Pallet Earth’s new nestable pallet features Steelite™ pallet core.
Pallet Earth is bringing its innovative composite pallet to the UK market. “In the wake of the pandemic, fruit and vegetable producers are facing new challenges, such as sharp increases in fuel costs, sea freight rates, and a range of sustainability issues,” the company notes in its press release. “It has never been more important to harness technology to help improve efficiencies across the supply chain.”
Made from fully recycled and recyclable plastic with a robust inner steel frame, the nestable pallets are also 100% ISPM 15 compliant. According to the company website, it offers a 1200 x 1000 mm pallet weighing 24 kg and edge rack rated at 1,500 kg.
Pallet Earth’s patented Matchett Lock holds the pallet secure in the racking while allowing easy access for the fork tines to deposit and pick up pallets. The product is backed by over five years of research and development, based on collaboration with partners at RDP Group Ltd, Auckland University, Pure Design & Engineering, Oceanic Navigation Ltd and Armacup Ltd.
Carl McInerney, UK & Europe Sales Director, believes that their pallet is a game changer for those importing and exporting into and out of the UK. “Our pallets can provide peace of mind that products are fully compliant with new BREXIT phytosanitary requirements, removing the need for heat treatment or worrying about mold impacting quality,” he said.
“Using European based manufacturing, and with warehouses close to market, Pallet Earth is ready to support the import and export markets of Europe and the UK ensuring both compliance and smooth servicing for our clients,” he continued. The company will be offering a leasing model to customers.
The innovative 4:1 nesting of the pallets allows for more inexpensive return – reducing return legs to a quarter of the cost of pooled pallets, while reducing C02e by 8kg per pallet. The unique interlocking feature enables increased volumes to be moved – safely moving 50 pallets simultaneously compared to 13 stacked wooden pallets. Goods are also protected with an internal steel frame providing strength and stability to protect goods through transit and air holes to promote air circulation.
“They are fully trackable, with built-in tracking allowing full visibility of products throughout the entire transport system, a particular benefit for fresh and frozen produce that requires specific cool chain measurements to be met, ensuring produce is at its best possible quality on arrival,” McInerney noted.
“With an increase in extreme weather events impacting growing seasons, eliminating waste and protecting the quality of the product is an important benefit, supporting the production of less product for the same return.”
Critical to Pallet Earth’s commercial success is its ability to cost-effectively manufacture at scale while supporting the full life cycle of the pallets. “With all manufacturing partners now based in the UK we can repair, recycle and build our pallets to best serve our UK and European markets,” said McInerney.
A recent analysis of the pallet system by strategic value chain consultants Incept.biz validated the product’s potential to revolutionize the way products are shipped, according to the release. “For the pallets to be considered we need to provide a solution that will save money while delivering wider benefits. Incept’s analysis confirmed exactly that with our system found to cost just £4 per return trip,” said Cashmore.
The Pallet Earth team will attend Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February 8-10, 2023, where the unique pallet solution can be viewed at the Pallet Earth Stand D-17 Hall 26.
Attendees can also hear Dave Cashmore (GM) and Carl McInerney (UK & Europe Sales Director) discuss Sustainability in global supply chains on the Tech Stage (Hall 2.1, B43) on Thursday, February 9.
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