DC Velocity - IdeaBook 2014

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:

x 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 advis-
es. “This can reduce the durability of the plastic
pallet to the same level as a wood pallet,” he says.
x Don’t scrimp on nails. If you use wood pal-
lets, 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.
x Look for strong leader boards. With wood pallets,
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 signifi-
cantly,” he says.
x 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 bev-
eled edge, they’re more likely to shimmy over it and
not puncture the block.
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.