Pallet Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Pallets for Your Business Post By admin
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Effective material handling is a crucial component for shipping and storage businesses. This massive industry serves American and international needs to get goods from point A to point B. Its vital to maximize product flow in a safe and regulatory-compliant manner while maintaining cost-effectiveness. At the core of this process sits the lowly pallet.
If youre in the material handling business, you know just how important pallets are. Its not just having a stock of readily available pallets. You need constant access to the right pallets for your business. That could be good, old wooden pallets that have been around for a century. Or, you might need more modern pallets made from plastic, aluminum, steel, wire mesh or presswood.
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With so many different pallet materials, shapes and sizes available on the material-handling market, choosing the right pallets might seem overwhelming. However, it doesnt have to be. Pallets are just like any other purchase. You need to clearly know your purpose and decide on what your best return on investment really is.
This guide to buying pallets will help you learn the basics Pallet Buying 101, so to speak. It not only steers you where to buy new pallets. This pallet buyers guide clearly describes whats available in todays new pallet market. And no pallet buying guide would be complete without mentioning slip sheets another means for transporting product.
Contact us online Give us a call at 877-350-
They say necessity is the mother of invention. That said, some bright inventor needing a perfect solution for 20th-century material-handling developed the first modern pallet when shipping methods changed. Old crates and barrels used in ship holds and railway cars gave way to flat surface shipping like semi-trailers and cargo containers. Pallet invention also went hand-in-hand with forklift design. It all led to the modern and universal palletized shipping method you now see everywhere.
The U.S. Forest Service estimates there are more than 2 billion serviceable pallets in America today. Thats nearly six pallets for every United States citizen. The vast majority of pallets are of wood construction. Only about a quarter of American manufacturers use alternative materials like plastic and metal. Thats because so many pallets are in open-loop circulation. That means once a pallet leaves your facility, youll likely never see it again. Youll lose your investment.
Wood pallets are still the cheapest one-time or short-term pallet solution. However, they have a limited service life and limited applications for clean, secure shipping. It makes far more sense to invest in pallet materials other than wood in closed-loop service. Thats where your pallet stays inside your facility, or its return is guaranteed.
Pallets made from plastic and metal are far superior to wood pallets in every way. If youre buying pallets, it makes good sense to move away from wood and seek other choices for pallet materials. Here are some of the different pallet types that may be perfect for your site:
Part of this guide to buying the right pallets includes discussions on what slip sheets do for your material-handling process. Besides informing you where to buy new pallets, youll also be better informed about what alternatives you have to standard palletization. But first, lets drill down on choosing the right pallets for your business.
The most important consideration when choosing pallets is their primary purpose. This might seem straightforward, but its important to know theres no such thing as a universal pallet. There are just too many applications to allow a one-size-fits-all solution. However, there will be the right choice for your situation.
Pallets are structurally designed for lifting and moving. That can be loading into a container or stacking within a warehouse. Picking the right pallet starts with identifying its limits, including the materials youll be transporting and how durable your pallets need to be.
Your choice of pallet construction is highly important. It has to be compatible with your loads, your products and your facility. Now, lets look at considerations in pallet selection to ensure you order the right product.
Plastic is making a huge impact on the pallet business. According to surveys by Logistics Management, 37 percent of American material-handling businesses use some form of plastic pallets. In fact, there is such a high demand for plastic pallets that Cherrys Industrial Equipment offers more than a dozen stock plastic pallets. We also provide custom-designed plastic pallets for your individual specifications.
More and more, plastic pallets are replacing wood pallet inventory. Thats due to plastic having tremendous benefits compared to wood. Consider these excellent benefits you get when purchasing plastic for your pallet inventory.
If youre looking for pallets that meet the safety, durability and reliability tests, plastic pallets offer you true value. Your return on investment is exceptional when purchasing plastic pallets, especially in a closed-loop environment. Let Cherrys Industrial Equipment help you make the switch to plastic today.
Browse through the Cherrys Industrial website and view our wide plastic pallet selection. Choose from stackable, nestable and rackable plastic pallets. Make sure to call one of our knowledgeable service staff to guide you to the perfect fit for your business. Reach us at 800-350-, or you can contact us online.
If youre looking for a lightweight pallet solution with good constructive integrity, we recommend you investigate aluminum pallets. Many companies like yours find aluminum to be the perfect material for pallet construction. Aluminum pallets have an indefinite lifecycle provided you care for them properly. That brings an incalculable return on investment, which has big ramifications for your bottom line.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment provides pallets made with /T5 tempered aluminum extrusions. These light, yet strong, structures are user-friendly. Theyre the right fit for the rigors of heavy use. Think about these attractive benefits of choosing aluminum for your pallets.
