Clients often ask us “How much weight can a pallet hold?” This is a very good question so here’s everything you need to know about calculating pallet loads to suit your needs.

Before we can start, however, we need to define the term “weight”, because it’s not a single thing. In fact, here are some commonly-used phrases related to weight:

• Static Load – the maximum weight of product the pallet can carry while resting on the ground, without moving. This is typically the highest weight rating for any pallet
• Dynamic Load – the maximum weight of product the pallet can carry while it is picked up and moved by a forklift. This is typically the second weight rating of any pallet
• Racking Load – the maximum weight of product the pallet can carry while it is in a warehouse rack
• Safe Working Load (SWL) – many people have heard of this term. However, in Australia, it is not defined or regulated for plastic pallets. It is also unclear, because it could refer to a safe static load, a safe dynamic load or a safe racking load

So, as you can see, it’s important to ask specifically, “What is the dynamic load of the pallet?” instead of “How much weight can the pallet hold?”

How will you use the pallet?

Plastic pallets are made for a purpose. The level of engineering “smarts” the goes into the design and manufacture of a plastic pallet is very high. This enables pallet manufacturers to create products that suit particular applications. This can be export, cold room storage or supermarket distribution, each with its own ideal pallet.

Horses for courses

For example, a very light pallet that weighs 4kg is excellent for shipping light products by air, because its light weight reduces the cost of air freight. However, it only has a static load of 1,200kg, a dynamic load of 400kg and no racking load.

On the other hand, a heavy duty pallet that weighs 23.4kg is better for transporting heavy products or for storing in a racking system. This kind of pallet has a static load of 10,000kg, a dynamic load of 2,000kg and a racking load of 1,500kg.

Therefore, it’s important to know what kind of plastic pallet you’re dealing with, and what type of application you want to use it for.

How will you balance your load?

When you try to figure out how much a pallet will carry, the type of load is very important. For example, if you are a watermelon farmer, your load is fairly heavy, but it’s balanced evenly across the pallet. Most growers also put the watermelons into a cardboard box or a bulk container first. Then, they put that on the pallet. Using this type of container also helps spread the load evenly across the pallet.

On the other hand, if your load is a roll of printing paper, or a bulk bag of grain, it puts most of the pressure on the centre of the pallet.

Under even load distribution, the pallet can hold a lot more weight than when the load is at the centre. Therefore, when you look at pallets’ static, dynamic and racking loads, remember that these are maximum values. Your specific product packaging and load distribution may need a stronger pallet.

How will you fix the load to your pallet?

To find the effective weight a pallet can carry, it’s also important to know how the product load is held on the pallet so it doesn’t move. Shrink-wrapping the product to the pallet turns the whole shebang into one big thing. This prevents the pallet from bending during movement on a forklift and means it can take a higher dynamic load than without shrink-wrapping.

Strapping the load onto the pallet can help increase the pallet’s ability to handle the load, but not always. In the case of the roll of printing paper, strapping across the roll only increases the pressure on the middle of the pallet, and this means that the effective load on the pallet is higher than the weight of the roll.

How will you transport your pallet?

One thing you have to remember when choosing a pallet is that pallets are often stacked. Of course, if the load on your pallet is 2,000kg and you place another one on top of it, the bottom pallet now has to carry a weight of 4,000kg.

This is important when exporting in shipping containers. It also applies when stacking pallets on a factory or warehouse floor to save space.

Similarly, if your pallet will be carried by straps, moved on a forklift, or handled in any way that puts more pressure on certain areas of the pallet. You must take this into consideration and buy a pallet with a higher rating than the weight of your load.

How can you know for sure?

The best way to check how much weight your specific pallet will carry within your specific materials handling environment is to test. Good pallet suppliers can help you test by providing a few sample pallets. You can then use them for a while in your particular setting and check for yourself how they perform and how much weight they actually carry.

In summary, there are plastic pallets that can carry almost any weight. Now, you know how to choose the best one for you.

For more details, look at a few of our plastic pallets.

Original post: How Much Weight Can a Pallet Hold

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Exports here in Australia are at an all-time high, topping $1 billion monthly. Most of this is thanks to rising commodity trading with China.

When planning your export shipments, you need to select the right export pallet size. Depending on where you send your shipment, you will need a different size pallet.

Size is also dictated by how you are shipping your products. Freight carriers want to maximize the space on their ships and trucks. This means you need to follow any requirements they have.

Confused by how to pick the right pallet? Our guide to pallet sizing will explain all factors to consider.

