PLASTIC PALLETS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Plastic pallets are seeing only limited use and the claim is made that there is yet no satisfactory general purpose plastic pallet. First discussed are the shortcomings of plastics, high cost being of primary concern. Other problems are also encountered, many due to lack of test data. Such problems include life-span, dynamic and static load limits, inability to withstand various forms of rough handling, the difficulty of stacking some models, and the difficulty of making field repairs. The major advantage of plastic pallets is their lightness as compared to wood. Also discussed are other advantages such as cleanliness, nested storage for some models, safety over rough wood and color coding. The major varieties of plastic pallets are enumerated and described: vacuum molded, expendable, two deck pallets, and others. Pallet utilization is divided into four major types: captive, expendable, pooled, and returnable. Pooled-pallet application is probably the most difficult use in which plastic pallets can be introduced, while the future for plastic pallets looks best in captive use. Summary reports on an actual case in which plastic pallets are being introduced in rather large numbers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Cahners Publishing Company

  221 Columbus Avenue
  Boston, MA  United States  02116
• Publication Date: 1970-9

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 58-62
• Serial:
  • Modern Materials Handling
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Cahners Publishing Company

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cargo handling; Pallets
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo operations
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00016607
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 12 1973 12:00AM