ONE PALLET PER HEAD OF POPULATION

Generally speaking, as a rule of thumb, there is ONE PALLET PER HEAD OF POPULATION IN AN INDUSTRIAL “DEVELOPED” COUNTRY, with some more and some less.

ANOTHER FAIL

THIS TIME IN ASIA. ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO.

ANOTHER OF THE ‘GO IT ALONE’ ATTEMPT. FOUR WAY ENTRY TOO.

THE INDUSTRY MUST BE FILLED WITH EGOS.

DON’T GET ADDED TO THE LIST. WHAT A WASTE.

MAYBE IT IS A SIGN – DON’T GO STEEL….. 🙂

EARTHQUAKE FLOORING

The customer used an assembly of our steel pallets as anti earthquake flooring on which to install highly sensitive and valuable electronic equipment. This was installed in an Asian earthquake prone area.

35 YEAR HISTORY

The history of the lightweight steel pallet development in writings, publishing and photos goes back a mere 35 years, before you were born. The main thrust began early 2003 and is not finished. The data is saved for a book.

SIDE SLEEVES NEW

In future a “side sleeve” will be provided over those metal corrugations.

At 0.9mm thick they are not ‘sharp” edges but this removes the impression they are and provides for increased safety. Wood can have sharp splinters. Most pallets today are moved mechanically. Latest pallets have flat stronger lead edges plus bearer end plates.

Global Wood Pallet Demand to reach 5.8 billion units by 2024

Headline from RICK LEBLANC and Fredonia Group.

That on a annual basis signifies A LOT of scrap and wastage.  

What is a solution OR the solutions, plural.

Plastic has had years to address the the challenge and succeed, but has not.

An essential part of a solution below

Early days but on the way.

And plenty of it.

Lightweight Steel Pallet on Forks

A lightweight steel pallet, Australian standard style, early days (IP granted and in process for the system worldwide).

Worthington Steelpac Pallet (USA)

Another one.  What happened?  You do the check.

It used welds as component fixing so affecting the design.

Wasted Wood Pallets

What happens next?   Wood chips?   Is it the product or the system, or just supply and demand or….?

Boise, Idaho, two steel pallets sent.

Two Bailey Pallet 48×40 samples air freighted to Boise Idaho USA.

A Test in China

Not so highly technical but quite effective.

Racked Steel Pallet

Notice the plastic pallet bending above.

The Day Will Come

SPS skid pallet variant

The day of the economical lightweight steel pallet as an alternative to wood and plastic and expensive composites will come.

Rightly set up that day will come with virus like impact.

The Day Will Come.

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

TORO Metal Pallet – Gone

They came, they tried, they believed, they thought they knew, but they did not. 

The TORO metal pallet did not survive.  One wonders why….

Nor did some plastics.

RM2 International A.I.M. (L.S.E.) De-Listing 20th January 2020

RM2 International de listed (or traded until) from the A.I.M. Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange on 20th January 2020. 

Look at the company website for more information and a newer auction based alternative for investors. 

RM2 listed six years ago with a 4 way entry plastic pallet.  Shatter (a holder) said on the LSE share chat it was UKP300-400 million down  the the toilet.

Is a recovery likely?  So you want to start anew??? 

DO YOU GET THE POINT, OR NOT?

OR….

SCRAPPED PALLETS

What to do?  Single trip.  Delivered under load, emptied and left.  No recycling.  Hardwood.  Industry source said six pallets equals one tree…….there are more, not just here but around the planet.

It is not the tip of an iceberg, more like the tip of Mt. Everest.

North America does have specialized re-cyclers, who collect, repair if necessary and resell.  But elsewhere???

Fires

There is a slight post holdup and diversion with fires at the moment.  Too close for comfort.  Evacuated once so far.  Steel lightweight pallets do not combust in bush fires.

Hundreds of Photographs

There are hundreds of photographs and images on the lightweight steel pallet that you have not seen including for example the use of a welded assembly method.

RM2 International & IGPS

It has been over five years since RM2 International listed on the LSE with a new trackable plastic pallet.  Five years and MILLIONS expended.  Today it is tottering on a brink, not necessarily the end, just a brink.  The history is public and available.  They had a chance years ago to run with the lightweight steel pallet as an alternative but declined.  Maybe it is just as well. 

Is it going the same way as IGPS U.S.A. (Intelligent Global Pooling Systems)?

Those who know, know.  Those who don’t, won’t, and likely never will. 

What is next after plastic that economically will fulfil the role of the pallet?

