Custom or Standard Pallets — 3 Ways to Weigh the Options

While this is a time of uncertainty, one thing is for sure—products still need to go from point A to B and we’ve got the pallets to make it happen. Standard size pallets may work well, but there are also custom pallets to consider. To determine which option is right for you, carefully weigh the following:

1. What product are you shipping? Fragile, bulky, heavy-duty, or products requiring special care may benefit from custom pallets. Although a little more expensive up front, custom pallets reduce the need for extra packaging and reduce waste.
2. What size is your product? Standard pallet sizes such as 48 x 40 (grocery), 48 x 20 (retail), and 48 x 45 (automotive) can accommodate most standard goods. But, if your product is an odd size or a unique shape, a custom pallet should be considered in order to provide proper support and protection.
3. How are products moved within your warehouse? If you have conveyors or other automated systems, you want to make sure your pallets function well with other equipment. In some cases, standard pallets will work just fine. For other situations, custom pallets may be required for hassle-free handling. The last thing you want is for the wrong type of pallet to cause inefficiencies in automation. Custom pallets can help you avoid jams or faults and the resulting maintenance, product damage, or even safety incidents.

Rose Pallet uses the Pallet Design System™ (PDS), the material handling industry’s premier design tool for wood pallets, to customize the perfect pallet for our customers’ unique requirements. And, as an added benefit, pallets manufactured with PDS technology are recognized by the USDA’s BioPreferred^® Program as a biobased product.

Furthermore, PDS supports dozens of domestic and imported wood species making it easy to specify the ideal wood for peak performance. It also has a forklift support analysis to quickly and accurately determine pallet performance when entered and lifted from the side.

Whether you need standard or custom pallets, Rose Pallet can help you design and procure the right type all with one goal in mind: to help you reduce costs, minimize product damage, and increase safety throughout the unit load handling system. Contact us today for a free quote!