Plastic pallets are a vital aspect of supply chains or warehouse operations across many different industries. They are a useful tool to improve product protection and stock management, ensuring there are no damages or loss of stock and products are organised. A plastic pallet can ensure safety in your workplace and during transportation, which helps to avoid surprise costs and losing money. They are highly versatile and easy to clean and maintain which makes them ideal for industries that need to have high standards of hygiene.
Plastic pallets are a lifesaver for many businesses as long as they choose the correct type for their business requirements. Finding the right fit for the purpose you need can be difficult as there are many considerations to mull over. INKA Pallets are here to help with this guide on choosing the best plastic pallet for your industry. Explore what are plastic pallets used for, their benefits and the different types that suit your industry.
What are plastic pallets used for?
Plastic pallets are extremely versatile which means they are used for a whole host of reasons across multiple sectors. The main use of a plastic pallet is for storing, transporting and handling goods. These are used in many industries because they are hygienic, durable and lightweight which gives businesses a better alternative to wooden pallets. Common uses of plastic pallets can be:
Shipping & Exporting: Used for international shipping as they are ISPM-15 compliant so there’s no fumigation required, unlike with wooden pallets. They are also light to help keep shipping costs low.
Food and pharmaceutical products: Plastic pallets are very hygienic and easy to clean which makes maintaining this hygiene standard simple. This makes them perfect for food and pharmaceutical products as they are resistant to moisture, bacteria and chemicals. They can be used in cleanrooms and cold storage too.
Retail & displays: They can be used in shops to create unique and interesting displays, showcasing essential products to customers in an attractive way. This is due to their stackable or nestable design as they can easily heighten a display to stand out in the shop while saving essential space.
Warehouse & logistics: These types of pallets can be used in warehouses and logistics industries to provide an organised and efficient storage system for products. They are also used during transportation to protect goods and aid with automated storage systems.
Manufacturing & heavy load industries: They are very durable and can take large weight capacities, so are used to carry heavy loads without breaking, cracking or splintering. They are also resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures which makes them ideal for many manufacturing companies.
Benefits of plastic pallets
Plastic pallets bring a variety of benefits to businesses which makes them so popular over other storage and transportation options. Some of the vital benefits can be:
- Strong and durable
- Weather-resistant
- Environmentally friendly
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Doesn’t attract insects or pests
Plastic pallet sizes available and what suits your industry best
There are many pallet sizes available to cater to your business requirements and product needs. Discover the various sizes INKA Pallets offer below and see which industries are best suited to each size to help you find your perfect palette.
800 x 1200mm (Plastic Euro pallets): Retail and supermarkets for European supply chains, Logistics and Warehouses for automated racking systems, Pharmaceuticals for medicine storage and transport and Food and Beverage for fresh produce and dairy distribution.
1000 x 1200mm (UK standard pallets): Manufacturing and Industrial for heavy loads, Logistics and Distribution for storage in warehouses, Retail and E-commerce for bulk shipping and Automotive for car parts.
400 x 600mm (quarter-size Euro pallets): Retail for displays, Pharmaceuticals and Medical for small batch deliveries, Food and Beverage for bakery and confectionery transportation, E-commerce and parcel delivery for small shipments.
600 x 800mm (half-size plastic pallets Euro): Supermarkets and Convenience shops for in-store displays, Pharmaceuticals and Cleanrooms for medical supplies, Food and Beverage for fresh produce and bakery distribution and Electronics to organise small parts in warehouses.
760 x 1140mm: Beverage for bottled drinks and kegs, Food for milk distribution and Chemical and Industrial for transporting barrels and drums.
1220 x 1020mm (North America pallets): Export and International Shipping for global supply chains, Chemical and Industrial for transporting large containers and Automotive and Heavy Manufacturing to handle heavy loads.
1100 x 1100mm (Asian and Australian standard pallets): Export and International Trade for Asian and Australian markets, Chemical and Industrial for bulk storage and hazardous materials and Pharmaceuticals for hygienic transport of medical supplies.
1140 x 1140mm: Chemical and Hazardous Materials in barrels and drums, Oil and Gas for petroleum product logistics, Pharmaceuticals for storing medical chemicals and Heavy Manufacturing for transporting industrial goods.
1200 x 1200mm: Manufacturing and Engineering for heavy-duty equipment, Automotive and Aerospace for large parts and machinery, Warehouses and Storage for bulk goods and Food Processing and Agriculture for large sacks and crates.
