Pallets

The pallet industry produces more than 1.5 billion pallets a year worldwide, using approximately 60 million m² timber, mainly European softwood.

More than 80/90% of goods transported worldwide are transported on some form of timber packaging.

Pallets from accredited manufacturers are designed to protect goods of all values in transportation and storage, and can easily be repaired and recycled.

Standard sizes are 600 x 800mm, 600 x 100mm, 1000 x 1200mm, but purpose made pallets are also available.

Pallet dimensions are always specified in the format of Length x Width. The length is a deck dimension in the direction of the stringers or stringer boards. The width is the deck dimension at right angles to the lengths.

Pallets fall into two main categories: Two-way entry (2-ways) and four-way entry (4-ways)

• Two-way pallets are composed of Top Deck Boards, Bearers and Bottom Deck Boards
• Four-way pallets are composed of Top Deck Boards, Stringers, Blocks and Bottom Deck Boards

There are a number of pallet types used in Europe; the EPAL Euro pallet has become the standard.

Pallet pools offer different overall controls of pallet ownership and distribution.

Quality pallets are produced with rigid specification controls capable of taking the expected weights of products safely, a major factor in health and safety requirements.

The increased use of wooden pallets contributes towards a more stable environment and climate control.