved each year by recycling these pallets?  By reusing wooden pallets many supply chains can reduce their demand for trees. Rackable pallets are designed to be used in racking systems - but what does that really mean? Rackable pallets (plastic or otherwise) are pallets that are expected to bridge an open span. Much like the Brooklyn Bridge suspends high above the rushing waters of the East River, a rackable pallet spans a distance between supports in a rack. You may be scratching your head right about now so let’s back up a little. Pallet rack? What the heck is a pallet rack? Any conversation about rackable pallets needs to start with the various types of pallet racks found in industry. This post will identify seven of the most common racking systems used with rackable pallets. 1. Beam Rack This is a typical shelf-like structure with steel uprights and horizontal beams front and back. The pallet sits on the beams. The "span" being bridged is the distance of open space front to back  Many beams have a step on the inside edge for use with support structures. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-7-ways-to-use-rackable-pallets.cfm Every pallet user has experienced fastener failures at some point. Putting a nail or screw into a wooden pallet sounds simple enough, but it can actually get quite technical. When there is a failure, a good set of photos is often enough for an engineer to identify if the problem is the fastener or something else entirely.  Different types of fasteners, from the left, helical (screw) thread, Annular (ring) thread, plain shank, and staple. This page has been updated and permanently moved to:
https://www.nelsoncompany.com/blog-post-the-right-fastener-can-double-the-lifespan-of-your-pallet.cfm |
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