Litco News
Looking Ahead to ISPM-15: Pallet Companies Provide a Unique Perspective
A recent article by Bob Johnson in Produce Business demonstrates how pallet companies can offer a surprising amount of insight into all aspects of industrial packaging and shipping, beyond their traditional roles of product protection and damage prevention. Their knowledge and experience with all points along the supply chain — from production, processing, and logistics to distribution, warehousing and transportation — can be invaluable to companies looking for inefficiencies in their systems or ways to reduce costs.Continue Reading…
INCOTERMS®: Staying on Top of Exporting Terminology
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) annually publishes a revised version to its International Commercial Terms, also known as INCOTERMS®, that take effect on January 1 of a given year. INCOTERMS are a set of three-letter standard trade terms most commonly used in international contracts for the sale of goods. First published in 1936, INCOTERMS provide internationally accepted definitions and rules of interpretation for most common commercial terms. In the US, INCOTERMS are increasingly used in domestic sales contracts rather than UCC shipment and delivery terms. Perhaps the most frequently cited – FOB – FREE ON BOARD (… named port of shipment) defines that: The Seller delivers the goods on board the ship and clears the goods for export. From that point, the Buyer bears all costs and risks of loss or damage.
Wooden Export Pallets: Canada Prepares for Treated Shipping Pallets
Article from Modern Materials Handling suggests bi-lateral exemption on treated pallets may be ending in 2014.
An interesting story recently came out in MMH reflecting a potentially longer timeline than previously thought on required compliance with international shipping regulations regarding treatment of wood products used for shipping between USA and Canada. Bob Trebilcock, editor at Modern material Handling has been questioned by leading manufacturers who ship from the United States into Canada asking whether they will have to treat their pallets and if so, when.
The questions are directed to Trebilcock, to get clarification on a proposal posted in late December 2010 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS.) That original proposal would remove the exemption from ISPM 15 on wood packaging material moving between Canada and the United States in both directions beginning in 2011.
“Right now, we’re the only jurisdiction in the world that has this bi-lateral agreement not to require treated pallets between our two countries,” Eggertson of the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association is quoted as saying in the article. Given that an estimated 300 million pallets pass back and forth each year between the two countries, it’s a big deal.
Of course here at LITCO, we are ready for ISPM 15 Certified Pallet regulations because we have been supplying US companies with these international-safe shipping pallets for years.
Congressional Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank Strengthens Small Business Exporters and the US Economy
The United States government’s vehicle for promoting U.S. export sales, the Export-Import (Ex-IM) Bank has been reauthorized to operate for three years. On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the Senate passed the bill previously passed by the House of Representatives. In addition to the re-authorization, the bill also raises the independent federal agency’s lending cap gradually from the current $100 billion to an eventual cap of $140 billion in 2014.
Export Pallet Experts Celebrate 50 Years in Business
Litco International is turning 50! To mark our golden jubilee, President Gary Trebilcock has written a short history of the company. The enterprise that began as a two-person team in a basement now has facilities in three states and customers all over the US and the globe. Our product line has expanded from simple wooden pallets to a wide range of transit protective packaging and shipping products, and we’re known industry-wide for our expertise in export approved pallets.
Here’s to another 50 years!
Litco’s Inca Presswood Pallets are First in Category to Receive Cradle to Cradle Certification
Cradle to Cradle environmental designation distances Inca Pallets from the competition.
Litco’s Inca presswood pallets and core plugs are Cradle to Cradle Certified (CM) Silver from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), for their ingredients, recyclability and design principles. The presswood pallets are the first pallets to achieve the honor.
LITMAT: Rubber Matting Floor Protection for the Moving and Storage Industry
Litco International is proud to introduce the LITMAT™, a new and innovative rubber matting and floor protection product designed to meet the needs of the moving and storage industry.
According to Chris Donadio, Sales Manager for Litco’s Load Securement & Transit Protective Packaging Division, “It is possible to improve the quality of a commonly used product, such as rug runners and floor mats, and to reduce your cost per square foot at the same time. The secret is in finding the right alternative source material.” Rather than using more expensive fabric materials that are woven into rug runners, the LITMAT uses recycled rubber material formed into a very durable 2mm thick mat that can be used in a variety of ways. This multi-tasking material is mostly black in color, but all green – 100% recycled and 100% recyclable.Continue Reading…
Paper Roll Restraints
Litco International is proud to introduce a new line of roll restaints designed for the paper industry. Light-weight and made from 100% paper, Litco roll restraints are easy to install and adapt to any size paper roll. Designed to limit side-to-side shifting, paper roll restraints permit even weight distribution and can stabilize mutiple rolls during transit. Best of all, our roll restraints are Cradle to Cradle® certified as sustainable, made from they are a compliment to corporate sustainable initiatives because they are good for the environment.
About Litco International: Based in Vienna, Ohio, Litco International is North America’s leading source of presswood pallets. Made from pre- and post-consumer wood chips in a patented molding process, presswood pallets offer shippers a number of advantages over traditional wood pallets, including lower cost and lower weight. Litco also provides plastic pallets and a variety of other shipping products, including separator boards, core plugs, dunnage bags and void fill, as well as pallet management, leasing and other services. Litco was established in 1962 and ships from facilities in Warren, Ohio, Wellford, SC, Dover, Ohio, and Sardis, Miss.
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…
Wood Product Recovery and Recycling Report: 2010
View Recovery and Recycling Report (PDF)
MISSION: AVOID THE LANDFILLS
RESULTS: 22 MILLION POUNDS DIVERTED IN 2010
The Molded Products Group of Litco International, Inc. is committed to respecting our environment and ensuring that all of our Inca presswood products leave the world a better place.Continue Reading…