“Industry experts agree that most pallet damage is caused by forklift trucks or pallet jacks,” trade journalism colleague Susan K. Lacefield wrote back in 2013. “So you'll want to make sure that these equipment operators, in particular, are well … [Read more...] about Pallet damage: if forklift operator error is the enemy of pallet durability, change is at hand
Pallet and Container Playbook
The Case Study of the Egg Carton and the Importance of Product Protection in Ensuring Collaborative Supply Chains
Product damage leads to finger-pointing until the egg carton delivers a win-win solution The case study of the egg carton The year is 1911, and diners pause as an argument erupts at a Smithers B.C. hotel where a number of patrons, including … [Read more...] about The Case Study of the Egg Carton and the Importance of Product Protection in Ensuring Collaborative Supply Chains
3 Reasons to Invest in Pallet Automation Now, Even as the Market Softens
This article is contributed by First Alliance Logistics Management (FALM), a leading non-asset-based pallet provider to the North American market, operating through a cohesive network of 225 independent pallet suppliers. FALM regularly contributes … [Read more...] about 3 Reasons to Invest in Pallet Automation Now, Even as the Market Softens
The Taco Bell Tipping Point and Straight Talk on Reusable Packaging Systems
Practical advice for implementing reusable packaging: charting a realistic path forward for adopting reusables, one use case at a time. When I first started going to trade shows like ProMat and the North American Material Handling Show, the … [Read more...] about The Taco Bell Tipping Point and Straight Talk on Reusable Packaging Systems
3 Ways Visual Communication Can Improve Your Reusable Pallet and Container Program
Visual communication plays a very important role in establishing and maintaining a reliable workflow in the field. When communication breaks down on a job site, teams will experience loss of productivity, hindered completion times, and costly … [Read more...] about 3 Ways Visual Communication Can Improve Your Reusable Pallet and Container Program
The Basics of Preventing Pallet Mold
When it comes to airborne mold spores, what we can’t see definitely can hurt us. Unfortunately, when the weather gets warm in spring and conditions are right, those spores can quickly colonize surfaces. In days, mold can spread from idle lumber or a … [Read more...] about The Basics of Preventing Pallet Mold
Pallet Stiffness Is Important – Here’s Why
Typically, the compression strength of boxes is increased by adjusting board grade and flute type. Pallet stiffness, however, also plays a role. One version of the pallet stiffness story goes as follows. An FMCG (fast-moving consumer good) … [Read more...] about Pallet Stiffness Is Important – Here’s Why
What Happened to the “Cadillac” Pallets of 1961?
Simply summed up, pallet users are finding that the per-use cost of a pallet is far more important than the purchase price -something we've been saying in the pallet industry for years. The only difference today is that a man who wants to apply this … [Read more...] about What Happened to the “Cadillac” Pallets of 1961?
If You Can’t Make Some Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen
The title of this piece, a twist on Harry Truman's classic quote about not standing the heat, is a call by business writer John Maxwell for leaders to act proactively and make a difference. But often there are barriers to continuous improvement. One … [Read more...] about If You Can’t Make Some Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen
Celebrating National Forklift Safety Day…and Pallets!
As tight pallet markets continue to result in some degree of pallet substitution, material handlers should be mindful of limitations imposed by novel pallets in supply chains June 14, 2022, marks National Forklift Safety Day in the United … [Read more...] about Celebrating National Forklift Safety Day…and Pallets!