Feature Pallets, palletisers & pallet handling Are plastic pallets the answer?


Are the pallets you’re using the safest and most suitable for your logistics operation? MD of Goplasticpallets.com Jim Hardisty, says poorly chosen pallets could compromise safety if they are not used correctly and lead to unnecessary costs


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n the UK materials handling and logistics sector, there is an average of 43 injuries per week, 11 of them serious. There are lots of safety hazards to be aware of – handling and storing pallets being one of them according to Hardisty.


Despite all the time and financial investment that goes into selecting the safest and most efficient racking, com- puter systems and handling equip- ment to run a successful logistics operation, companies could be com- promising their efforts by using second-hand wooden pallets. These are likely to have been used several times before, and could be car- rying any number of contaminants. But how can you be sure that your second-hand wooden pallet is capable of bearing the weight of your goods? The truth is, I don’t think you can.


Pallet load considerations If you ask a technical operative in any modern warehouse what the capacity of the racking system is, he’ll be able to define it based on the position of the pallet, the span of the beams and the drive-in bays; he’ll know the beams are designed to support a specific


number of kilograms on so many pallets per bay, and that the end sup- ports have been bolted down using a particular bolt with a defined length and thread. Ask the same operative what the capacity of the wooden pallet being used on the racking system is, and he won’t be able to tell you as, whether new or reused, wooden pallets do not have guaranteed loading capacities. The reason for this is the strength of timber varies. Make 100 wooden pal- lets one month and test them and they might all have the same loading capac- ity, but make another 100 a few months later and the capacity might differ.


Pallet selection


Choosing pallets that come with clear guidance on pallet loading capacities can offer companies reassurance that their products are being stored and handled in the safest possible way andcan also avoid costly incidents. A UK supermarket chain recently trialled Goplasticpallets.com’s plastic pallets in its automated storage system after a wooden pallet racked 10-racks high broke causing a pyramid effect that destroyed a huge volume of prod- uct and cost £2.5m to resolve.


Goplasticpallets.com believes that plastic pallets (above left and right) have many advantages over wooden pallets (below)


Pallet safety guidance


The British Standard ISO 8611 has been central to pallet testing for plastic, steel and timber pallets for many years and major pallet rental pools consider the deck bending test the most valuable for assessing pallet safety. However, the Health & Safety Executive also offers useful guidance on pallet safety in its Guide to Health and Safety in Warehousing and Storage (HSG76) which is simpler to under- stand. The HSG76 was primarily writ- ten to help reduce injuries and ill health in warehouses in order to achieve the Government’s injury reduction targets for UK workplaces. In defining the safe use of pallets, the guide states: “Flat timber pallets form an essential part of many mechanical handling systems in warehouses. Accidents directly attributable to these type of pallets usually arise from six main sources: poor design; poor con- struction; the use of a pallet which is unsuitable for a particular load; the continued use of a damaged pallet; bad handling; or the use of a pallet unsuit- able for a particular racking system.”


Goplasticpallets.com MD Jim Hardisty


Latest generation auto pallet mover launched T


he increasing size of many distribution centres has renewed interested in AGV technology which had declined because they were thought to be too complex and inflexible. “The increased distances that trucks have to cover in some of today’s facilities and the ever present need to reduce labour costs and maximise productivity, has led to renewed interest in this concept,” says Steve Richmond, director of Jungheinrich UK systems & projects division. Jungheinrich’s Auto Pallet Mover (APM) is based on standard Jungheinrich lift truck technology. The driverless APM moves independently around the warehouse and has been designed to perform ‘routine’ handling tasks such as delivering palletised loads from the goods-in area or production line to a transfer point and other points around the system. The APM’s dedicated control and guidance system not only ensures efficient route planning and vehicle coordination, but also delivers optimum traffic flow around the distribution centre or factory. The APM can operate as a stand-alone product or be integrated into a solution controlled by a warehouse management system. Comprehensive safety features have been built in to the new product to guarantee collision-free and safe operation in all working environments. And, because it is based on standard Jungheinrich lift truck technolo- gy, the system can be easily serviced and maintained.


Richmond, adds: “The Jungheinrich APM offers a number of advantages not the least of which are the ability to reduce labour costs while improving safety and reduc- ing product and equipment damage.” Jungheinrich UK T: 01908 363100 www.jungheinrich.co.uk


Enter 352 S8


Plastic pallets – the benefits Plastic pallets can allow companies to eliminate virtually all of these safety hazards. They are moulded under extreme pressure to produce a high quality product.


All our pallets have been tested in accordance with the BS ISO 8611:2011 and come with clear guidance on pallet loading capacities for static, dynamic and racking loads, which helps operatives choose the right plas- tic pallet for a particular load. Strong, durable and less vulnerable to damage, a standard plastic pallet has a lifespan of up to 10 years, and once it reaches the end of its life, it can be recy- cled. They have no nails, sharp edges or splinters and as there is no risk of loose component parts breaking free under manual lifting conditions, they are less likely to damage product packaging or injure operatives. Goplasticpallets.com


www.goplasticpallets.com


T: 01323 744057 Enter 351


JULY/AUGUST 2012 Materials Handling & Logistics


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