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ply chain solutions group at CHEP, a pallet pooling specialist that also provides unit load optimization solutions.
“Remember that the unit load is where a product spends 90
percent of its life,” he says. “It’s only really broken down at
the very end of the chain. So it’s critical to be able to test that
entire unit load—not only to make sure that it’s going to
make it all the way through without falling apart, but also to
prevent weakening that could cause damage down the line.”
SIMULATE AND TEST
Unit load optimization is typically done through computer simulation and physical testing in a lab setting, which
is more efficient and effective than conducting trial and
error tests on actual shipments. These testing services are
available through some packaging and pallet companies,
specialty consulting firms, and research universities with
packaging schools.
As for how companies use these services, clients sometimes turn to labs for answers to straightforward questions,
like “What’s the actual load-carrying capacity of the pallet?”
or “How much product can be stacked on this pallet?”
Other times, they’re looking for answers to more open-ended questions such as how to reduce product damage, how to
increase unit load stability, how to reduce overall packaging
and freight costs, or how well a new packaging solution will
work.
For example, a tissue manufacturer that was contem-
plating a switch from high-quality corrugated to recycled
corrugated for its packaging contracted with CHEP to
ended up saving it $300,000 annually.
