Different Types Of Pallet Materials
Pallets are sometimes called skids, hence the name skid pallets, which are basically flat transport structures that support materials firmly while being by a forklift or other jacking device. Pallets are usually made of wood but you can get them in metal, galvanized steel, stainless steel, structural foam, injection and rotationally molded plastic and corrugated cardboard and each kind has its own merits and demerits. The pallets are platforms used to store materials and to transport them; they are available in different sizes from 20 inches all the way up to 72 inches and made from different materials as well.
This article takes a look at the different types of pallet materials and provides information that will help you with your selection of skid pallets.
Wood pallets
Softwood is the cheapest kind available and highly expendable, usually discarded as trash once transportation is completed. They are simple, stringer pallets and the common transfer method is to lift them from two sides.
Hardwood is more expensive and can be lifted from four sides.
Paper pallets are used only for very light loads; however the engineered paper pallets can be used for similar loads as in the wood pallets. They are a handy method when recycling and disposal are important.
Plastic pallets are made from recycled PET bottles and are highly durable, lasting as many as 100 or more trips, weather resistant, rot resistant, chemicals and corrosion resistant and stackable. They are easy to sanitize and don’t require bio-safety inspection being unaffected by most toxic chemicals and acids. On the down side the pallets cannot be repaired and cost as much as ten times more than the hardwood pallets. They are popular with logistics service providers due to their durability and stackability.
Steel pallets are by far the strongest and used for the heaviest loads, long term dry storage and high stacking loads. The percentage of use of this type of skid pallet is very low and military ammunition storage probably accounts for the most use. The pallets are made from stainless steel, aluminum and carbon steel, with carbon steel being the cheapest and most durable. Stainless steel is preferred for sterile environments and aluminum provides durability at a lighter weight. These pallets are insect free, don’t splinter, very sanitary and recyclable. They can be initially very expensive and of significant weight.
Aluminum pallets are far stronger than either wood or plastic and lighter than steel. They are weather resistant, plastic creep and corrosion resistant. They are preferred by air freight companies; long term at sea storage and military material transportation.
Skid pallets have many beneficial features that include stackable, rackable, hygienic, fire rated and reinforced. The stackable pallets can be stacked one on top of the other to minimize storage space and even transportation costs when not carrying loads. Rackable pallets can be edge supported for long periods of time. The hygienic pallets are designed for easy cleaning and high sanitary function. Reinforced pallets use composite tubing to increase racking capacity and steel tubing and fiberglass are usually used for this purpose.
