materialhandlingupdate
BY DC VELOCITY STAFF
Palletpalooza!
There were
pallets aplenty
at the inaugural
Modex 2012
show in Atlanta.
Here’s a look at
just a few of the
more interesting
pallet products
on display.
WHO DOESN’T LIKE PALLETS? THEY MAKE WAREHOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION
easier and more efficient, they save time and money, and they’re found in just about every
warehouse in the world—even in Antarctica. In other words, they’re both ubiquitous and
indispensable. But … they’re not exactly exciting. After all, they just, well, sit there.
Which is why you might be tempted to think that there isn’t much new in the world of
pallets. But appearances can be deceiving. As a walk around the floor at the Material
Handling Industry of America’s inaugural Modex 2012 show made clear, pallet manufacturers are putting a lot of thought and effort into innovations and refinements that reflect
changing market demand, such as the growing interest in environmental sustainability.
Nearly two-dozen exhibitors at Modex had pallets on display. We can’t describe them all,
but here’s a quick peek at some that were a little out of the ordinary.
Aluminum goes airborne. When AL Pallet says its patented pallets are lightweight,
it means it. The low-cost aluminum pallets weigh just nine pounds each but can hold up
to 2,500 pounds. They’re fireproof, noncorrosive, and easy to repair and clean. They’re also
fully recyclable and have a high scrap value, according to the manufacturer.
Perhaps the biggest benefit, the company says, is that their remarkably low weight helps
reduce airfreight costs. Companies like Samsung, Nokia, LG, and Dell use the pallets for
international shipping worldwide. Because they’re aluminum, there are no worries about
water absorption, toxicity, pests, or product contamination, making them a favorite of
pharmaceutical companies. (AL Pallet USA, www.alpalletusa.com)
Universally appealing. Buckhorn Inc. clearly believes its reusable plastic Universal
Pallet can handle whatever comes its way in almost any manufacturing, distribution, and
warehousing application. According to the company’s website, the model delivers such
superior performance that it “makes wooden pallets look like twigs.”
According to the manufacturer, the 68.3-pound Universal Pallet is the only plastic pallet
in a 48- by 40-inch size with an edge-racking capacity of up to 2,800 pounds—without
support—and a full range of configuration options. Buyers can decide whether to have
perimeter lips or not, a solid or ventilated top deck, and metal or plastic reinforcing rods.
The low-profile pallet also comes with replaceable bottom runners and rubber anti-slip
plugs on the top deck, rails, and fork entry. (Buckhorn Inc., www.buckhorninc.com)
Have it your way. Conitex Sonoco says its LoadRunner corrugated board pallets are
ideal for operations that want to save on freight costs by reducing pallet weights; want to
minimize vibration and shock; and/or need clean, sanitary pallets for medical, pharmaceutical, and food products.
