Palletisation is a logistical process involving grouping goods onto a pallet, typically made of wood or plastic.
It aims to consolidate the goods load to facilitate handling and movement, within warehouses, distribution centres, and throughout the logistics chain.
Palletisation offers several advantages, including enhanced operational efficiency, reduced labour costs, and simplified inventory tracking.
It is widely used across various industrial sectors to optimise the management of goods flow and improve logistics chain productivity.
This article provides an overview of palletisation and the benefits it offers for logistics management optimisation.
1. The benefits of palletising for the supply chain
The introduction of the pallet as a standard unit of load in warehouses has led to its widespread adoption as the primary means of logistical handling in many industries.
It is an approach that enables:
Streamlining of goods movements
Pallets enable operators to save time and improve efficiency.
Within the warehouse, during loading, unloading, or transferring of goods, handling equipment can stack multiple pallets, thus reducing the number of trips required.
Note: Automated loading docks are no exception! The design and implementation of automated palletisation systems also contribute to modernising and streamlining the logistical operations of supply chains.
Improved inventory management
Using pallets for goods movement simplifies the management of each product within the warehouse. By assigning a uniform volume of products to each pallet, it becomes easier to quantify these items and assess their stock levels.
Searching for and preparing products for shipment are also simplified and optimised through the use of pallets.
Enhanced operator and cargo safety
Thanks to pallets, loaded goods are better protected during their movement and transportation.
Pallets also play a role in operator safety by allowing them to unload, load, and move heavy goods more easily and in safer conditions.
To learn more: Your pallets, the key to an economically efficient supply chain
2. How to palletise correctly
Step one: Selecting the right type of pallet
Effective palletisation in a warehouse requires careful selection of the pallet to be used.
There are many types of pallets with different sizes, standards, and materials, all suited for specific uses.
1 – Materials
Cardboard pallets
Cardboard pallets are often used for transporting light loads such as parcels to urban areas.
> Advantages:
- Environmentally friendly material: Cardboard degrades and recycles easily.
- Ease of handling: Lightweight, cardboard is easier for operators to handle.
> Disadvantages: Cardboard pallets cannot support goods weighing more than 500kg.
Plastic pallets
Plastic pallets are quite expensive and therefore less commonly used for goods export.
> Advantages:
- Easy maintenance: Plastic pallets are easy to clean, making them ideal for industries requiring high hygiene standards (e.g., the food and pharmaceutical industries).
- Eco-responsibility: Some plastic pallets are made from recycled materials, which can help reduce the environmental impact of your supply chain. Plastic pallets are also mostly designed to be reused multiple times.
> Disadvantages:
- Initial cost: Plastic pallets often have a higher initial cost than wooden ones.
- Material flexibility: Plastic pallets may have lower rigidity compared to wooden pallets in certain situations, which can make them less suitable for heavy loads or specific applications.
Wooden pallets
Wood is one of the most commonly used materials for pallet manufacturing. Wooden pallets are widely used by industries, whether for goods storage or export.
> Advantages:
- Very affordable initial cost: Wooden pallets generally have a lower initial cost than plastic ones.
- Robust material: Wooden pallets are often more rigid and durable, making them suitable for transporting heavy loads and under challenging transport conditions.
- Ease of repair: In case of damage, wooden pallets are often easier to repair than plastic ones. Damaged elements can be replaced more easily.
> Disadvantages: For international export, wooden pallets must be treated according to NIMP15, a mandatory phytosanitary standard aimed at reducing the spread of harmful organisms during packaging transport.
2 – Dimensions
At LPR – La Palette Rouge, our extensive range of standardised pallets tailored to automated handling systems covers all the needs of the industry’s supply chains:
Europe pallet:
This pallet format, as its name suggests, is mainly used in Europe. The UNE-EN 13698-1 standard specifies its manufacturing characteristics.
Dimensions: 800 x 1200 mm
Weight: Approximately 25 kg
Nominal load: 1000 kg
UK100 pallet:
This format is most commonly used in the UK, USA, and Japan. This pallet fits perfectly with the logistical specifications of these regions of the world.