If you see a place for aluminum pallets in your inventory, have a look through Cherrys Industrials supply. We can also custom-build your aluminum pallets. Dont hesitate to reach out to us and talk about your needs. We can be reached at 800-350-, or send us a message through our online contact form.
Contact us online Give us a call at 877-350-
If you have an international business requiring shipments outside the United States, youll be aware of regulations you must meet with your pallets. You require cost-effective and durable pallets that give safe, efficient transportation meeting international rules. That comes from choosing export pallets from Cherrys Industrial.
Export pallets are one-way shipping bases. Theyre not intended to return through a closed-loop system. They have to be strong, lightweight, inexpensive and compliant with foreign regulations.
Most countries enforce ISPM15 regulations, which primarily specify restrictions on wood pallets that must get debarked and treated before leaving America. These measures are essential to prevent cross-contamination between countries.
Cherrys Industrial export pallets include plastic, wire mesh and some wood-fiber options. Yes, we deal with wood. Its not just regular wood, though. We supply Litco INCA presswood pallets, which are wood-fiber composites. Litco export pallets are light, inexpensive and meet all ISPM requirements. Sizes range from U.S. standard 48 x 42 down to compact 24 x 40 export models. They include:
To start your export pallet selection process, take time to check out our export pallet line on the Cherrys Industrial website. Review the individual product descriptions. Then, call us at 800-350- and well be glad to help you choose the right export pallet for your companys needs. Remember, you can also reach us via our online contact form.
Depending on your situation presswood pallets just might be your best choice. Presswood is a recyclable wood byproduct designed for limited use. If your pallet needs include shipping product out of the country or shipping domestically with no expectation of receiving your pallet in return (open loop) then presswood might be the way to go. Heres how youll benefit from Cherrys Industrials selection of presswood pallets.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment carries an extensive line of top-quality presswood pallets. We offer you superior support and service. For more on using presswood pallets, call our knowledgeable product specialists at 800-350-, or drop us a note on our online contact form.
Have you thought about using wire mesh pallets? Theyre the answer when you need open-space platforms that vent and drain weeds and debris. Wire mesh pallets are also ideal for clean warehouse environments, such as those in the food and beverage industry.
Think about the benefits youll get by adding wire mesh pallets to your workplace. Standard pallets weigh 50 pounds. Theyre not lightweight, but theyre exceptionally strong. Wire mesh 48 x 48 pallets have a 3,000-pound dynamic capacity and a 4,000-pound stacking capacity. Thatll handle many applications.
Cherrys Industrials wire mesh pallets use high-quality two-gauge wire and have galvanized, welded frames. They are very robust in design and construction. Besides an indefinite lifecycle, youll get these features with wire mesh pallets:
If you see a need for wire mesh pallets, call Cherrys Industrial at 800-350- or contact us online if that is more convenient. Our service personnel will help you find the exact wire mesh pallet fit to handle all of your material-handling needs.
Contact us online Give us a call at 877-350-
What are AS/RS pallets, you ask? Thats the acronym for popular automatic storage and retrieval system pallets youll see in automated warehouse distribution systems. Due to the nature of these systems, they require specialty pallets designed for compatibility.
Technically, AS/RS pallets are captive skids or slave boards. They replace regular pallets used in high-bay storage. All AS/RS pallets are uniform in size and materials. Most are ORBIS 40 x 48 plastic composition pallets that are ideal for automated conveyors. If youre using automated shipping, this is what youll get from Cherrys AS/RS pallets:
For more on AS/RS specialty pallets, call us for a no-obligation quote. Cherrys Industrials toll-free number is 800-350-, or dont hesitate to contact us online.
Often, traditional pallets arent suitable for handling special materials like transporting and storing certain chemical types. Chemicals can be caustic and corrosive. They can eat away at conventional pallets, dissolving and destroying their structures. If any part of your material handling tasks includes chemicals, youll want to protect your staff and facility with specialized chemical pallets.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment supplies top-quality chemical pallets molded from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is chemically resistant and withstands harsh exposure without affecting structural integrity. HDPE chemical pallets globally transport barrels, bags and octabins containing powdered and granular chemical materials.
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Our chemical pallets (CPs) use USDA-approved recycled plastics. We offer standard and custom sized CPs in two- and four-way designs. These have easy forklift and pallet truck access. Different chemical pallet styles include:
Every chemical pallet is designed for 2,000- to 3,000-pound load capacity to give you exceptional strength with proportionately light weight. Considering your pallets are impervious to chemical damage, you know investing in Cherrys Industrial products gives you the best possible return on your investment.