Wonderful

Official.  Ethiopia plants 350,000,000 tree seedlings within one day.  Setting the example.  Good.

BEAUTIFUL WOOD

A public photo on the net.  Some of these trees from Africa took 500 years to grow.  I have seen this quality used for pallets.  Not so good.  Hardwood forests should be protected and the wildlife inhabitants.  What is left for pallets?  Fast growing pine!

Or something else.

Photo deleted.

A WASTED PALLET

The picture shows a deserted pallet (Australian style) after the load had been removed.  No one wanted it back.   What did it cost someone? That is buried in the logistics figures.  It is leaning against an electricity post, originally a tree trunk, so you can get a feel for how much tree went into that unwanted pallet.  Look closely, the wood is thick, hard and heavy.  Greenies – where are you?

TROPICAL FOREST TREE LOSS 2018

Around 12 million hectares of forest in the world’s tropical regions were lost in 2018, equivalent to 30 football fields per minute.

While this represents a decline on 2016 and 2017, it is still the fourth highest rate of loss since records began in 2001.

Of particular concern is the continued destruction of what are termed primary forests.

An area of these older, untouched trees the size of Belgium was lost in 2018.

Global Forest Watch and BBC 25th April 2-2019  https://www.globalforestwatch.org/

1 BILLION PALLETS PER YEAR

At least 1,000,000,000 pallets are produced NEW every year.  This is conservative.  It is likely 50% more than that.  According to industry estimates the smaller figure equates to 166,000,000 tress cut down for processing softwood and hardwood.  They have to be regrown.   Do you see an as yet unrecognized problem looming?

What about the greenhouse gas effect?   Wait till the “greenies” wake up to this and then government.

Plastic pallets are not a long lasting solution.  They originate from oil.

Lightweight steel?  This is another thing currently overlooked, but not for long.

Pallet Business

INDIA PATENT

Whoops. not another one…..

Mexico Patent Granted

Some details deleted (hidden) but accessible.

A bit of history, just a little bit.  There is a lot more.

A Bit of History

    Too late now but a Re-start is always possible.

Here’s your block close up

A close up.  Notice the screw/nail fixings.

Lightweight Steel Pallet Alternative FAIL

YES, ANOTHER FAIL, CAN YOU SEE WHY IT WON’T (AND DID NOT) SUCCEED?

There are other reasons too…….

A Racking Slide-In Wood Pallet

With the thicker bearers across the gap so taking the load.  But safe???

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

A Bit of History

The company has closed since then.  Apart from some recognition it didn’t help much.

CONTACT? steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

A test using a flat composite wood plank on the underneath surface of a single sided pallet.

The other contact address (info@steelpalletsystems.com) is no longer valid, for now.  Sorry.

Names

Helpers and Industry Professionals Remembered favourably

Rob, James, Mat M, Norman, Colin D, Matt, Craig, Dave A, Jin Wei, Corey, Wolfgang, Jamie M, Eric, Fran, Greg T, Harvey G, Iain R, Robert L, Derek, John S, Greg B, Chris D.E., Sheila, Phillip S.

David S, Stuart, Gary G.M, John M, Matt P, Prof. Wu, Casey, Toma, Ian O, Jeremy A, Kevin, Len B,

Jonathan, Robert X, Michael L, Miles S, Xiaolei, Angela, Stuart B, Walter S, Tim A, John E, Keith, Paul H, Edward, Daniel W, Phillip P, Greg G, Matthew G, John N, Nick C, Justin C, Mr. Chew,

Tim M, Vanessa X, Jun Sun, Johann, Matt B, Joseph G, Mark A, Russ B, Paul B, Kees, Frank D, Rurik, Michael F, Yin, Keith, Oreste, Brett, Scott, Vishnu, Nicholas, Susanna, Peter F, Phil B, Colin,

Prof. Low, Richard L, Maggie, Rick L, Rob M, Sheila Y, Tony S, Shiqiang, Shi Kun, Peter, May, Hugh, Frank G.

Pallet lead edge wear

Some good, some bad, it’s a matter of time and good or bad handling.  Notice the cut timber size by the growth rings.   The newer and “softer”, the thicker, to compensate.

2-3 YEAR LIFE SPAN FOR WOOD PALLETS!!!

A major pallet rental company has publicly indicated that purchased wood pallets have an average life of TWO to THREE YEARS.  To be added to any purchase price is the cost of repairs, cannibalisation for replacement parts, disappearances and losses.

No doubt an experienced manager may add to this list of costs.

For companies locked into a purchased pallet operation this appears a negative reality.

