plastic pallets

How to Ensure You Choose Plastic Pallets that Fit Your Application

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Investing in new packaging solutions, such as plastic pallets, is a significant expenditure for most companies. You will usually start with a small batch of products – but this means one truck load or at least a few dozen units. Thus, as a logistics manager or buyer, you cannot afford to make a mistake and choose the wrong plastic pallets.

Each Type of Plastic Pallets Has Specific Applications

Plastic pallets are needed in all industries, for various purposes. This is why they have evolved into various rangers and types. Professional packaging producers like Logistic Packaging strive to understand their clients’ needs and develop packaging solutions that solve their challenges.

This is why plastic pallets are classified as:

  • Closed deck pallets
  • Open deck pallets
  • Hygienic/cleanroom pallets
  • Retail/display pallets
  • ESD pallets.

So, which type should you order for your company? There is a temptation to buy plastic pallets in the premium price range, because it is a guarantee of top quality. In reality, the most adequate type of pallet for your business may not be the most expensive one.

The High Cost of Cheap Packaging Materials

At the other end of the spectrum are buyers who are looking for plastic pallets at bargain prices. As a professional in purchasing, you know that you always get what you pay for. Cheap plastic pallets are made from low grade materials, have a flimsy build and do not meet most standards of quality and safety.

Using these pallets leads to a host of losses for your business:

  • Workplace accidents caused by pallets breaking down during handling
  • Products damaged in transit
  • Loss of client goodwill
  • Constant purchasing of new pallets to replace damaged ones.

Professional Producers Help You Select Plastic Pallets Fit for Your Application

The team of packaging consultants at Logistic Packaging has a clear goal: helping companies choose the best packaging solutions for their application.

When we meet with a new client, we use the following steps to identify the adequate type of plastic pallets:

1. Learn about Your Packaging Processes

The first step is to talk to the client’s representative and understand:

  • What types of products the company produces or handles
  • How the products are handled – manually or using automated equipment
  • Whether the products require specific storage and shipping condition: climate control, protection from contaminant, protection from electrostatic discharges
  • The length and complexity of the supply chain.

We need to know all these aspects, because they influence the choice of plastic pallets. For example, if the pallets are handled manually, they can be either with legs or with skids. However, if your company uses pallet trucks and forklifts, pallets with skids are the right choice for safe handling.

2. Answer the Client’s Questions

Even if a company used plastic pallets in the past, their logistics or purchasing manager still wants to understand why we recommend a specific type of plastic pallets. We refer them to other similar applications for other clients and to the characteristics of the product.

We focus on the most important benefits the client will have by choosing that product, such as:

  • Reduced total cost of ownership
  • Saving storage space
  • Reducing the shipping costs of empty packaging
  • Fewer products damaged during handling and shipping.

3. Compare Performances

We believe in direct examples. Thus, we assess the characteristics of the packaging materials currently in use and compare them to the performances of plastic pallets during various tests. The most relevant characteristics we usually compare are:

  • Maximum loading capacity
  • Static load
  • Stack load
  • Dynamic load.

We also evaluate the average lifespan of the client’s packages and explain how long they can expect to use plastic pallets in the same conditions.

4. Estimate ROI

The return on investment (ROI) is the measure of the success for any kind of investment. Plastic pallets always reach full ROI during their lifespan. And, when they reach the end of the useful life, they are 100% recyclable. This will reduce the quantity of waste generated by the company and the liability for penalties applied by environmental protection authorities.

5. Assist with Post-Sale Implementation

Once a client made a decision to buy a specific type of plastic pallets, we will assist them during the transition period. We will offer advice and educational materials for the employees who will handle the plastic pallets. Also, we will offer clear instructions for handling, storage, cleaning and sanitizing the plastic pallets.

Logistic Packaging offers a complete range of plastic pallets, adequate for the most challenging applications. Send us an email to start discussing with a packaging expert in order to find the most adequate packaging materials for your business needs!