Dimensions: 1000 x 1200 mm
Weight: Approximately 29 kg
Nominal load: 1200 kg
DP610 pallet:
With its compact dimensions, the DP610 pallet is suitable for confined spaces. It is designed for industries requiring robust and manageable pallets.
Dimensions: 600 x 1000 mm
Weight: Approximately 16 kg
Nominal load: 600 kg
Dusseldorfer pallet:
LPR offers half-sized Dusseldorfer pallets. Reinforced with metal and plastic blocks, they are known for their unbeatable strength.
Dimensions: 600 x 800 mm
Weight: Approximately 14 kg
Nominal load: 500 kg
Display pallet:
This is the smallest pallet format. Often made of plastic, they are designed for use at point of sale for promotional purposes. Generally stackable, they are easy to transport when unloaded.
Dimensions: 400 x 600 mm
Weight: Approximately 1.84 kg
Nominal load: 250 kg
3 – Factors to consider when choosing the right pallet
Several factors must be considered when choosing the ideal pallet type for your supply chain:
Storage space characteristics
Before selecting the type of pallet to use within your supply chain, it is important to assess the configuration of your storage space: Does the space include humidity risks? Does it have aisles and shelving?
Conduct an assessment to choose the most suitable pallet type based on the characteristics of your storage spaces.
Handling equipment used
The nature of handling equipment used, whether manual or automated, directly influences the choice of pallet you should use.
To ensure safe and efficient handling of your goods, the dimensions, maximum weight capacity, and stability of the pallet must align with the specifications of the handling equipment in place within your supply chain.
Product typology
The type of product stored also plays a crucial role in choosing the type of pallet to use. Some products require specific pallets due to their characteristics, such as fragility, perishability, or the need for particular ventilation.
In order to prevent damage to your goods, the chosen pallet must meet the requirements of the items you store.
Choice of supplier(s)
Pallets from different suppliers may vary in terms of quality, durability, and cost.
Therefore, it is essential to carefully evaluate the offers from market suppliers to select pallets that meet the required quality standards while remaining economically advantageous for your company.
At LPR – La Palette Rouge, our pallet rental and management service ensures that you always have the right number of high-quality pallets, hassle-free, delivered on time to the site of your choice.
Step two: Choose the right palletisation method
Regardless of the type of merchandise, palletisation always occurs in two stages: loading the goods onto the pallet and securing them.
Firstly, the goods are loaded onto the pallet. There are different configurations at this stage that allow for the proper distribution of the weight of the merchandise on the pallet.
This step is crucial to prevent the pallet from deforming and to ensure it is easily transportable and storable.
Finally, once the products are arranged on the pallet, they need to be secured so that various logistical movements are not compromised. This step is called strapping: a transparent film is deployed around the merchandise to hold and protect it during its multiple rotations.
There are three palletisation methods:
- Manual Palletisation: This method involves the manual placement of goods on the pallet by operators. It is particularly suitable for small quantities or irregular shapes that require special attention. Manual palletisation offers great flexibility and can be done without special equipment, but it is slower and may be more labour-intensive.
- Mechanical Palletisation: This method requires the use of forklifts or conveyors to place goods on pallets. Faster than manual palletisation, this technique allows handling heavier loads or larger volumes of goods. However, it requires an initial investment for the purchase or rental of necessary equipment.
- Automatic Palletisation Systems: This method involves the use of robots and specialised machines to automate the process of loading goods onto pallets. This technique can handle large production volumes. Although the initial investment may be high, the savings in terms of labour costs can justify its expense.
Conclusion
In conclusion, palletisation offers numerous advantages for the supply chain. It enhances operational efficiency and goods security while simplifying inventory management.
Selecting the right type of pallet and palletisation method is crucial to maximise the benefits. Whether through manual, mechanical, or automatic solutions, each approach has its place depending on the nature of the goods and logistical constraints.
Therefore, understanding and effectively implementing palletisation is a strategic lever that can significantly enhance supply chain performance.
Has this article inspired you to integrate palletisation into your logistical processes?
Contact LPR to optimise your supply chain management!
