Citing the National Safety Council, Litco notes that forklift accidents result in an average of 101 fatalities and 94,570 injuries annually. And while lift trucks are the workhorse of industry in terms of providing the steady flow of raw materials and finished goods through manufacturing facilities, their use creates risks to both lift truck operators and pedestrians alike.
One of the most noteworthy design features of presswood pallets can be observed the moment a truckload of Litco pallets backs into the receiving dock, the company says. Unlike conventional wooden pallets, presswood pallets are nestable, which permits greater quantities to ship with each trailer load. The chart below compares the amount of truckloads for customers ordering various quantities of medium duty pallets.
Truck Load Comparisons for Wooden and Presswood Pallets
Annual QTY of Pallets | Trucks of Wooden at 580/Truck Load | Trucks of INCA at 1280/Truck Load | Difference | % of Difference |
10,000 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 53% Less |
25,000 | 43 | 20 | 23 | 53% Less |
50,000 | 86 | 39 | 47 | 55% Less |
100,000 | 173 | 79 | 94 | 55% Less |
200,000 | 345 | 156 | 189 | 55% Less |
As revealed above, the numbers of trucks required is reduced by half simply by choosing a pallet that is nestable. Unloading fewer trailers results in reduced lift truck traffic, and which delivers improved efficiencies and a safer workplace. The reduced lift truck traffic found on the docks also extends to storage in the receiving area. Nestable design allows drivers to transport more pallets with 64 percent fewer trips and decrease the probability of a lift truck related accident by the same proportion, as shown by the chart below:
Comparing Lift Truck Trips To Load Pallet Dispensers for GMA Versus Litco’s INCA Nestable Presswood Pallets
(Based on 18 wooden pallets per stack and 50 presswood pallets per stack)
Annual QTY of Pallets | # of Lift Truck Trips GMA Style | # of Lift Truck Trips Presswood | Difference | % of Difference |
10,000 | 556 | 200 | <356> | 64% Less |
25,000 | 1389 | 500 | <889> | “ “ |
50,000 | 2778 | 1000 | <1778> | “ “ |
100,000 | 5556 | 2000 | <3556> | “ “ |
200,000 | 11,111 | 4000 | <7111> | “ “ |
The nestability of presswood pallets also reduces receiving area congestion and improves driver site lines due to a smaller footprint when compared to conventional pallets:
Nestable pallets can also reduce forklift traffic from shipping and receiving areas to pallet dispensers. A typical pallet dispenser accommodates eighteen 48” x 40” conventional GMA pallets. By comparison, this same pallet dispenser accommodates fifty nestable Inca pallets. More pallets in your dispensers means fewer lift truck trips made from storage through your production areas to shipping and packaging lines. The advantages of advanced pallet design go beyond mere product protection; selecting the proper pallet can reduce lift truck traffic, increase driver and packaging line efficiency, and enhance plant safety.
Safety and efficiency are not mutually exclusive goals and making an enlightened pallet choice can make a positive contribution towards both.
For more information, visit www.litco.com.