Pallets

Pallets, sometimes called skids, are structures used to support equipment and supplies, including heavy objects, in material-handling applications. Pallets are flat, structural foundations used in conjunction with pallet trucks in manufacturing facilities, shipping yards, warehouses, and construction sites to guide and store loads.

Pallets have various capacities, commonly measured in pound increments. Wood pallets, which are common types of pallets, are selected for their wide variety of applications. Some wood pallets are intended for a short life that ends in recycling, and others are planned for longer operation and reuse. Wood pallets can be manufactured from many different wood types, including soft and hard wood. Hard wood pallets and soft wood pallets are commonly supported on two or four sides during lifting and moving operations. Plastic pallets are also commonly used to support loads.

Durable, weather-resistant, and sometimes chemical- and corrosion-resistant, plastic pallets are a common pallet choice. Similar to the variety of wood used to manufacture wood pallets, plastic pallets are also manufactured from many different plastic types. Some plastic pallets are made of recycled plastic, and some wood pallets are made of recycled wood. Pallets, including wood pallets, plastic pallets, and pallets made of other materials, such as steel or aluminum, can have various designs, intended for specific applications.

Two of the more common design types are the stringer and block pallets. Of the two, block pallets are the stronger pallet type. Pallets can have foundations designed to support drums or other containers used for storage. Wood pallets and plastic pallets can be stacked or nested for storage and shipping.

Some pallets, designed to specific dimensions sanctioned in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), are used for international transportation. Other dimensions of pallets are approved for North American use by the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA).