But to truly reduce damage, you need to start with
the basics: choosing a better pallet and doing a better
job of training your employees.
INVEST IN A BETTER PALLET
It may seem obvious, but if you want your pallets to last
longer, you have to choose sturdier units in the first
place. But how do you know if you’re buying a well-made pallet? You can start by making sure your pallets
meet the standards laid out by MHI and the National
Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA).
As for what else you can do, the industry experts
interviewed for this article offered some additional
advice on pallet selection. What follows are some of
their recommendations:
▪ Choose pallets with strong blocks. According to
Horvath, most pallet damage occurs when a forklift
driver or pallet jack operator hits the pallet’s blocks
with the machine’s tines while trying to enter the pallet. Reinforcing the outer blocks of a wood pallet can
extend the unit’s life by four times. Reinforcing the
middle and inside blocks in addition to the outer ones
can lengthen the life of the pallet by a factor of 10 to 15,
he says.
Block strength is also an important consideration
when buying plastic pallets. Horvath advises companies to be wary of plastic pallets that don’t have solid
blocks. Some plastic pallet makers are experimenting
with blocks that have an outer shaft or shell and an
inner shaft. But if the inner shaft or core of the block is
compromised, it can reduce the stiffness of the top
deck, causing the weight of the load to be unevenly distributed. This can result in product damage, he
explains.
Horvath also urges companies to exercise caution
when buying injection-molded plastic pallets made of
two pieces that snap together. When buying these types
of pallets, make sure they don’t snap together in the
middle of the block, Horvath advises. “This can reduce
the durability of the plastic pallet to the same level as a
wood pallet,” he says.
▪ Don’t scrimp on nails. If you use wood pallets, make
sure they use good quality nails. “Nails [account for] 5
percent of the cost of the pallet and 50 percent of the
durability,” says Horvath.
7 reasons to protect
your pallets
Launching a pallet protection program might seem
like overkill. But those who’ve done it say it can have
a big payoff. Here are some of the potential benefits:
1. Reduced costs. If you reduce pallet damage, you
lengthen the life of your pallets and cut down on the
number of units you have to buy or rent.
2. Decreased risk of contamination. Broken pallets
(especially chips, sawdust, and splinters from wood pallets) can contaminate your product and/or workplace.
3. Improved safety. Employees can cut or injure
themselves on pallets with broken pieces or protruding nails.
4. Reduced product damage. Pallet damage often
leads to product damage, either at the same time the
pallet breaks or further along in the supply chain.
5. Lower repair costs. United Pallet Services estimates
that it costs $5 on average to fix a wooden pallet.
6. Improved operational efficiency. Repacking,
repalletizing, and cleaning up after a pallet has been
damaged adds time (and cost) to your supply chain.
7. Reduced risk of equipment damage. A damaged
pallet can damage or jam automated equipment,
resulting in repair costs and downtime.
Horvath also recommends choosing units that have
one or two leader boards (the boards at the front of the
pallet by the entryway) right next to each other that are
six inches wide and made of a hardwood. “This increases the durability of the pallet significantly,” he says.
▪ Consider using pallets with beveled entryways.
According to Curt Most of the plastic pallet maker
Orbis, a beveled entryway is more forgiving than a
square one. That’s because if the forks hit the beveled
edge, they’re more likely to shimmy over it and not
puncture the block.
▪ Choose the right pallet for your application. Different
types of pallets work better for different applications,
says Most. Questions to consider include: What type of
product will be on the pallets? How do you plan to use
them? Will they be stacked on the floor or racked? Do
they have to be compatible with automated equipment
in your DC? Do you anticipate automating your distri-
