Plastic Pallets for Shipping
10 Apr 2017
One of the most common forms of industrial packaging, pallets are widely used across the globe to transport a huge range of goods.
Strong, durable and reusable, pallets come in different shapes and sizes. They offer an affordable and versatile method of transporting goods from place to place, so it is no surprise that thousands of pallets are moved around the world every day. Most companies will use wooden or plastic pallets for shipping at some time or other.
One of the most versatile types of pallet is the Euro pallet, otherwise known as the EUR pallet. Euro pallets are the standard European size and shape of pallet, as set out by the European Pallet Association (EPAL).
When you think of pallets, you probably imagine the wooden type, which are cheap to manufacture and can be recycled once they come to the end of their life. But pallets can be made out of different materials too.
Plastic
The aim of any pallet is to get your goods from A to B with the minimum of effort and the least chance of getting damaged. Wooden pallets, although they have their benefits, are prone to splintering and breaking, as well as being liable to damage caused by the elements. Nobody wants to see rotten wood and rusty nails when they’re loading pallets.
Plastic pallets may provide the answer. Made out of durable plastics which are resistant to damage, they offer a reliable method of transporting goods which can be used time after time without issues.
The Benefits of Plastic
If you use plastic pallets for shipping, you can be assured of certain benefits.
Being resistant to water and not susceptible to water damage, they can be washed to ensure they remain in tip-top condition – important if you’re transporting goods which need to be kept clean.
This ability to withstand water damage also means they can be stored outside, where the rain and snow will not affect them. It also means you can use them in all weather conditions without having to worry about them rotting.
Pallets made of plastic are anti-slip, having grooved surfaces, which gives you an additional level of safety when transporting goods. They are also shock-absorbent, which means they will not easily be damaged during the inevitable knocks and bashes experienced while being moved.
Unlike timber pallets, the plastic version does not contain any sharp nails or edges and is not going to produce splinters, meaning they are safer to handle and less likely to cause damage to fragile packages.
In addition, should you be unfortunate enough to experience a spillage of toxic material while transporting hazardous items, your plastic pallet will not absorb the spillage – a careful wash and they will be available for use once more. Unlike wood, they are unlikely to be damaged by spillages, either.
They are long-lasting, too – a typical plastic pallet will last more than 10 years. After this, they can be melted down for recycling and making into something new, so they are no less environmentally friendly than timber ones.
And they have one more advantage over their wooden counterparts: some countries have strict laws regarding what types of timber can be allowed through their borders. If your pallets are made of the wrong type of wood, it could well result in expensive and time-consuming delays.
So next time you’re looking to source pallets for your business, you could do worse than bear plastic in mind