Pallet Observations

How Long Does it Take to Heat Treat Pallets?

We heat treat two to three loads of pallets a day in our kiln.  Loads take about two and a half hours to cook during the warmer months and up to four hours during the winter months.  Heat treating is done to kill any bugs that are in the pallets before they are shipped internationally.  Because of the extra step in the production process we ask for  a little more lead time when ordering heat treated pallets.

Wood Pallets Loaded into the Kiln

Our regular customers know the information we'll ask of them to design pallets that meet their shipping needs. However if you are new to ordering a shipment of wooden pallets, here are some of the questions we'll be asking when you call.

What Size Pallet?

For example 48 X 40. 48 represents the length, or runner length. The 40 represents the width, or the decking length. Remember that is just and example. We manufacturer wood pallets of all sizes.

Two way or four way pallet? 

Two way means the pallet's stringers will be solid, and four way means the stringers will have notches for forklift access from all four sides of the pallet.

How much weight will you put on this pallet?

This will determine the design of the pallet and the thickness of the boards.

Will the pallet be used for international shipping?

We recommend heat treating all pallets that are shipped overseas to prevent any hold ups in port.

There are other things that go into designing the perfect pallet for your load, but if you know those three things on your first call I am sure we can figure out the rest together.
 

This video is of our M2L lumber stacker we purchased from the Pallet Machinery Group behind our Newman band saw.  We stack everything from half inch boards  to one 1.5 inch runners on the stacker which can stack up to 12 layers per minute. We have had this stacker for about 5 years and before that we had a similar M2L in the same spot. A different stacker from PMG is behind our notcher.

Lumber Stackers Keep Production of Wooden Pallets Moving Fast

These stackers help keep us rolling here at Dominion Pallet, bringing you high quality, wooden pallets for international or domestic shipping.

This morning I spoke with a potential customer who said he was shipping his product out of the country and needed to use heat treated pallets for the products going to China, but not to the rest of the countries to which he shipped.  I told him I thought it was a good idea to heat treat pallets going to any destination overseas.

Don’t Let your Shipment get Quarantined in Port

According to the NWPCA there are some countries that may be enforcing ISPM 15 (a regulation satisfied with heat treated pallets) that are not on the official, published list of countries.  The last thing a shipper wants is to have his product quarantined in port because his wood packaging does not have the ISPM 15 stamp on it.  Heat treating only costs about $1 extra per pallet and that is much less expensive than having a load quarantined.

ISPM 15 Compliance

For wood packaging to be ISPM 15 compliant "Wood packaging material should be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes."  Pallets should also be marked with the IPPC stamp.  Below is a list of countries that are enrolled in the program.  

From the NWPCA website:

Washington D.C. September 20, 2011

Last week I traveled to Washington DC for NWPCA committee meetings in conjunction with Federal Legislative Fly In. At this event, NWPCA members come to Washington to lobby lawmakers and make them aware of issues affecting our industry. This year forty attendees came from all over the country to participate. For me the most exciting news of the meeting was that the newest version of Pallet Design System (PDS 5.0) will be available in late October 2011. 

PDS 5.0 Improvements

This new PDS is 3D and allows the user to design the unit load and pallet together.  Whether you are putting bags, pails, boxes or blocks on the pallet, we will be able to show you how the load fits on your pallet and the pallet's capabilities. This is different from versions past that only allowed for the user to design the pallet without the unit load on it.  PDS 5.0 will also design and analyze larger pallets than previous versions that only allowed for design, but no analysis.

At Dominion Pallet, we are excited to employ this new technology to create and deliver better pallets to you.

New pallets are designed and manufactured specifically for your company’s use.  The weight, the length and width, and species of wood have all been talked about by the buyer and the sales person. The need for heat treated pallets has been evaluated, depending on your product and its destination. When you buy new pallets, you know what you are getting every time.  The specs are consistent and you do not have to worry about the quality of the loads you receive.

Who Knows What was Shipped on Used Pallets?

As the buyer of a new pallet you know exactly where your pallets are coming from.  You don't have to worry if your pallets have been contaminated or damaged in a previous use.

Branded Pallets for Easier Retrieval and Reuse for the Same Product

Pallets could also be a form of advertising, not just something that carries your product.  Your company’s name can be branded or painted (in your colors) on the load.  This is good for brand recognition and also makes retrieval easier for re-use of the pallet carrying the same product.

Recycling pallets is a good thing for the environment and for the economy, but if you want a consistent pallet, made for your special shipping needs that can double as an advertisement, then buying new pallets is the right choice for you.