Why should I choose a Plastic Pallet for my automated system?

Many companies nowadays are looking to make things quicker, smoother and more efficient. They want less human interaction, less errors and often companies look to automation to achieve this.

As with many things, the better the input and planning, the better the output and automated warehouse systems are a prime example of this. There are many examples where companies have suffered after an automated system has been installed. When companies are looking to invest in automated equipment, the humble pallet is often the last thing they consider. The pallet quality can have such a major impact on operational efficiency in automated handling so it’s crucial that pallets are considered much earlier on in the purchase process.

So why not use a wooden pallet? Well, wooden pallets don’t have a consistent size and shape. They leave dust and splinters within the intricate workings of the automated system and they cannot be washed, meaning they gather dirt. Despite a low initial cost, the damage they cause to an automated system stacks up in the long term. They can go mouldy too which can compromise an entire automation system, especially one working with products that could be contaminated by mould. At the end of a wooden pallets life, it will be burnt, or go to landfill.

Plastic Pallets, are the ideal solution to an automated systems pallet woes. Plastic Pallets are a molded product, this means they are consistent in size & shape which helps the automated system run smoothly. There are no splinters and dust doesn’t gather. If they are soiled with dirt from products, crates and such, they can be washed easily. The design of plastic pallets ensures dirt doesn’t build up in any part of the pallet. Initially, the cost is higher, but in the long term Plastic Pallets are the cost-effective solution as they have a much longer life cycle and they don’t damage the system they are part of. They don’t get mouldy and they are exempt from ISPM regulations. At the end of their life, they can be recycled and made in to new pallets meaning they don’t gather in land fills. The average lifespan of a plastic pallet is 10 years.