How to improve pallet durability?

In recent years, growing your business has come to mean reaching customers further and further afield. While the obvious solution is a van fleet, in the crowded southeast where space is costly and roads are congested, accommodating a company fleet is cost-ineffective, to say the least. Shipping your goods in and out on pallets is far cheaper, but presents a little storage and maintenance problems too. Pallet collection in London, from a specialist supplier, makes more sense for many reasons.

For some businesses, shipping costs make the difference between success and zero sales. Amazon, arguably the world's most successful business, ascribe their success to the way they have virtually eliminated shipping charges for their end customers. Even for enterprises where the shipping cost is not the most pressing factor, it is still significant. Pallet shipping is the best solution for wholesalers, exporters, and enterprises dealing with bulky commodities, but the pallets themselves are not inconsequential.

Calculating the cost of pallet shipping operations is more complex than you might think. The pallet's durability must be taken into account in addition to its initial cost. How long can you safely store your pallet reserves? How often can you reuse them before they need repair, disposal, or replacement? How many can you accommodate, and what is the turnaround if you run out? How many shipments will be lost or damaged by faulty pallets? And what is the risk of penalties if you use unsuitable pallets for international haulage?

While on-demand pallet collection in London from a specialist pallet pool maybe your best option, it is still vital to understand the basics of pallet care.

How to care for your pallets?

Although the public sometimes thinks pallets are 'scrap wood and nails', anyone in haulage will tell you otherwise. The timber must meet specific standards, and the method and quality of construction are carefully defined by international regulations. The majority of them go through a heat treatment to remove moisture, reduce weight, and kill pathogens like fungi, mildew, mould, insects, and bacteria. Finally, there is a strict certification system before they can receive a compliance mark. Therefore, every pallet has significant value to protect.

In a lifespan of about 3 years, a pallet will probably make 15-20 trips. Pallets can be kept in service for longer periods with care, lowering expenses. However, you cannot just repair your pallet with the proverbial 'scrap wood and nails'. Acceptable repair methods are defined in the pallet regulations (ISPM-15) and adding new lumber generally necessitates re-sterilisation by heat-treating or fumigation. Repair is still cost-effective, but avoiding damage is better.

Our first word of advice is to monitor the condition of your pallets. If you don't inspect them routinely, it is hardly surprising if they deteriorate needlessly or fail to receive timely attention. The main things to look for are as follows.

Heat-treated pallets are resistant to rain, but not to be left in damp conditions. The water they absorb increases their weight, feeds mildew and fungus, and corrodes metal fastenings. In this case, a roof will help, but be sure that the air can circulate to dry them-a tarp over wet pallets will accelerate their degeneration. Never leave pallets with signs of mould in contact with good pallets.

Watch for contamination by the previous load. If the load was perishable or toxic, it will likely degrade the subsequent load.

Any physical harm to human handlers or their future loads is a risk (or to adjacent pallets). Nails that protrude or fasteners that are jagged should be addressed as soon as possible. Forklifts are often the cause of structural damage and sometimes remove whole boards, so always check that every deck board is still in place. Structural damage or signs of loose or weakening timbers will only get worse and endanger your shipment if ignored, so get them professionally repaired promptly.

Pallet specialists usually have a new-for-old service-they will take old, damaged or surplus pallets and deliver new or professionally repaired replacements. This makes obvious sense for most companies. They also provide good advice about choosing the best type of pallet for your purpose (pallets come in different sizes and grades and are rated for different loads) and about their compatibility with your racking or storage systems.