Export Pallet Dimensions by Country

When deciding on the right pallet sizing for your export shipment you need to consider the country that your shipment is going to. Each country has their own requirements for pallet sizing.

By adhering to these standards your shipment will fit your customer’s racking and transport system. This will make for happy clients. Both plastic and wood pallet dimensions are the same for the countries listed below.

North America and South America

The standard size is 48″x40″ (1219x1016mm), which is close to the ISO size 1,200x1,000mm. These pallets will work for shipments that go to North America, including the United States and Canada, and to South America.

Europe and the United Kingdom

European countries use a standard size of 1,200x800mm (EURO), as well as 1,200x1,000mm (ISO). Supermarket chains in Europe use 800x600mm pallets, and this has influenced many of their suppliers, like the members of the British Egg Industry Council.

You should confirm with your client to make sure they follow this standard and not the UK one.

Asia

Asian export pallets are a perfect square of 1,100x1,100mm and fit perfectly at two across in a standard shipping container. These are mainly 4-way entry plastic pallets with a full-perimeter-base, also called “monoblock” or “6 skids”.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia’s internal pallet size standard is 1165x1165mm, which isn’t used anywhere else. Therefore, products are imported and exported on pallets that suit the country of origin or destination.

New Zealand uses the ISO standard (1200x1000mm).

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The ISO creates a single set of standards for countries across the world. These standards are in a variety of industries for quality, environment, and management.

As international trade increases, international standards help people do business together better. The ISO created a single set of standards for export shipping pallet sizes. This list of standard sizing has six main categories of sizes.

• 1300x1100mm – Worldwide shipping of chemicals, minerals and raw plastic in bags
• 1219x1016mm (48″x40″) – Most common in North America
• 1200x1000mm – Most common in Europe and New Zealand
• 1200x800mm – Most common in Europe
• 1165x1165mm – Only within Australia. Not used for export
• 1100x1100mm – Most common in Asia
• 800x600mm – Used by European supermarket chains

Export Pallet Weight

You need to consider more than the dimensions when thinking about size. Consider the weight of the pallet when planning your shipment.

Road transport, airfreight and LCL shipping costs get calculated by weight, so you need to include the weight of the pallet. Plastic pallets weigh significantly less than wood options.

Wood pallets can weigh 13-30 kg. Plastic pallets weigh less at 4.5-10 kg.

Normal Pallet Dimensions in Industry

Some industries have a standard pallet size that gets commonly used. If you are in one of these industries, you need to take this into consideration.

Often the pallet matches the product footprint. For example, the auto industry tends to use a standard export pallet size when shipping parts.

Automotive Industry

The common size for the automotive industry for pallets is 1200x1100mm. When shipping these items choose a pallet as close to these dimensions as possible.

This size is common since it matches the footprint of returnable bins. These bins are what parts manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers use to transport parts.

Pharmaceuticals

The standard pallet size for pharmaceutical companies is 1200x800mm. If you supply raw materials to such a company, this is the export pallet size you need.

Chemicals, minerals and raw plastic material

Chemicals, minerals and raw plastic are shipped in 25kg bags on 1300x1100mm export pallets.

Pallet Size by Transport Method

The final factor in determining correct pallet specification is the mode you plan on using. Each transport method works best with a different size of the pallet.

Ocean freight

Ocean freight pallets must fit into shipping containers that get stacked on ocean freighters. Think of this as many smaller cubes packed into larger boxes, and then stacked on the ship.

The freight company wants to maximize the density of their load. This means stacking the cubes as compactly as possible.

The best pallet sizes for ocean freight are 1200x1000mm and 1100x1100mm, because they fit side-by-side and make good use of container space. Other sizes, like 1200x800mm, fit, but do not use the container space in full. Other sizes may not even fit side-by-side.

Air freight

When sending products by air, your pallets will be placed on top of another flat pallet and locked into place. Therefore, your pallets must have feet, not skids, and the feet must be tapered. See this air freight pallet as an example.

Since air freight cost is largely affected by weight, your pallets should be as light as possible.

Road transport

In Australia, distribution is done mostly by trucks on 1165x1165mm pallets, but those are not suitable for export. However, due to the history of using timber pallets, transport companies use 1200x1200mm as their “pallet space”.

Therefore, 1200x1000mm and 11001100mm pallets can fit well onto Australian trucks.

What If You Choose the Wrong Export Pallet Size?

Sending the correct pallet size is your way of being considerate and delivering something useful to your destination besides products. At the receiving end, incorrect pallets will simply be discarded after the product is unloaded, because there is no further use for them.

However, your product will still be delivered.