1100 x 1300mm (large-scale industrial pallets): Automotive and Heavy Manufacturing for large vehicle components, Export and Global Shipping for international freight, Construction and Building Materials for bricks, cement bags and steel parts, and Oil, Gas and Chemical for hazardous materials in transport.
Types of plastic pallets to choose from
There are a wide variety of plastic pallets to choose from to suit your industry and requirements. Find INKA’s range of key plastic pallets and the industries they’re best for to help you understand which pallet you need.
Plastic Euro pallets
Plastic Euro pallets are a popular type of pallet that are available in a range of sizes to meet your specific industry needs and applications. These pallets meet the legal requirements for transporting goods across Europe and are designed to be durable and sustainable.
INKA Pallets offer multiple weight capacities, from lightweight options to heavy-duty solutions for heavier loads. Our 500kg Euro plastic pallet is the most lightweight solution with dimensions of 1200x800mm and a height of 130mm. These are made for medium duty use that is around 500kg and are ideal for saving space in transportation because they are stackable, letting you fit more goods in. This is why this type of pallet is commonly used for Retail and Supermarket transportation and automated racking systems in Logistics and Warehouses. We provide these in 700kg, 800kg and 1000kg versions to give you a heavy-duty alternative that can hold larger loads in transportation and storage.
You can also have hygienic Euro pallets for environments where cleanliness is paramount, such as food and pharmaceutical industries. These are made from high-quality HDPE virgin material; these pallets prevent contamination due to the smooth surface and are free from dirt traps.
Plastic pallets
General plastic pallets come in a variety of types that suit a whole host of industries. You can get a huge array of styles, sizes and strengths to suit every business requirement and your budget. Choosing 100% recycled plastic options ensures you strive for an eco-friendly future, helping you to achieve your sustainability goals by cutting down the usage of plastic in transportation or storage. However, every type of plastic pallet is recyclable when it comes to the end of its service life, helping you to achieve small steps in the right direction to a sustainable future.
You can also opt for nestable/stackable pallets that are available in a range of sizes and strengths. These are very durable and are made from heavy-duty plastic so they can last and stay strong after each use. Nestable and stackable options allow you to create more space as they can stack on top of each other with ease. These are ideal for Retail for creating displays in shops with, Food and Beverage for transportation of goods and Pharmaceuticals for medical supplies.
Heavy-duty plastic pallets
Heavy-duty plastic pallets are a great choice for bulk loads and heavier products, which is why the Heavy-Duty Industry, Automotive and Manufacturing and Engineering companies use them. We provide heavy-duty plastic pallets that are built to last and hold immense load capacities. They can withstand up to 7000kg of static loads and racking loads of 2250kg. These are extremely durable and reliable, making them last for years to come in the toughest conditions and under immense strain. They can last for over ten years in the most demanding environments.
Foldable plastic pallets
Another ingenious and useful option for many industries is foldable plastic pallets. These are strong, clean and space-saving options that provide excellent ventilation. They have simple collapsing mechanisms and locking technology and can come in hygienic materials. Our foldable plastic pallets use air-assisted injection moulding and are CAE tested and certified as the strongest crates on the market. They have smooth walls for ultimate hygiene and 50% less water retention than any other leading design. Plus, they have cross-stacking functionality, removing the need for expensive single-use pallet wrap.
These pallets are perfect for Logistics and Warehousing for supply chain efficiency, Food and Beverage for bulk transportation of packaged and fresh produce, Pharmaceuticals and Health for medical equipment and cleanroom storage and Agriculture and Farming for bulk transport of fruits, vegetables and grains.
Lightweight plastic pallets
Lightweight plastic pallets are a fantastic option for many industries when it comes to small loads to transport and store. They are perfect for applications where you need to save space and weight. For the majority of this type of pallet, the low tare weight is achieved via recycled HDPE. This creates a practical and eco-friendly solution.
These types of plastic pallets are perfect for Retail and E-commerce for fast-moving consumer goods and parcel shipping, Aviation and Aerospace for in-flight catering supplies, Postal and Parcel Delivery for courier and express delivery services and Export and International Shipping for one-way transportation of goods.
Which is best for your industry?
Whether your industry needs heavy-duty solutions, foldable designs or Euro pallets we hope this extensive guide for choosing the best plastic pallet for your industry can help you determine just what your business requires. Many plastic pallets can be used across multiple industries and it’s all about the weight needed and the applications you want to use them for.
INKA Pallets has a large range of plastic pallets available to suit your use and your industry. Browse our extensive array of plastic pallet solutions and contact us if you have any questions.