Useful information
Manufacturing process
More than 80 % of all plastic pallets produced in the world are manufactured by injection molding. According to this procedure, the material is plasticized, injected into an injection mold under high pressure, and finally cooled down for curing. The cavity created by this tool, which consists of two mold parts, determines the shape of the completed pallet. Less widespread manufacturing methods include thermo forming, compression molding and rotational molding.
Design principles
Pallets manufactured using an injection molding procedure are divided into two categories. Monoblock pallets are manufactured in a single piece. Although the major part of nestable plastic pallets comes under this category, pallets with skids manufactured as single pieces are mainly known as monoblock pallets.
The second category comprises pallets manufactured from two or more parts. The parts that make up these pallets are only connected to one another by snap-on connections, screws, glue or welding after the injection-molding process is finished. Plastic pallets with snap-on skids or food hygiene pallets are classical examples of this category.
An industrial pallet has a size of 5 modular units or 1200 x 1000 mm. It is most widespread in the United Kingdom, where it mostly has 5 skids. However, it is also used as a standard along with the euro-pallet in other European countries. The advantage offered by the industrial pallet is its bigger load area.
