Pallet Construction Targets Efficiency, Sustainability

The process of designing and building pallets for the shipping industry is carefully crafted and aimed at moving products of all types safely, cost-effectively, and with the least impact on our environment. Whether wood or plastic, GMA standard pallets and custom sized pallets are built to perform.

Pallet Design

Wood pallets are made using a quality hardwood that can be relied upon for strength and integrity. The wood is cut to size and dried or heat treated to prevent warping and minimize the risk of rot and insect infestation.

Plastic pallets are usually made from copolymer polypropylene or high-density polyethylene resin. The pallet is then formed in one piece by extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, or injection molding.

Pallet Assembly

Because plastic pallets are molded as one piece, no assembly is needed. Wood pallets feature four components carefully assembled to form the pallet — top deck boards, stringers, base boards, and fasteners.

• Top deck boards — Thickness, width, and placement are dictated by the grade of pallet. Corners are assembled to be the strongest part of the pallet, with end lead boards of 4–6 inches to handle forklift use.
• Stringers — The support or spine of the pallet, running perpendicular to the top boards. Standard pallets have three stringers.
• Base boards — Provide additional support; a GMA pallet typically has five unidirectional bottom boards.
• Fasteners — Most pallets use threaded nails to prevent them pulling through. Heavier loads may also use bolts.

Once assembled or formed, both wood and plastic pallets are inspected to ensure they meet industry standards in size, dimensions, soundness and structure.

Protecting the Environment

Both wood and plastic pallets provide advantages in the effort towards eco-friendly practices and sustainability. At TriCounty Pallet, we buy and sell all types of pallets and provide a full circle recycling service for wood, plastic and cardboard.

• Wood is a renewable resource that is fully biodegradable once beyond additional use in pallet construction.
• Plastic pallets are often made with recycled materials and generally last much longer than wood products.
• Wood boards can be renewed and reused — at TCP we build custom pallets using reclaimed boards to save you money.
• Plastic pallets are lightweight with innovative stacking designs that maximize capacity.
• Wood pallets are frequently recycled as furniture, home décor, and mulch.

Environmental responsibility is a critical part of pallet design and construction. Contact TriCounty Pallet today for more information about buying, selling, and recycling pallets.