Overview:

Consumer-Market interaction is as eminent and obvious as human-society interaction. The interaction is governed and driven by a plethora of factors plus subsequent rationales and is a thorough process [of selection, consumption, and disposal of the tangibles (goods/consumables) like products, commodities and/or intangibles (services, ideas plus expertise) – by individuals and/or communities/groups], so as to cater for the needs and to comply with the desires. Of this entire process or cycle, logistics are indispensable. Here comes storage, transportation, inventory and supply chain management. During all this, commodities and/or goods need to be efficiently managed and safely transported. With roots back in the last century, the inception of “pallets” contributed significantly towards the overall scenario.

Pallets:

Utilized commercially or incorporated industrially, these are primarily the support platforms providing a solid foundation or base for storing, transporting, or lifting goods or commodities. These are commonly made of wood, plastic, recycled materials, or metals. The idea is to add more towards the safe and reliable storage, transportation and delivery of goods.

Variants:

Like any other tool or equipment, pallets come in a range of shapes and sizes. The ‘block’ and ‘stringer’ pallets are a couple of comparatively more known types. As for any other variants, either of these two does hold certain pros and cons. Opinions may vary, however, it is difficult to label either one better than the other. This is because the choice is highly dependent upon the nature of the application, alongside other dynamics. It is therefore recommended to have a glance at their respective traits, rather than seeking a direct verdict, straightly mentioning one better than the other.

Block Pallets (also known as ‘four-way’ pallets):

The former term ‘block’ refers to the blocks forming the backbone of the construction. Apart from this, these blocks also play a vital role in strengthening these pallets. This strength is one of the key traits, which are often preferred over other types. The latter term, “that is four-way”, comes from the fact that these pallets can be lifted and accessed from all four sides

Stringer pellets (two-way pallets):

“Stringers” refer to strong wooden (or plastic) strips or straps running parallel to each other and forming a foundation or platform for the goods to be stored or transported. Unlike block pallets, stringer pallets are made of stringers running parallel to each other and also reinforced In between the layers with stringers running along the way. As a common perception, block pallets are thought to be stronger and more reliable than stringed pallets, but this is not always the case. Instead, stringer pallets do find an edge over the block pallets for certain applications. Unlike block pallets, stringer pallets cannot be accessed from all four sides. Instead, these can be accessed or lifted from two of the four sides. This is the reason they are also termed ‘two-way’ pallets (unlike ‘four-way’).

Please note that:

• Stringer pallets can also be modified to be lifted from all four sides as in the case of block pallets.

• Stringers are also used in the construction of block pallets, but reinforcement is ensured with blocks.
• In stringer pallets, this reinforcement is also ensured by stringers rather than blocks.

The strength comparison:

In order to gauge the strength of the two, engineers and experts propose two types of tests:

• Clamp Test
• Edge Free Fall Drop

Without getting into the technical and unnecessary details, these tests also endorse the fact that it is not just to always prefer either type over the other. In a nutshell, both types carry certain pros and cons; hence, applications drive better the choice process perhaps.

Pallet Choice:

Several factors and considerations need to be considered while choosing between the two. Mentioning a few:

• Nature of product
• Country of origin
• Destination country or region
• Climatic conditions
• International or regional standards
• International Standards Organization (ISO) compliance
• Product weight and size
• Nature of suspected strain (the pallet is likely to bear)

Encapsulation:

The pallet choice is debatable owing to a wide range of factors that need to be taken into account. Als,o it is hard to rule out one and declare its superiority over the other. As a matter of fact, the choice depends upon the application and aforementioned factors. Of many, a couple of popular types are compared (rather explained) over here that are supposed to contribute towards making the decision. The details are deliberately kept concise to cut the reading time. Further details may be sought, in case needed. Read More