There are early signs of wood availability returning to established seasonal patterns, according to the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) – although significant challenges in the market remain. The independent AFRY index reported the price of home-grown pallet timber decreased by a further 0.1 per cent in February. Historically, prices traditionally come down during Q1, before rising again as demand for fencing timber grows towards the summer – due to the series of powerful storms in February this market has already started to see demand increasing. However, supply chain difficulties continue to impact on the sector, including strong demand for timber from competing markets; higher raw material costs; widespread shortages of staff; rising energy costs; fuel costs – not helped by the cessation of the use of red diesel throughout the sector; availability of nails and ongoing severe availability and price issues in the shipping industry.
This article was first published in the July 15th 2022 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
Closed pallet pooling is run by independent companies that own and manage a ‘pool’ of pallets, renting them to supply chain users and collecting, and maintaining and repairing them for continual reuse. In open pallet pooling, meanwhile, companies buy pallets, and they then remain an asset until they are resold to their customer as part of the transactions for the goods they are purchasing – or exchanged for an empty pallet of equivalent value on arrival at their destination. EPAL runs the largest open pallet pool in the world, which was founded in 1991 and now has more than 600 million EPAL Euro pallets and 20 million EPAL box pallets in circulation.
There are a number of advantages to choosing plastic over wood when it comes to picking a pallet at any point in time, in the context of the timber supply chain problems, the pros are even stronger. Plastic pallets are readily available in huge quantities just now. In its warehouse Exporta has over 30,000 at any given point with containers full of plastic pallets arriving all the time.
Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com, says plastic pallets are manufactured under enormous pressure and to a precise size specification. This precise process gives the pallet incredible strength, dimensional consistency, and the ability to be used repeatedly. Hardisty adds that plastic pallets are lightweight, meaning lower fuel costs; are hygienic and easy to clean; have an incredibly long lifespan; are sustainable and fully recyclable; and provide a fast return on investment.
With over 30 years food and storage industry experience Rack Collapse Prevention’s unique UK designed racking safety system is working with a growing number of companies to remove the dangers of pallet racking failure. Able to be fitted in all environments of ambient, chilled and frozen, the safety system is installed in numerous UK and European warehouses and storage facilities. Proven in real world racking impact events, Rack Collapse Prevention’s safety system is designed specifically for facilities where pallet racking is used.
Providing both wood and plastic pallets, the pallet suppliers continue to bring new products to market, keeping logistics moving.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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