For excellent customer service and more information on chemical pallets, contact a Cherrys Industrial Equipment representative today. You can use our online form or call us at 800-350-.
If you operate a full-scale distribution center, youll appreciate a reliable and reusable pallet supply where sanitation and storage are top priorities. Heavy-duty warehouses like retail, wholesale and grocery supply centers need pallets that accommodate heavy loads. They also need their pallets to be cost-effective and durable. Return on investment should be at the top of your mind.
Distribution pallets maximize your floor space. To do that, you need to minimize the amount of space pallets take up. This isnt a play on words. Its a fact facing every large distribution facility, especially in closed-loop distribution, where pallets play a huge role in making productivity efficient.
Top-performing distribution pallets are foam-molded structural plastics, making them light and extremely durable. Most material handling managers prefer nestable distribution pallets because they save so much space when not in use. Here are some returns youll get when choosing Cherrys HDPE plastic distribution pallets.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment strongly supports any cause that helps our environment. Offering recycled distribution pallets is one small part of the big picture. Call a Cherrys representative today and begin a dialogue on distribution pallets and other material-handling supplies. We can be reached at 800-350-. Or, feel free to contact Cherrys online.
Although Cherrys Industrial Equipment carries a large stock of the nations leading pallets, you might find yourself in a situation where our stock plastic, aluminum, presswood or wire mesh pallets wont quite fit. Not to worry. Cherrys Industrial is fully equipped to work with you on custom pallet designs. We will review the material and specifications your application requires and find the best custom option available.
Custom pallet solutions are very popular in the material-handling market. Weve worked with many distribution centers and supply warehouses to develop exactly what people like you require. All our custom pallet designs consider the basics youd expect in our stock pallet selection. That includes:
Cherrys Industrial offers endless possibilities in providing you with custom pallets. We do the same with other material-handling equipment like pallet trucks , pallet stackers, slip sheets and lift tables. Please take time to explore our other pallet and freezer spacer related products. Were always available for a call at 800-350- or through our online form.
Slip sheets are an interesting and effective alternative to using regular pallet designs. These innovative material-handling devices replace conventional pallets where forklift tines get inserted into bulky pallet channels. Instead, slip sheets are thin yet robust plastic sheets set underneath loads, allowing them to slip onto specially designed push-pull forklift attachments.
Plastic slip sheets extend slightly beyond the loads footprint, leaving a flexible plastic lip or tab protruding several inches outward. A push-pull forklift attachment mechanically grasps the lip, effectively pulling or dragging the slip sheet with its load onto the tines or forks. To unload a slip sheet package, the forklift uses its extension to push the load off to its placement.
Slip sheets can completely alleviate the need for conventional pallets in the right circumstances. Not only do slip sheets reduce pallet height, they significantly reduce storage space when inactive. Slip sheets are also considerably cheaper than all other pallets. That makes them attractive for budget-conscious managers like yourself.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment stocks the best die-cut, coextruded plastic slip sheets available on the American market. Theyre particularly popular in the air freight industry, where every pound and inch of space matters. Here are the main situations where youd use slip sheets:
Cherrys Industrial Equipment supplies stock-sized plastic slip sheets that save space, offer flexibility, resist wear and store tightly. We also produce custom-sized slip sheets just right for your individual jobs. Call Cherrys Industrial today at 800-350- and talk to a representative about what slip sheets are and what they can do to make your material handling less expensive and more efficient. You can also drop us a note online.
If you need to reduce weight, bulk and costs, but still require product protection in shipping, plastic slip sheets may be the perfect solution. Plastic sheets are tough, but reduce friction between load surfaces. Packages set on slip sheets get slid along the forks, rather than being immediately lifted. To ensure long-lasting value, Cherrys slip sheets use the best HDPE plastic that is extremely durable, tear-resistant and lightweight.
We stock 22 different slip sheet sizes to cover almost every material-handling situation youll likely encounter. With Cherrys Industrial plastic slip sheets, you get the benefits of:
Cherrys Industrial slip sheets give you optional features like four-tab lips, opposite-edge, adjacent-edge and single-edge construction. Theyre resistant to moisture and bacteria. Our slip sheets are also fully recyclable. However, if that doesnt fulfill what youre looking for, we can always customize your plastic slip sheets.
Contact us online Give us a call at 877-350-
One of the many benefits of building a partnership with Cherrys Industrial Equipment is our ability to customize products for you. We realize every company has unique needs and cant always find stock items to do exactly what they need. If thats the case, call us and well work with you to find the product that is custom suited for your application.
