On any given day, 1.8 billion pallets are being used to store and distribute products across the nation. Pallets keep production lines moving and allow businesses to get their products to their customers efficiently. If you are in manufacturing, you are most likely dealing with a high number of pallets within your supply chain.

When dealing with pallets, it is important to know how to avoid damage and pallet repair. Having a preventative approach will save you money and time in the long run. From damage to products and the cost of repair or replacement, the consequences of poor pallet handling cannot be ignored.

In this article, we outline 5 tips on how to avoid pallet repair and extend the life of your wood pallets to keep your supply chain healthy.

Before we discuss how to avoid damage and pallet repair, do you know if it is better to buy new pallets or use recycled ones?

When talking about pallet repair, the risk of pallet damage from recycled pallets must be discussed. Recycled pallets are often popular amongst manufacturers because they are offered at a lower price than new pallets. These recycled pallets could have been loaded incorrectly, stored in unsafe conditions, or have internal damage that cannot be seen by just looking at them. All of these add to the risk of damage and pallet repair. If you choose to use recycled pallets it is best to use a credible supplier that you can trust.

New pallets are the best defense against damage and pallet repair. New pallets are more dependable because they have not faced the wear and tear of the transportation industry. You can trust the integrity of the wood and extend its use with proper handling techniques.

As mentioned above, prevention is a big part of extending the life of your pallets and avoiding pallet repair. Once a pallet is repaired, there is a higher risk of it being damaged again and eventually, there is the cost to replace it. It is best to avoid this scenario altogether by following these five tips to avoid pallet repair.

Myth busted: a standard pallet does not actually fit every item. Ask your pallet supplier about custom pallets if your products are not a perfect fit for the standard size. This is a part of properly palletizing your products, this step is crucial because it sets the foundation for your distribution process. It can lead to loss of money and product if not done correctly.

On the opposite side, it isn’t good to have an item that is too small for the pallet either. Having more buffers may sound like a good idea, but this could strain the joints from improper load balance and cause pallet damage. It is best to work with professionals to make sure products are interacting with pallets that have the best dimensions for their needs.

Similar to the issues with wrong-sized products on pallets, having too much weight on pallets can cause damage that requires pallet repair. Check the pallet’s recommended maximum weight before adding the product to it. Stacking weight on pallets that exceed the maximum capacity can lead to worker accidents, product damage, and wasted production time. This is a preventable accident that leads to damage and pallet repair often.

It is no secret that water can damage wood and pallets are no exception to that rule. Prolonged exposure to water can deteriorate the pallet and create a mold issue. If you are in an industry that cannot have any mold, this will be a bigger issue for you. It is recommended to keep all pallets in a dry location away from the elements to prevent this type of damage. Pallet repair is limited when it comes to extensive water damage.

Damage from forklifts is the number one cause of damage and pallet repair within manufacturing. Educating employees on best practices for using forklifts to move around pallets can save time and money. This is a vital tip for avoiding pallet repair, but also for the safety of those operating the forklifts and pallet jacks. Good safety habits naturally lead to taking care of pallets.

Some forklift tips are:

– Always enter the pallet at an appropriate speed

– Make sure the forklift is lined up and level before lifting

– Spread forklift tine before lifting

– Don’t hit the pallet block or stringers

– Don’t push or drag pallets

– Never throw or drop pallets

Use good material handling procedures to keep pallets safe and avoid pallet repair. This includes- storing pallets flat, not over-stacking pallets, and making sure you are racking the pallets correctly. Also, teaching employees to avoid stepping on pallets. Putting all your weight on a random part of the pallet could break it and lead to pallet repair.

Furthermore, make sure that your warehouse is designed in a way that is optimized for pallets being safely moved around. This means making sure that all aisles are wide enough to accommodate pallets and forklifts, clutter is minimized, and all the floors are clear of debris. This helps to avoid accidents and prevent damage that leads to pallet repair.

The best way to avoid pallet repair is to avoid damage to the pallets as much as possible. If they do become damaged it is better to replace them with new ones and avoid pallet repair. Using compromised pallets can be very expensive when you add up pallet repair, damage to products, employee injury, and relationships with customers. Starting with new pallets and following careful material handling procedures can extend the life of your pallets and prevent pallet repair.

Taking care of your pallets is a good investment for the future!

Conner Industries has over 40 years of experience being a leading supplier in the pallet manufacturing industry. We provide standard-size and custom pallets for our customers in multiple industries. Along with crates and integrated industrial packaging, we can help with all your product transportation packaging needs. Reach out and work with our team of knowledgeable and experienced staff to see how we can help you today!