Pallets may look like basic stuff that manufacturers use when shipping their products or storing them in warehouses. However, once you need it for your inventory, you will realize that you need to consider some factors before getting the right one that you need. 

Billions of pallets are transported worldwide with different sizes, materials, designs, sustainability, and reusability. If you are looking for and even if you find pallets for sale, you must consider some factors that could affect your product’s bottom line. Once the product fails to provide any of these factors, you may lose your product, revenue, and integrity. Below are the things you need to consider when choosing the right pallet for your shipments. 

Designed for lifting 

Pallets are moved by a forklift. You should know your client’s forklift configuration as well as their ship inventory for complementary pallets if you want to provide the best customer service. It may seem impossible, but a quick survey can give you some insights into the type of forklifts such as electric forklift, diesel forklift etc they are using

Types of pallets based on the forklift to be used: 

  • Unnotched or two-way pallet has openings only on two ends. 
  • Four-way pallets have openings on four sides. 
  • Stringer pallets are 2×4 wood or plastic pallets with stringers to support the load. These are typically one way and can only support light inventory. 
  • Block pallets have crisscrossed 2×4 wooden pieces. These are used for heavy load due to its solid built. 

Size 

You need to know the right size of the pallets that you are going to use. The International Organization for Standard or ISO has six standard sizes that can be used by all countries. Every industry has its standard size, allowing everyone in the same market to use the same size to make business easier. 

For instance, grocery manufacturers use standard 40-inch by 48-inch pallets. If you are going to ship some products to a grocery store’s warehouse, you need to comply with the necessary dimensions. On the other hand, if you are going to ship paints, you need a pallet with a 42-inch by 42-inch pallet. If your pallet does not suit the forklift, then you might lose some sales. 

Modern retailers use 48-inch by 20-inch, which is the streamlined-size, allowing more efficient moves on the store floor that can be used for in-store displays. 

Materials 

Modern technology allows manufacturers to use different materials for pallets. Common materials used are wood, press-wood, plywood. Some pallets are also made from plastic, cardboard, and aluminium. 

Normally, wooden pallets are used for heavier loads as these pallets are durable and can be recycled, repaired, reused, and cost-effective. Press-wood and plywood, on the other hand, became famous because of their weight. These materials are lightweight, which means you are going to have a lighter load. However, press-wood and plywood are not as tough as wood and can’t stand some elements. 

These are just some of the most critical factors that you should check if you find pallets for sale when you’re looking to buy. This quick guide should help you get the right pallet for your shipments. 

Moreover, it would help if you also remembered to buy pallets from a reliable manufacturer that can provide quality custom pallets that follow the international standard, ensuring that your products reach its destination anywhere in the world safely and without any problem.