The paper pallet, the plastic pallet and the metal pallet. We have often heard of them, but exactly how do they differ from their wooden competitor? In this three-part article, LogistiekProfs discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type of pallet. Earlier, we covered the plastic and paper pallet. This week we discuss the metal pallet: a 'heavy' competitor of the wooden version.
Metal pallets, surely they are mainly suitable for heavy, industrial items? That is probably the first thought that comes to your mind when you read the headline of the article. This is basically true. Metal pallets are made of steel, aluminium or a combination of the two and can therefore handle quite a bit of weight. That makes the pallet less suitable for transporting lighter goods. The material therefore has a market share of only 0.8 per cent in the overall pallet industry.
Clean and sturdy
But according to the Freedonia Group, a US research firm, we should not underestimate the metal pallet. The demand for this material is said to grow faster than the demand for any other material used for pallets until 2017. Why? Because of the following advantages:
- pallets are sturdy;
- they have a long lifespan;
- they are very easy to keep clean.
Steel or aluminium
Yet there is a major drawback that makes all the above advantages less important: weight. Pallets made of steel often weigh more than 25 kilos. The army uses the pallet to transport machinery and ammunition. For the average warehouse, this actually makes the pallet unsuitable. With the metal pallet made of aluminium, it is a different story. These usually weigh less than 18 kg and are still very strong. Moreover, the material does not rust and bacteria have no chance of growing on it. This makes the aluminium pallet very suitable for the pharmaceutical industry, for example.
Conclusion: wood versus the rest
Over the past three weeks, we have covered all the different types of pallets, constantly wondering whether there is a better variant than the wooden pallet. Wood still seems to be the most durable and cheapest material for pallets. Nevertheless, the pallet market is still growing, potentially creating room for innovations and alternative materials.
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