What’s a GMA Pallet? A Quick and Easy Breakdown

If you’ve been in manufacturing for long, you’ve probably heard of the GMA pallet. Although it may be one of the most popular pieces of transportation packaging ever created, to many newcomers to the industry, “GMA pallet” simply doesn’t ring any bells. At Conner, we think it’s time that we practice some due diligence to break down the GMA pallet for anyone who cares to learn about it!

In manufacturing, looking at the history, specifications, and modern uses of technology oftentimes gives you the best overall understanding of whatever manufacturing technology you’re looking at – the GMA pallet is no exception! So today, we’ll start with history, break down the exact specifications of the GMA pallet, and move on to how manufacturers are using it today.

In 1908, amidst various industries unionizing across the United States, several grocers across the country banded together to create the American Specialty Manufacturers of America (ASMA). During the early 20^th century, food processing conditions were awful, inspiring books like Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” in 1906. Part of the reason the ASMA was founded was to hammer out the sanitary and logistics details to bring the industry forward.

In the 1940s, after the ASMA helped to establish the Food and Drug Administration, the Association changed its name to the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA). Soon after, the new organization started developing the GMA pallet as a way to standardize the transportation of groceries further. Little did they know, the GMA pallet would quickly become one of the most popular forms of transportation packaging on the planet.

Although the GMA pallet started strictly in grocery stores, it soon became outrageously popular in many different industries. The popularity of the GMA pallet started as Americans started to find their love for standardization. Whether it was homes, food, or a GMA pallet, the public’s preference for standardization was astounding. Quickly, the GMA pallet saw rapid adoption in the United States.

The first iterations of the GMA pallet may have had more specifications, but the most important spec was by far pallet dimensions. Being 48 inches long by 40 inches wide, these dimensions proved to be revolutionary in how they shaped the manufacturing industry today. The 48×40 pallet dimensions were large enough to move moderate-sized manufacturing equipment yet narrow enough to be easily maneuvered in small spaces and vehicles. The convenience of the GMA pallet cannot be understated!

Soon after its introduction, a GMA pallet simply became known for its dimensions. From that point on, the original GMA pallet specifications gave way to more versatile options – the GMA pallet as a whole became synonymous with any pallet with the 48×40 sizes. This allowed the versatility of the pallets to drastically increase.

In 2022, GMA pallets can be made from a variety of wood species and receive a vast array of different wood treatments – let’s break those down.

Building Materials

In the manufacturing industry as a whole, there are many different materials that manufacturers use to construct a GMA pallet. Most popularly, a GMA pallet is constructed from industrial-grade softwoods. These wood species, like Southern Yellow Pine or Spruce-Pine-Fir, are durable, relatively cheap, and widely available.

Another material used to build GMA pallets is hardwood. Rather than just one species, hardwoods differ greatly from region to region in the United States. This means that each hardwood GMA pallet will differ in the species used to create when in different regions in the US.

Alternatively, many industry-specific manufacturers will opt to build a GMA pallet out of plastics and other synthetic materials. Although this may be because of industry regulations, there’s a difference in durability with their wood-built GMA pallet counterparts. Check out our direct comparison to get a better idea of what we’re talking about.

Lastly, manufacturers across the globe are starting to make a new kind of GMA pallet – a bamboo GMA pallet. In parts of the world where lumber is scarcer than it is in the US, certain countries are turning to fast-growing bamboo pallets to fulfill their transportation packaging needs. Only time will tell how these pallets perform!

Treatment Options

Like many other wood products, there’s a myriad of wood treatments for manufacturers to choose from for their GMA pallet. Whether it’s standard heat treatment, ISPM-15 compliance, rot preventative, or another option, manufacturers have quite a few ways to safeguard the GMA pallet.

If you were to take a walk through any warehouse in America, chances are that you’d come across a GMA pallet. Not only are they extremely common, but applicable in one way or another to almost every industry. Although there may be industry-specific pallet dimensions designed to store or transport a specific product, when manufacturers are looking for a cost-effective pallet that can be used for almost anything, they turn to the GMA pallet once again.

For example, in the heavy industrial pipe and steel industry, many manufacturers will use a GMA pallet for a multitude of different uses. Whether they’re using the pallets to store heavy pipe and steel parts, consolidate orders for their customers, or even using a GMA pallet to store other pallets or wood products, GMA pallets see a variety of uses in their day-to-day lives.

Although this is just one example, manufacturers from across many different industries understand the vast uses offered by a GMA pallet.

The world of industrial packaging can be confusing! With a vast history, there’s a lot of context that even experienced manufacturers may be missing out on, let alone newcomers. With a thorough analysis of the history, specification, and modern-day uses, however, manufacturers can get a better understanding of almost anything – even the GMA pallet!

So, the next time you’re looking for multi-use packaging – consider choosing a GMA pallet. Now knowing its history, specifications, and modern uses, the decision should almost make itself!