De-Bugging for Export

Article Appeared in Modern Material Handling Magazine

Companies that do a large amount of export must be sensitive to the demands imposed by other countries. Brazil and China, for instance require that export pallets be fumigated before they can be used to ship product.

Day-Glo Color Corp. of Cleveland, Ohio sends a large amount of their florescent pigments, silk screenings, and dyes overseas. These products are used to create florescent safety materials, such as highway cones, barrels, and aerosol paints. Florescent toys are also made with the pigments.

Day-Glo has been shipping to Australia for more than a decade, and is just now opening up a South American market. Many of these countries demanded specific pallets that reduce risk of infestation, particularly from the Wood Beatle, which likes to inhabit softwoods.

"Australia did not want to receive packaging that contained any wood at all. They did not care whether it was fumigated or not," says William Clark, purchasing agent for Day-Glo.

Due to strict regulations such as these, Day-Glo chose an economical presswood pallet offered by Litco International for its overseas shipments. This molded pallet is produced from low-grade timber that is not suitable for other pallet products.

The entire tree is used in this process, including leaves, bark, trunk, and branches. Old pallets and other recycled wood products are also used. Pieces are cut into chips that are then ground to wood fibers, moisture is removed, and the remaining flakes are heated to kill any insects, molds, or fungi that might be present in the wood.

Next, the wood fibers are combined with a resin that is placed in a mold, heated to 420 degrees F, and compressed under 1400 PSI. The resulting product is four-way entry, nine-legged, nestable pallet. While 60% lighter than wood, it's 2,500 lb capacity is able to support more than the average wooden pallet.

Day-Glo says that the composite pallet is also cheaper than wood, which helps the bottom line for one-way deliveries. The nestable design takes up about one-fourth of the space of other stacked pallets, and a lift operator can easily transport 60 nested units in one load. Once the pallets reach their destination, they can be re-used or recycled easily.

"We also do not have to worry about weather, since they can be stored outside," adds Clark. "And we don't worry about nails popping out or boards splitting. None of those things affect this pallet. We just pick it up and go with it. It is very versatile"

Day-Glo's pigment products are ground into a fine powder that is placed in 50 lb bags. These are sealed in cartons, stacked 11 layers high on the pallet, stretch wrapped, and containerized for shipping.

"In the 10 or 12 years that we have been shipping them to Australia, we have never had a problem with the pallet failing," notes Clark. "It is extremely strong and very clean. The presswood pallet is a guarantee to our Brazilian, Australian, and Chinese customers that they will not have any problems with their governments once they receive the pallets."

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