Choosing a plastic pallet is not as straightforward as you might think. Not all plastic pallets are created equal! Depending on the application, you might go from the cheapest, a lightweight nestable pallet like the SF1000L, all the way to the most expensive, such as the TC3 Hygienic Pallet. There are more expensive types out there, but they are for specialist applications, which we will look at in the next posting.

What size plastic pallet?

Plastic pallets are normally manufactured by injection moulding, with the most common sizes being 1200×1200 mm, 1200×1000 mm, 1200×800 mm, and 800×600 mm. Other sizes are also available, but with a reduced selection. Contact us if you are looking for a size outside the range above, and we will get you the closest available production size.

What do you want the plastic pallet to do?

• Sending your goods out on one trip?
  • When you are not getting the pallet back, you should consider the cheapest plastic pallet to take your product’s weight. This is a lightweight, nestable plastic pallet (Shop Lightweight Plastic Pallets). AIC has an extensive stock of new or second-hand lightweight pallets.
• Want to reuse it within your warehouse?
  • You will want to choose a plastic pallet that is robust and can withstand multiple uses. Depending on the operating conditions, you will either choose a Heavy plastic pallet (Shop Heavy-Duty Plastic Pallets) or a Hygienic plastic pallet (Shop Hygienic Plastic Pallets). These are also available new or second-hand (depending on the pallet).
  • Just a quick note on the Hygienic plastic pallet: it’s a heavy-duty plastic pallet with no nooks or crannies and is easy to clean, hence the “Hygienic” title! This is more of a requirement for the pharmaceutical or food industry.
• Want to reuse outside your warehouse
  • In addition to internal warehouse considerations, you will want to be able to differentiate your plastic pallet. You can do this through a different colour, printing your name, or printing a unique number on the pallet to enable tracking. It is also possible to embed an RFID chip in the plastic pallet.
  • Experience has shown that a closed loop is best suited for tracking and possession of your plastic pallet.

What operating temperature?

This is not normally a big issue, as most plastic pallets are made from High-Density Polyethene (HDPE), which has a lower operating temperature than alternatives. However, if your plastic pallet is to operate at extreme temperatures, make sure you take this into account.

Summary

The above is a summary of considerations to keep in mind when choosing your most suitable plastic pallet. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact AIC Plastics, and we will make sure we match you with the right plastic pallet.

Shop Plastic Pallets