Wood pallets are an integral part of the supply chain in the United States. As a matter of fact, did you know that there are nearly 2 billion pallets being utilized in the supply chain every day!
We mentioned in another blog post that the GMA pallet is the workhorse of the supply chain, but pallets come in all shapes, styles, and sizes. Whether they are a standard stringer type, a one-way entry style, or a heavy-duty block pallet, their versatility makes them a nearly boundless platform to fit a multitude of needs when shipping products.
Inevitably, the questions that are asked by customers despite this versatility in pallet properties are, “how do I know I’m getting the right pallet to fit my needs?” and, “are there some sort of criteria I can use when searching for the right pallet?”
In the case of the GMA pallet, there is a straightforward A/B grading system that a pallet provider will discuss with their customers to determine what will work best for the product being shipped.
But what about any custom size pallet? They typically do not have any grading system available that can shorthand suitability for the task. In that case, what can we use to assess a pallet’s ability to consistently do the job I was built for?
This is where performance criteria are critical to the evaluation of any pallet. There are five core performance criteria and in this PCE blog post we are going to share them so you can make a more informed decision when calculating what pallet will work best to fit your needs. Keep in mind that pallet performance criteria are but one part of a more comprehensive study known as a pallet specification. However, the five criteria are a great starting point.
The 5 Pallet Performance Criteria
Strength – is a reference to the load carrying capacity of the pallet throughout the handling environment. It’s one thing to be able to put a heavy unit load on a pallet and the pallet has the initial strength to hold that load. The real key is if the pallet has the same capacity to carry that load from origin to destination and retain its utility.
Stiffness – is the resistance of the pallet to deforming under the weight of a unit load. If you’ve ever seen a pallet under load in a warehouse rack that is sagging because of the weight of the load, this is where the criteria of stiffness is key. That sagging is called “deflection” and it is ok that it happens. What shouldn’t happen is that the pallet is deformed permanently due to that weight and racking.
Durability – is the pallet’s ability to withstand the handling environment. The supply chain is a rough place. Forklifts that weigh thousands of pounds regularly run into pallets when picking them up. Pallet jacks are placed wrong in the pallet and end up breaking deckboard components. Truck vibrate constantly when transporting loads. All of these factors and more are testament to the durability of a pallet and its ability to hold up to external forces that want to break it.
Functionality – is the pallet’s compatibility with unit load, the packaging, and the material handling equipment used to transport it. Utilizing a pallet that doesn’t fit this criteria is why lead boards on pallets are broken so often. A load on a pallet will likely not sit fully flush with the edges of the pallet, if that gap is too big it can lead to broken boards too often. Or the pallet’s top deckboards may be too far apart and the product can drop down between the gaps in the deckboards and be struck by forklift blades.
Price – is the price of the pallet vs the value of the product in the load and the cost of handling it. Price is where most customers want to start the journey of finding the right pallet, but it should be the last point considered as the other four criteria will be the crucial input to this final part. The key to remember is that you can likely get a cheaper pallet, but how often will you have to clean up the mess of a broken pallet whether in transit or, even worse, in a warehouse rack. All of those costs will far outweigh the few dollars more spent on the right pallet for the job.
Finding a pallet provider that will sit down and help you evaluate the key performance criteria is a fundamental part of finding the right partner. At Pallet Central Enterprises, we can assess your current pallet needs and make informed recommendations that are derived from studying your supply chain, researching the handling equipment and environment, and using our experience with many different supply chains and pallet types to determine the best fit for your needs. We welcome you to contact our staff to begin a no obligation evaluation to find your best pallet. for you.