Useful Information About Plastic Pallets
What are plastic pallets?
Plastic pallets are load carriers used for placing, storing, handling and transporting goods. They are used in logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, retail and other industries.
Plastic pallets are manufactured from different polymers and can vary in size, construction, own weight and load capacity. Depending on the model, they are designed for light, medium or heavy loads and can be used for one-way transportation as well as repeated circulation.
Plastic or wooden pallets?
The choice between plastic and wooden pallets depends on the operating conditions, type of goods and specific requirements of the business.
Plastic pallets have a number of characteristics that can provide advantages over wooden pallets in many applications:
- do not absorb moisture and are not susceptible to rotting;
- are easy to wash and can be disinfected;
- have no nails, splinters, wood chips or other damaged wooden elements;
- when damaged, do not produce wood chips and broken pieces of material typically associated with damaged wooden pallets;
- have stable dimensions and geometry;
- do not require ISPM 15 treatment for international transport, which applies to wood packaging material;
- can be used in automated warehouse and transport systems;
- can be reused multiple times;
- can be recycled at the end of their service life.
Light, Medium and Heavy Duty pallets
Plastic pallets can generally be divided into Light, Medium and Heavy Duty pallets depending on their construction, intended load and operating conditions.
Light pallets have a low own weight and are designed for comparatively light loads. They are particularly effective for air freight, where the pallet's own weight directly affects the total shipment weight and transport costs. Light pallets can also be used for transportation, distribution, temporary storage, export and one-way shipments where a long-term circulation of the pallet is not required.
Medium pallets are an intermediate option between Light and Heavy Duty models. They are designed for higher loads and can be used in warehousing, manufacturing, transport and logistics operations. Some Medium pallets can have metal or other reinforcement and withstand significant loads.
However, a higher specified load capacity does not automatically mean the same service life or number of operating cycles as a Heavy Duty pallet. Construction, material, reinforcement, operating conditions and frequency of use can differ significantly.
Heavy Duty pallets are designed for heavy loads and intensive repeated use. They generally have a more robust construction and may be equipped with additional runners or metal reinforcement. These pallets are intended for applications where not only high load capacity but also long service life and a high number of operating cycles are important.
When choosing between Light, Medium and Heavy Duty pallets, it is therefore important to consider not only the maximum load but also the expected number of operating cycles, handling method, storage conditions and transport conditions.
It is important to note that the terms Light, Medium and Heavy Duty are not universal technical classifications with identical requirements across all manufacturers. They describe a particular construction and intended application. The specifications should always be checked for the specific pallet model.
What does pallet load capacity mean?
Plastic pallet specifications usually include several load values:
Static load is the maximum load a pallet can support while stationary on a flat, solid surface, normally a floor. This generally refers to a uniformly distributed load.
It is important to consider not only the load placed directly on the pallet. If loaded pallets are stacked on top of each other, the load from the pallets and goods above is also transferred to the lower pallet.
For example, when three loaded pallets are stacked, the bottom pallet supports its own load as well as the load from the two pallets positioned above it.
Therefore, static load capacity must be considered in relation to how the pallet will actually be used and whether loaded pallets will be stacked.
Dynamic load is the load applied while the pallet is being moved, for example by a forklift, electric stacker or other warehouse equipment.
If several loaded pallets are moved together in a stack, the load on the lower pallets increases. For example, if a forklift moves a stack of two loaded pallets, the bottom pallet is subjected to its own load as well as the load from the pallet positioned above it.
When assessing dynamic load capacity, it is therefore necessary to consider not only the weight of one loaded pallet, but also the method of handling, the number of pallets in the stack and the warehouse equipment being used.
The actual load during stacking or handling cannot always be calculated simply by adding the individual weights. Load distribution can be affected by pallet construction, support points, load rigidity, handling method and other conditions. For a specific application, the manufacturer's technical specifications should therefore be followed.
Racking load is the permissible load when the pallet is placed on a pallet rack and supported at specific points or by rack beams. This value is particularly important for warehouses using pallet racking systems.
These three load values should not be treated as interchangeable.
For example, if the specifications state:
Static: 4000 kg
Dynamic: 1500 kg
Racking: 1000 kg
this does not mean that the pallet can be used with a 4000 kg load on a rack. The applicable load value depends on the specific operating scenario.
The actual permissible load can also depend on temperature, load distribution, storage duration, pallet construction, metal reinforcement and other conditions.
Why should pallets not be compared based on one load value alone?
Two pallets with the same specified static load can have very different dynamic or racking load capacities.
In addition to load capacity, pallets can differ significantly in their expected service life and number of operating cycles. One model may be designed for intensive repeated use, while another pallet with a similar specified load capacity may be intended for fewer cycles or less intensive use.
Therefore, the same load capacity does not mean the same service life. When selecting a pallet, it is important to consider static, dynamic and racking loads as well as the expected number of operating cycles, operating conditions, construction, material and reinforcement.
In addition, a pallet designed for a particular load in one operating scenario is not necessarily designed for the same load when stacking, handling with a forklift or storing on a pallet rack.
When comparing pallets, all relevant load values, expected service life and the conditions under which these characteristics were determined should therefore be considered.
What information should you provide us to select a pallet?
When selecting a plastic pallet, it is important to provide us with information about how it will be used:
- pallet size;
- weight of the load;
- whether the load is evenly distributed;
- whether a forklift, electric stacker, pallet truck or other equipment will be used;
- whether the pallet will be stored on a pallet rack;
- whether the goods will be stacked - meaning several loaded pallets placed on top of each other;
- whether several loaded pallets will be moved together;
- how frequently the pallet will be used and how many operating cycles are expected;
- operating temperature conditions;
- whether there are specific hygiene, cleaning or automated handling requirements.
Based on this information, we can select a model with suitable load characteristics, construction and expected service life.
How to choose a plastic pallet?
When choosing a plastic pallet, it is recommended to consider not only size and price but also the following characteristics.
Size - for example, 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 800 × 600, 600 × 400 mm and other formats.
Load type - static, dynamic or racking load.
Load weight - including how the weight is distributed across the pallet surface.
Operating conditions - warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, export, cold storage and other conditions.
Warehouse equipment - pallet truck, electric stacker, forklift, conveyor or pallet racking system.
Frequency of use - one-way transportation or repeated circulation.
Runner design - plastic pallets can have open, closed or semi-closed runners.
Additional features - anti-slip surfaces or inserts, safety rims, metal reinforcement, hygienic design and other options.
Material - depending on the model, different types of plastic may be used, including recycled material.
Number of operating cycles - for repeated use, the expected intensity of operation and required service life should be considered.
Important note about load capacity
The load capacity specified by the manufacturer is not a universal value that applies under all conditions.
Manufacturers may conduct tests at a specific temperature, with a uniformly distributed load, a particular support configuration and a defined test duration. Changes in temperature, loading method, support conditions, storage duration or other operating conditions may affect the permissible load.
When selecting a pallet for heavy loads, pallet racking, stacking or unusual operating conditions, the technical specifications of the specific pallet model should therefore be checked.
