DC Velocity - April 2015

m at er i a l ha n d l i ng u p d at e

50 DC VELOCITY APRIL 2015 www.dcvelocity.com more than their wood counterparts will, says Horvath. This bending is sometimes known as “creep.” And it’s a bigger problem than it might seem, according to Horvath. “A lot of people say, ‘Why do you care about the bending of the components if the pallet doesn’t break?’” he says. The issue, he explains, is that if the components bend too much, it can result in the uneven distribution of stress on the top of the pallet. That, in turn, can compromise the integrity of the product loaded on the pallet—for example, causing bottles to leak or unit loads to become unstable.

A newer type of plastic pallet made from thermoset resins, as opposed to thermoplastic resins, may offer an answer to this problem. According to Fit Pallets, a maker of thermoset composite pallets, thermoset resins undergo a chemical change when they’re molded, which strengthens the material and makes it less likely to bend or creep.

On top of that, thermoset pallets pose less of a fire risk than conventional thermoplastic pallets. Traditional thermoplastic pallets burn hotter and faster than wood ones and as a result, require a higher-capacity sprinkler system or a fire retardant. Thermoset plastic pallets, however, meet the UL 2335 classification for flammability (meaning they perform as well as or better than wood, and therefore don’t require the costlier sprinklers) without the addition of fire retardants.

PAPER: LIGHT BUT SHORT-LIVED

In recent years, another type of pallet—the corrugated paper pallet—has started making inroads in the market, according to Horvath. The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea, for example, made a big splash in 2011 when it announced it was switching from wood pallets to paper. The Freedonia Group estimates that corrugated pallets represent 11 percent of all market demand.

The main selling point of corrugated pallets is their low weight (roughly eight to 12 pounds), which makes them easy to handle and reduces shipping costs. Ikea’s pallets, for example, are 90 percent lighter than their wooden predecessors. This makes them a good choice for airfreight shipments and containerized loads, says Horvath.

The pallets are also 100 percent recyclable and, unlike wood, do not require any sort of heat treatment to prevent pest infestation. As a result, they’re well suited to export use.

Corrugated pallets, however, have a short lifespan, which means users shouldn’t look to get multiple trips from them. They also cannot handle heavy loads. Nor do they stand up to moisture.

METAL: HEAVY GOING

Metal pallets are typically made from steel, aluminum, or some combination of the two. The market for metal pallets

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