When using the correct export pallet size, you may be able to negotiate their value as part of the deal with the client, because they can sell them or use them.

How to Select Your Plastic Export Pallets

Finding the right export pallet size requires you to consider where, how, and what you are shipping. Take into account that you want your product to fit entirely onto the pallet with no hangover.

Select a pallet that complies with the sizing of the destination country. This lets your client receive their shipment with ease.

If you are in an industry that uses a specific size, your decision is an easy one. It is best to stick with the industry standard.

Bonus tip: How to avoid quarantine

If you ship an item that does not need quarantine at customs, choose a plastic pallet. Plastic pallets automatically comply with ISPM 15 regulations.

Plastic pallets do not carry the same risk of pest infestation that wood pallets have. This means your shipments will move through customs faster.

Please see our wide selection of export plastic pallets for your shipping needs.

Original post: Export Pallet Size Guide

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The logistics industry is huge, involving several activities. If you run a logistics business, or are in charge of logistics in your organisation, you are probably looking out for a cost effective way to get pallets for packaging and transport.

You have two options – either buy plastic pallets or rent them. What is the best choice to make and what type of pallets should you use?

Why buy plastic pallets and not timber?

Different types of pallets are available in the market. The most popular ones are timber and plastic pallets. Traditionally, timber pallets were used. However, they have several disadvantages in terms of costs, maintenance and longevity.

Plastic pallets are a better alternative. They are perfect for closed circuit systems such as transport from factory to warehouse and vice versa. Plastic pallets fit their application well and are lighter, safer and more durable. Comparative studies reveal that cost per trip for plastic pallets is much lower when compared to timber pallets. Plastic pallets are lighter as well, which reduces the overall cost of transport.

In terms of sanitation and hygiene, plastic ranks much higher. Timber pallets are susceptible to germ infestation and bugs. They could also be affected by mould or mildew growth. With plastic pallets, such risks are non-existent.

Your Health & Safety department will prefer plastic pallets because they have no splinters or sharp edges and are light enough in most cases to be moved by hand by any employee.

Buy plastic pallets or rent them?

When you buy plastic pallets, you have complete control over the pallet inventory, which effectively saves you a great deal of time. You decide the source of the pallets. This allows for higher quality control which is not in your hands with pallet rental.

When it comes to pallet rental, the upfront costs are very low. However, there are a lot of hidden fees and charges, e.g. for damage. This can effectively increase your cost per pallet. When you buy plastic pallets instead, you end up saving a huge sum every year. In fact, our calculations show that in 10 years, pallet rental costs 3 times as much as buying the pallet outright!

The rented pallets carry the name of the rental provider. Your pallets on the other hand, would have your name stencilled. Why advertise someone else when you can advertise your brand on your own pallets.

Your investment in pallets can be used directly in the balance sheet as a depreciable asset. This has a significant benefit for your tax assessment.

So what now?

Check out the plastic pallets for sale by Plastic2go and start saving money today.

Image source: Wikipedia

Original post: Why Buy Plastic Pallets and not Rent?

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We are very excited to announce a brand new range of 5 foldable vented plastic crates with ergonomic easy-lock handles for super easy handling in the fields, while loading trucks and in the cool room.

Whether you are growing or distributing, this is a great selection of crates for you. It’s easy to find the ideal crate for your tomatoes, bananas, avocados, mangos, stone fruit and any type of fruits and vegetables you need to process.

Besides the ergonomic easy-lock handles, a massive advantage of these crates is the very high return ratio. They fold down so tightly that storing and transporting them empty is cheaper than any other crate range on the market.

As with all of our products, these ergonomic folding plastic crates also feature low weight, ease of folding and unfolding, card holders and more. They are UV stabilised, can be steam cleaned and are very durable. They are also environmentally friendly, being fully recyclable, and compliant with the strictest occupational health and safety.

All the new crates fit the ISO standard at 600x400 mm.

New Ergonomic Folding Plastic Crates

Original post: New Ergonomic Folding Plastic Crates

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Why is this so and how diverse are the industries where plastic crates are being used?

Why are plastic crates popular?

