News - Tagged: heat treated pallets

2013 Pallet Usage and Trending Survey

Each fall,  Modern Materials Handling conducts and publishes an annual pallet survey that provides valuable insight into current buying trends and usage patterns for our industry.  If you aren’t a subscriber to MMH, or you haven’t had time to read Bob Trebilcock’s Talking Pallets with Modern Readers, we have prepared a summary of key findings for your review.

The study is based on responses from 353 qualified MMH readers employed at locations using pallets.  At the 30,000 foot level, the survey results suggest the pallet market will grow annually by 3.5% through 2017.  Although price remains the most commonly cited factor influencing a purchasing decision (56% of respondents, down from 63% last year), cost-per-use was cited by 43% or participants this year.  This trend suggests that pallet buyers remain concerned with costs but that logistics professionals are taking a more long term view when evaluating suppliers.   Other key considerations cited in this year’s survey include:Continue Reading…

Are Wooden Pallets Bad for the Environment?

There is a common misconception that wooden pallets are bad for the environment.  Although the harvest of timber is vital to production, the wooden pallet industry does not represent a threat to our nation’s forests.  Our Inca molded presswood pallets are produced from waste and scrap lumber, making them both sustainable and eco-friendly.  And while it is true that the traditional wooden pallet industry accounts for a significant portion of North American hardwood lumber harvested each year, the state of the our nation’s forests is actually much better than the naysayers might suggest.Continue Reading…

Buy Export Pallets Online: Litco International Announces Launch of New E-Commerce Website

After months of development, Litco has officially launched a new website to facilitate the online purchase of export pallets, core plugs, inflatable dunnage, void fill, anti-friction mats, desiccants, and our innovative LITKIT® Universal Washing Machine Shipping Stabilization Kit online.  Although the new website does cater to the needs of buyers looking to purchase small and LTL quantities online, we also incorporated new response mechanisms that allow buyers to request RFQ’s for bulk and truckload quantities as well.  The new website also demonstrates our commitment to assist purchasing agents and logistics professionals as they research potential solutions to their domestic and international shipping needs.Continue Reading…

Clarifying IPPC- ISPM 15 Standards for Recycled Pallets

The ISPM-15 standard is designed to prevent the spread of insects and disease via overseas wood packaging materials such as crates, dunnage, and pallets.  The ISPM 15 logo stamp certifies that a wooden pallet has been manufactured using debarked lumber and heat treated or fumigated, making it free of insects and safe for export use.  Although the ISPM 15 standard for new pallets is quite unambiguous, the same cannot be said of recycled pallets.  Because recycled pallets constitute a significant component of the available pool, the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) recently sought clarification from American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) to eliminate discrepancies in how various ISPM-15 certification agencies view recycled pallets.Continue Reading…

ISPM 15 Pallets

ISPM-15 is an international standard that regulates wood and wood packaging, requiring the treatment of wood pallets, crates, and dunnage to prevent the international spread of disease and insects.   Typically, ISPM 15 Pallets are heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide, a chemical that can be potentially harmful to the environment.Continue Reading…