Pallet

[1] Organizations using standard pallets for loading and unloading can have much lower costs for handling and storage, with faster material movement than businesses that do not.

In the EU, government legislation based on the Waste Framework Directive requires the reuse of packaging items in preference to recycling and disposal.

[2] The development of the forklift and the needs of World War II logistics operations led to substantial use of pallets.

[3] References to the early modern pallets types are slim with a string of patents showing parts of the development.

[citation needed] All stringer and some block pallets have "unidirectional bases", i.e. bottom boards oriented in one direction.

The main processes that are used to manufacture wooden pallets:[citation needed] Due to the International Plant Protection Convention (abbreviated IPPC), most pallets shipped across national borders must be made of materials that are incapable of being a carrier of invasive species of insects and plant diseases.

Pallets made of non-wood materials such as steel, aluminum, plastic, or engineered wood products, such as plywood, oriented strand board, or corrugated fiberboard do not need IPPC approval, and are considered to be exempt from ISPM 15 regulations.

They are usually extremely durable, lasting for a hundred trips or more,[11][full citation needed] and resist weathering, rot, chemicals and corrosion.

The benefits of plastic pallets over wood pallets include the ability to be easily sanitized, resistance to odor, fire retardancy, longer service life span, durability and better product protection, non-splintering, and lighter weight, thus saving on transportation and labor costs and making them safer and more environmentally friendly.

Plastic pallets cannot easily be repaired, and can be ten times as expensive as hardwood,[11] so they are often used by logistics service providers who can profit from their durability and stackability.

The large supply chains have increased the use of plastic pallets as many organisations seek to reduce costs through waste, transport, and health and safety.

New designs of ecopallets have been made from just two flat pieces of corrugated board (no glue/staples) and weigh just 4.5 kg (9.9 lb), offering dramatic freight savings.

Some engineered corrugated pallets offer a significantly reduced height, providing substantial freight cost reduction.

General advantages of metal pallets are high strength and stiffness, excellent durability, resistance to vermin, the absence of splinters, sanitization, and recyclability.

Disadvantages include a higher initial price, significant weight, low friction, and susceptibility to rusting (in the case of carbon steel).

Metal is primarily used in captive or closed loop environments where durability and product protection are key performance requirements.

Primary industries that use metal pallets include automotive, pharmaceutical, lawn tractors, motorcycles, and tires.

In 2010, Australia adopted the globally accepted ISPM 15 wood packaging material regulations (before this time it was hardwood and more expensive).

Other organizations choose to focus on pallet standards for a specific industry (such as groceries) or type of material (such as wood).

ISO Technical Committee 51 (Pallets for unit load method of materials handling) states its scope of work entailing the "standardization of pallets in general use in the form of platforms or trays on which goods may be packed to form unit loads for handling by mechanical devices".

[29] Items made from pallet wood are likely to be durable and demonstrate good weather resistance due to these treatments.

However, close contact with pallet wood or inhalation of dusts from sanding or sawing can be a source of exposure to pesticide and fungicide chemicals.

This chemical can be degraded by molds to produce 2,4,6-tribromoanisole whose strong, musty odor caused consumers to complain.

It is handled on dedicated roller or ball-mat ground equipment and vehicles (fork-lifting is prohibited especially when the pallet is loaded).[relevant?]

Another advantage of pallet boxes is that the goods are stored safely and are not easily damaged during logistic movements and transport.

Craft publications have advised readers to use pallets to build a skateboarding obstacle called a manual pad, barricades during amateur paintball games, or other sport-related items.

Full-scale prototypes of the Pallet House were featured in the "Casa per Tutti" Exhibit at the Milan Triennale and the Earth Awards in Prince Charles' Royal Gardens as part of The Prince's Charities Foundation's Conference on a Sustainable Future organized in collaboration with IBM and the Financial Times.

Due to the nature of the pallet module, the wall cavity can be insulated with a variety of materials that are accessible to the user.

The idea was born in 2008 during a competition and the Pallet house has been exhibited in several European cities including Venice, Vienna, Linz and Grenoble.

They are built in the weeks ahead and are lit in loyalist neighbourhoods, often accompanied by street parties and marching bands.