There are many reasons why usage of plastic crates is increasing:

• Reduce costs as plastic crates are returnable, reusable and recyclable
• More efficient than one-way packaging
• Reduce product damage as surfaces are smooth
• Water resistance and air venting means products retain their freshness
• Uniformity of size and stackability means efficient use of floor space
• Foldable plastic crates store compactly when not in use
• Straight from farm to supermarket aisle means minimal transfer
• Easy to clean and sanitise without use of harsh chemicals
• Stronger than cardboard and lighter than timber
• Resist weather damage
• Tolerate a broad range of temperatures
• Minimise manual handling hazards
• Attractive appearance and wide colour range available

Plastic crate uses in industries

Plastic crates are suitable for a wide range of industries. For example:

• Fruits and vegetables – plastic crates protect delicate produce
• Grocery distribution – go straight from the farm to the supermarket shelf
• Dairy industry – plastic crates keep bottles clean and prevent damage
• Bakery industry – lightweight plastic crates allow bulky loads to be stacked easily
• Agriculture – plastic crates can handle heavy loads
• Fishing industry – floating plastic crates help keep the catch fresh
• Pharmaceutical industry – plastic crates can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, so they are ideally suited to the transport and storage of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals

Check out our huge range of plastic crates – there’s sure to be something that meets your needs.

What innovative plastic crate uses will help your company benefit? If you have an interesting story to tell, please contact us!

Original post: Plastic crate uses: let me count the ways!

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Whether a folding crate for picking peaches or for delivering kiwi fruit to the market, one of these brand new, state of the art vented plastic crates will be ideal for the job. 3 of them fit the ISO standard (600x400) and the other 3 fit the Australian standard at varying heights. All of them fold to take up to 6 times less space to save money on return trips.

As with all of our products, these return packaging plastic crates combine ergonomic design, low weight, ease of folding and unfolding, card holders and a range of other features. They are UV stabilised, can be steam cleaned and are very durable. They are also environmentally friendly, being fully recyclable, and compliant with the strictest occupational health and safety.

New Return Packaging Crates

Original post: New Return Packaging Crates

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Reduce transport and shipping costs with plastic shipping pallets

Transporting or shipping goods anywhere, be it across the country or internationally, costs money. There are not only costs associated with the goods themselves – taxes, etc – but also those related to transporting them. Plastic pallets are light and easy to transport, reducing your overheads; they are easy to sanitise, reducing quarantine charges.

Minimise product loss

Traditional timber pallets can splinter, break and absorb water, which can warp the timber as it swells. the resultant product damage can be very costly. Switching to plastic shipping pallets, while initially more expensive than timber, can minimise loss caused by product damage: the savings can greatly outweigh any increase in pallet cost.

Reduce costs by re-using plastic shipping pallets

The life span of a plastic pallet means that you can reuse plastic pallets up to 50 times, if used according to the of load and temperature specification.

Maintaining their strength and durability over time, compared to traditional timber pallets, they can also be easily sanitised. In comparison, timber pallets have been linked to outbreaks of E. Coli and other bacteria as well as chemical contamination.

Reduce costs by purchasing used plastic pallets

Companies are beginning to buy used plastic pallets as a cost-effective solution in the competitive materials handling market as they offer a number of benefits:

• their strength and durability allow used plastic pallets to be easily stacked, saving warehouse space
• their long life span and UV protection allows them to handle sun and rain with no damage

Companies can significantly reduce costs by purchasing from our extensive range of plastic shipping pallets!

Original post: Reduce costs by switching to plastic shipping pallets

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Traditionally, international transportation has relied on wooden structures, such as timber pallets, to support cargo in transit. The cargoes themselves are regulated by quarantine, requiring identification by type and origin; however, the same does not apply to the timber pallets used in their transport.

Using plastic export pallets for transporting goods internationally offers some benefits that you may want to consider.

Quarantine risks with timber pallets

The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service identifies a number of quarantine risks associated with wooden packaging, including the removal of bark. Bark removal is essential in order to:

• make cargo easier to inspect visually
• minimise chemical treatment failures
• minimise the risks of pests that both depend on bark and are present in soil entering Australia
• reduce infestation risks.

As a result, timber pallets are required to be treated, either by heat or chemical treatment, to reduce the risk of pests spreading. These timber bearing insects and forest organisms pose a significant threat to Australia’s timber industry so it is vital that the risk of introducing them into our country be minimised.

Plastic export pallets are easily sanitised

Plastic pallets, on the other hand, can be simply cleaned by hosing with water and dry quickly, whereas wet timber is an attractive environment for mould, fungi and insect pests.

Because plastic export pallets do not require treatment, they are safe from toxins and can be used safely by hand.

Using plastic export pallets avoids these quarantine risks and offers greater protection for our environment as a result. Of course, an additional benefit is that plastic pallets can be recycled as well, further minimising the impact on our forests.

Check out our range of plastic export pallets – we offer a wide range of sizes and shapes suitable for every situation.

Image credits: www.freeimages.com

Original post: Plastic export pallets vs timber pallets: quarantine risks

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Enjoy!

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