We always start with the best HDPE slip sheet material. Strong base materials are absolutely essential to deliver a long-lasting slip sheet thats going to withstand years of active use. Once we know your design parameters, we narrow down other features like:
Thickness is highly important to ensuring slip sheet strength. We carry HDPE sheets in various gauges, but have the ability to produce any necessary size. Shapes are simple to replicate or expand from. Texture and score provide the right friction elements and make sure you have the safest slip sheet design. And, for a professional image, we can custom-design your logo and company information right into the slip sheet surface.
If theres anything else you can think of for making a custom slip sheet, please call us. Cherrys Industrial Equipments team offers the best help and customer service possible. Reach us at 800-350- or fill out our online contact form. And, make sure to ask us about freezer spacers!
Without question, plastic and metal pallets have a lot of benefits compared to wood alternatives. Wooden pallets still have their place, and theyre not going away anytime soon. However, for the best return on your long-term investment, you certainly have to weigh the benefits.
Wood pallets are attractive because of their price point. For many applications, wood pallets serve their purpose and get by nicely. But for market segments requiring higher standards than wood can deliver, its clear plastic and metal are first-choice products. Consider these benefits you get with plastic and metal that you cant get with ordinary wood pallets.
Cherrys Industrial Equipment is an American leader in supplying plastic and metal pallets. Our staff knows the enormous advantages you get when you choose alternatives to wooden pallets. Call Cherrys Industrial today and have a frank pallet benefit discussion. Were at 800-350-, or you can reach us through our online form.
If you have been searching all that is currently available in the market and still cannot find a perfect pallet solution, remember custom pallets are available. Thats part of Cherrys Industrial full customer service. Together, we work to assess your needs and build you the right custom pallet choice. You get these great benefits from ordering custom pallets:
Cherrys Industrial Equipment has more than two decades of experience in the material handling supply business. Weve grown and prospered because we value all our customers. Our philosophy is to build relationships and partner with customers to develop the exact material handling systems they need. Often, this entails custom orders.
If you are an online shopper looking for non-custom products our support team at Cherrys Industrial also works hard to make your experience as helpful as possible. Our easy-to-navigate website contains links to many products. Descriptions provide the basic information you need so when you call Cherrys Industrial product specialists you can ask the specific questions you need answered.
This team partnership approach is what gives Cherrys Industrial Equipment an edge in the market place. Our company values are customer-focused. We want you to benefit from our experience and product knowledge. Here are a few reasons why you should purchase from Cherrys Industrial Equipment:
Trust Cherrys Industrial Equipment to deliver you top value, every time. Whether youre interested in purchasing pallets or any other warehouse equipment, call us today at 800-350- or reach out to us online.
Contact us online Give us a call at 877-350-
09 Sep
Buying pallets is not as simple a process as you might first think. When you begin to look into the pallet market, you might presume that all pallets are the same, but this isnt the case. There are lots of areas that you need to consider. Spending time researching the market will ensure that you select the right type of pallet for your requirements.
The budget will always be a key consideration whenever youre buying goods for your business. However, when it comes to purchasing pallets, it shouldnt be the only point you consider. Buying an extremely cheap pallet will be a false economy if it falls apart after one job. A less stable pallet will also be more likely to damage the goods its transporting or might not be suitable for your specific handling equipment. This would end up costing you more by the time youve paid for repairs or a new pallet. Instead you should look at the cost over the whole life of a pallet and how different types could bring you savings in other areas of the business.
Dont be tempted to buy from the first supplier you find, just because you think youve got a good deal. Research exactly whats available, and look at what each one has to offer. The services they provide may vary, such as being able to supply express despatch and shipping options or having a more extensive range. Its also important that your supplier understands the latest regulations regarding pallet shipping rates and logistics, so that they can provide you with a comprehensive package.
Used plastic pallets suppliers will often give discounts for customers who are buying in bulk, or they may operate a loyalty discount scheme. If you dont have a need for a large number of pallets, you could look at teaming up with another local business and buy together to reduce the cost.
You might be able to cover some of the cost of purchasing pallets through a partner business. Consider selling your goods as a complete pallet, which will include the initial cost in the sale. If you want to start working in this way, you need to choose a type of pallet that works for both of you. This way it will be compatible with your customers equipment and machinery.
You should think about exactly what you will be using it for, as this will dictate which the right pallet for your business is. The majority of pallets are either plastic or wooden, each of which has its own benefits. Plastic pallets are generally more durable and hygienic, whereas wooden ones are cheaper to purchase initially and are a good choice for one-way shipments. Whichever type of pallet you end up buying, doing some research beforehand is critical if you want to save yourself time and money.
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