Therefore substituting with durable lightweight galvanised steel pallets that are compatible in configuration and size to your industry, on a purchase or rental or operating lease situation, offers a strong long-term multi-advantaged solution.

For steel we are talking of LESS than 10c per day then a purchase for say $1 each at end of agreement period.  This seems impractical with wood – yes?

Note the colour is irrelevant.  Wood pallets can have any colour.  The damage is relevant.

Wood material deteriorates over time variable to exposure circumstances.

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

Steel Pallet – Economical

In volume using galvanised slit coil steel, roll forming, steel sheet automated punching, bending and robotic fixing and assembly, this could less than USD50 ex factory and leasable or rentable down to a few cents per day.   Think tens and hundreds of thousands, millions.   It could be cheaper.   Volume counts.  It also depends on where it is made, quality standards and wages cost, and of course the pallet type.

This is for a quality pre galvanised material rivet fixed pallet to my design.  Cheaper steel can be used.  Welding is an option.  It depends on customer intentions.

Then add all the other benefits…….

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

NOT SELLING PALLETS UNLESS…

We are NOT selling pallets, unless required, DEFINITELY and seriously required, in high volume, and with a deposit, and from a pre-authorised procurement or purchasing manager or director.  In other words – with full corporate support.

Politics, indecision, internal lack of support, career perpetuation priorities, and creative solutions and ideas possible theft, have obstructed in the past.

So don’t waste your time.

Any sensible and serious business idea is open for discussion.

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

GREENHOUSE GAS ADVANTAGE

Greenhouse Gas Advantage (Steel Pallet)

How does a lightweight steel pallet compare against any plastic pallet on the Co2 carbon dioxide emissions factor?  (With acknowledgement)

A 25 Kg plastic pallet from anywhere costs about 150 Kg of greenhouse gas to produce because approximately 6 Kg of Co2  is produced to make 1 Kg of HDPE.  This does not include additional Co2 cost of any embedded steel.

It takes about 2.88 Kg of coal to produce 1 Kg of steel.  An equivalent lightweight steel pallet costs about 72 Kg of greenhouse gas, HALF that of plastic.  The steel in this case is less than 1mm thick.

Steel Wins.

DYO CHECKS.

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

ISPM 15 COMPLIANT

ISPM15 COMPLIANT ANYWHERE EVERYWHERE

The steel pallet is 101% ISPM15 compliant anywhere, everywhere.

No heat-treating, no fumigation, no hassles.  No extra costs in capital equipment, treatment, time or risk.

steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

Steel Pallet Stain Resistance

Red meat, beer, red wine and motor oil have not stained the metal in tests.

Contact:  steelpalletsystems@gmail.com

Steel Pallet Sizes

The size identifies the usage, the users, and the market.

ENERGY COST STEEL VS PLASTIC

WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Any HDPE plastic pallet weighing 35kg requires 805 KwH of energy for production.
This is equivalent to 120kg of coal.

It takes about 1.76kg of petroleum to produce one kg of HDPE.  This steel pallet, the 25kg repeat use version, requires only 124 KwH of energy to produce by comparison.  This is equivalent to 18.6kg of coal and about 15% of that needed for HDPE.  Also the energy cost to recycle a badly damaged steel pallet is 15 KwH or about 12% of a new one. This is under 2% of the energy required for a new HDPE pallet.  Each steel pallet is infinitely recyclable for the same product without degreading material quality.

Recycling in decades to come will be even more energy efficient using the base stockpile than from new steel production. That is the BIG picture.

From a production perspective and an energy consumption basis steel is the clear (and green) winner over plastic by 85%. 

Wood Block Pallet Endurance

It took four months to go from one to the other.

After delivery

Four months later

PALLET REPAIR STATS

This public information a bit belated and indicates the volume of necessary wood pallet repairs at just ONE DEPOT (there are more) in one country.  It amounts to over 10,000,000 pallet repairs per year.

CHEP has opened as new £4.6m pallet repair facility near Bristol. The pallet and container pooling leader’s service centre is on an eight-acre site on the new Central Park development and replaces its nearby service centre in Avonmouth.

The new facility can process about 100,000 pallets a week and is manned by 95 full-time employees working across a three shift pattern for a 24-hour, seven-day operation. Processing throughput will reach peaks of 1,200 pallets per hour.

THAT IS OVER 10 MILLION A YEAR AT ONE SITE.  WHAT IS THE PALLET POPULATION?

NO DOUBT MORE AUTOMATION IS ADDED TODAY SO REDUCED COST.

