It’s no secret automakers are ramping up the production of EVs on assembly lines. Perhaps less known is that EVs are manufactured using a variety of heavy-mineral materials. Transporting these materials requires a hefty pallet.
According to consumer reports, Ford says it will produce more than 2 million EVs annually by 2026 and projects that EVs will be half of its global sales volume by 2030. EVs rely on huge, mineral-intensive batteries to power the car. With the increase in production, demand for these minerals is surging along with the pallets required to transport these precious materials.
So which pallets work best for hauling heavy automotive parts and materials?
A few years ago, we toured the Ford Rouge Plant as part of the NWPCA Fall Plant Tours and saw firsthand the key role of pallets in the assembly process. Then, as it is now, plastic pallets are widely used.
First and foremost, plastic pallets can carry a lot of weight which makes them ideal for transporting heavy lithium-ion batteries used in EVs. However, specific load capacity varies based on the type of plastic. Check with your preferred pallet provider or manufacturer to confirm.
Plastic pallets are extremely durable and can circulate for one hundred trips or more. They are also stackable and resistant of weather conditions, rot, chemicals, and corrosion. These pallets can be easily cleaned and sanitized for international shipping. In addition, plastic is lighter in weight than wood, making them more fuel-efficient to ship. Of course, they can also be customized to support fragile and heavy parts and/or to travel along specialized, automated assembly systems.
Be aware, however, that plastic pallets cannot easily be repaired, and can be ten times as expensive as hardwood.
In addition to automotive manufacturers, Rose Pallet also supplies pallets to a variety of industries including third-party logistics, agriculture, chemical, construction, co-packing, energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and steel. In fact, our team has decades of collective experience managing pallet supplies for Fortune 100 companies across the United States.
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