industrial pallets
industrial pallet made of wood
The industrial pallet offers the right properties for demanding applications in industrial logistics. These are usually pallets manufactured according to DIN 15146. Most industrial pallets differ from the Euro pallet only in their greater width of 200 mm.
Table of contents
definition
Industrial pallets are usually standardized according to DIN 15146 and in this case have dimensions of 1,200 x 1,000 mm . This makes them 200 mm wider than the Euro pallet. Some companies also use non-standard industrial pallets in production-related areas. They are available as both disposable and reusable designs. They are normally designed as 4-way pallets that the pallet truck can pick up from all four sides. If it is an EPAL industrial pallet, it can be exchanged in the Europool.
Basically, there are three types of industrial pallets :
- Exchangeable in the Europool
- Not exchangeable in the Europool
- Reusable pallets monitored by EPAL
EPAL is the European Pallet Association, which awards its protected EPAL mark to wooden pallets that meet the regulations for Euro pool pallets. In many cases, companies have their own pools in which they organize the multiple use of reusable pallets themselves.
Characteristics
DIN 15146 provides for EPAL industrial pallets with different dimensions, which are made from different materials. There is always a certain degree of variability in terms of construction, for example in terms of load capacity and height.
Mass
The following dimensions are common for industrial pallets:
| Designation | Size | Weight | load capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAL industrial pallet 2 (bottom frame pallet) | 1,200 x 1,000 x 162 mm | about 35 kg | 1,250 – 1,500 kg dynamic / 4,500 kg static |
| EPAL industrial pallet 3 (3-runner pallet) | 1,200 x 1,000 x 144 mm | about 30 kg | 1,250 – 1,500 kg dynamic / 4,500 kg static |
| disposable industrial pallet | 1,200 x 1,000 mm; height variable | variable | variable |
material
Robustness is the key feature of industrial pallets. They can be used to transport massive machine parts or other heavy goods, for example. In practice, manufacturers use various materials for production. The pallets consist of floor boards, cross boards and cover boards. These do not necessarily have to be hardwood; sufficiently stable softwood can also be used. Hardwood types such as pine can be used.
Advantages and disadvantages
The pallets offer specific advantages and disadvantages for use in industry.
Advantages
The following advantages arise from the practical use of the industrial pallet:
- Robust construction
- Easy adjustment of industrial processes through EPAL standardization
- Wider than a Euro pallet
Disadvantages
Standardization in particular also brings with it disadvantages:
- Relatively expensive
- Not very suitable for one-time use
- Not intended for export or container use
- No optimal use of loading space on trucks
- No individual pallet solution
- Increasingly lower willingness to exchange in the Europool across Europe
- Use in the Europool means costs for repairs, theft and total losses
areas of application
Due to their sturdy construction, industrial pallets are ideal for use in mechanical and plant engineering . They are used, for example, in automated storage and conveyor systems. Another area of application is the packaging of semi-finished goods .
Their use does not necessarily have to be limited to industry. Due to their stable construction, industrial pallets are useful for any transport of heavy goods.
alternatives
The industrial pallet is not always the best solution, even in industrial use. For one-off use or for export purposes, some manufacturers prefer to use special pallets or disposable pallets . This applies in cases where the robustness of the pallet is not crucial.
Compared to industrial pallets, special pallets are particularly interesting because they allow the implementation of individual solutions. By tailoring them specifically to the desired application, buyers achieve a better price-performance ratio.