HOW MANY REPAIR DEPOTS ARE THERE?  WHAT IS THE COST?  HOW MANY REPAIRS ARE MADE AS OPPOSED TO PALLETS PROCESSED AND CHECKED? WHAT PERCENTAGE OF REPAIR TYPES APPLIES?  LEAD EDGES WOULD BE HIGHEST.  DYOR

27,481 lbs CHEP TEST 2005

Yes, the edge rack support (creep) test showed the load at failure was 27,481 lbs using a vintex air bag to distribute the load over the full pallet area supported on “I” beams each side.  I remember one person in authority saying the air bag burst.

That is near enough 12.5 tonne, much more than sufficient and with a large safety factor.

The steel material was less than 1mm thick.

BUT IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THAT STRONG.   MOST LOADS ARE UNDER 800KG.

Steel Pallet Systems – THE NAME

This business name, company name, protected website name steelpalletsystems.com and descriptive name was thought of, created and originated by this writer thirteen years ago (2005).  Since then others have adopted the name and description steel pallet systems (including in China) because they realize there IS something to it.   We have no connection with JNI Pallet Systems who have despite a complaint entered “steel pallet system” to their Google page.

They have nothing to do with us even though “nearby”.  They are NOT on the same page and never will be.  They do not understand the significance behind the name’s origin and do not comply with it in practice.  To them it just sounds good, and it is.

None of their range of products is compatible with ours.  This will be obvious to anyone checking up in detail.

This is no negative reflection on their business and products.

This is for readers clarity.

A FAILED COPY – HOW NOT TO DO IT.

Yes in Malaysia.  A good looking duplicate and a COPY.  But they got it wrong.  They did not ask.  THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN JUST APPEARANCE.

The lower picture shows 6000kg of bagged cement being carried by a fork lift on one lightweight steel pallet at the bottom during a 100% successful testing sequence.

AN OLD PROPOSAL

An old proposal EXTRACT (modified).   

The proposal is to supply ……………….with a continuous supply of Pallets to allow them ship their product for an initial term of four years.

Using this, The Company will require a quantity of 30,000 Pallets to provide the continuous supply.

The Pallet has already been evaluated in the robotic equipped automated loading station at ……………… (on site).

From contract signing we anticipate 12-16 weeks to the first delivery and up to 36 weeks to full operation capability.

UNFORTUNATELY KEY PEOPLE AT THE PRESENTATION POINT THOUGHT WE WERE TOO YOUNG, TOO SMALL TO TAKE A RISK, AND IT WAS BETTER TO WAIT.  THEN THEY WERE BOUGHT OUT BY A FOREIGN ENTITY.  UP TILL THEN WE HAD FULL SUPPORT.  IT WAS VERY CLOSE. 

CHINA 10,000,000 PALLET ACHIEVEMENT

Loscam in CHINA Celebrates 10-Million-Pallet Achievement IN OCT 2018

Some Professional Advice

NO NAME, NO COMPANY, NO ID, BUT MAJOR PLAYER, REAL WORLD.

QUOTE EXTRACT

“The second point is that I can’t see it as being a closed loop pallet in our operation as we would need to invert every pallet and replace the wood pallet, a costly, time involved process given the number of pallets received daily, with limited benefit in the current process.

“Third we have arrangements with the current pallet suppliers (………………) for pallet transfer. You mentioned closed loop in our automated sites, one of issues this would have is we supply full pallets where orders so warrant which would again mean inverting the pallets and replacing the steel pallet with wood. We can’t send it out to stores as some stores do not return pallets to the original site but are sent to other D.C’s, some interstate, that are not automated.

“I would suggest that as you state the cost is relative to a Wooden Pallet the you either become a 3rd player in the market and do hire – de-hire or combine with an existing pallet supplier, this would allow the pallets to move around in the same manner as a wooden pallet making it seamless to vendors and ourselves.  END QUOTE

FYI The first point related to a national wood pallet standard.   Aside from material used there is no problem, e.g. sizes, carrying capacity, live load, dead load, racking capacity, bending moment, deflection and so forth.

There is no formal steel pallet standard.  NOT YET.

BTW “cost is relevant to a wooden pallet” IS ON A RENTAL BASIS, THE SAME AS WOOD.

This is about the grocery industry in Australia but could be adapted to anywhere.

PALLET FIRE LOSS CONTROL

ALL CREDIT TO THE HARTFORD LOSS CONTROL DEPARTMENT.  MOST LIKELY THIS HAS BEEN UPGRADED SINCE THOSE DAYS.  

THE COMBUSTION RISK FOR STEEL IS ZERO.