The Problems with Wooden Pallets — and the Alternative

Wooden pallets have long been used in industry for transport and storage, yet despite their advantages, manufacturers have always looked for a way to replace them.

In this article we look at the problems and challenges wooden pallets create in industry.

Wooden pallets are easily damaged

When exposed to heavy loads, high pressure or impacts, these pallets easily break or warp. This damages goods and causes financial losses for the business, and there is also a risk of injury to workers during handling.

They rot and wear out sooner than you think

Exposed to moisture, wood rots and loses its service life. Pests in the environment also significantly shorten a pallet's life.

These pests include fungi and mould.

In some cases they have even made workers in industrial facilities ill.

Today, health authorities restrict the use of wooden pallets in the food industry.

Trees are destroyed to make pallets

Huge numbers of trees are cut down every year to make wooden pallets. With new, stricter oversight by environmental agencies, it would not be surprising if producing wooden pallets were eventually prohibited and pallets became very hard to source.

Cheap to buy, expensive to maintain

Wooden pallets may cost less to buy than other materials, but maintaining and repairing them is an endless nightmare for business owners.

What’s the solution?

Given all of the above, switching from wood to alternative materials is a very sensible solution. Drawing on up-to-date know-how and advanced machinery, Ara Polymer Nikan produces top-quality plastic pallets in custom sizes.

These pallets can also be repaired, which makes them very cost-effective.