Plastic Pallets have many uses. AIC Plastic Pallets LTD has a longstanding commitment to supplying businesses with hygienic storage, handling, and shipping equipment. It is essential that all businesses that handle food comply with FSA guidelines. This is so that you both obey the law and reduce the risk of your customers developing food poisoning. Business practices that pose health and safety risks can lead to a drop in customer numbers.

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 choose from the cheapest option to a lightweight, nestable pallet like the SF1000L, or the most expensive, such as the TC3 Hygienic Pallet. More expensive types exist, but they are for specialist applications, which we’ll cover in the next post.

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 need a size outside the range above, and we’ll recommend the closest available production size.

What do you want the plastic pallet to do?

• Sending your goods out on one trip?
  • If you won’t be getting the pallet back, consider the cheapest plastic pallet that can carry 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?
  • Choose a plastic pallet that is robust and can withstand multiple uses. Depending on your operating conditions, choose either 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 with a different colour, by printing your name, or by printing a unique number on the pallet to enable tracking. You can also 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.

Contact AIC Plastics today and find the right plastic pallet for your business!

Call + 353 (0)23 8847333 or email sales@aicplastics.com to get space-saving tripboxes for your business

Because every pallet application is unique, it is difficult to provide definitive rules on which pallet style is most appropriate. However, the following guidelines are intended as a basic guide. This information is not comprehensive, but highlights the key differences between the main styles of plastic pallets available. If you would like us to recommend pallets for your application, please complete the questionnaire in the Recommendations section.

Lightweight Plastic Pallets

Nestable pallets usually have nine hollow feet moulded into the top deck, whether the top deck is closed or open. In this way, when one empty pallet is stacked on another, they “nest” together – the feet from the top pallet go through the lower pallet, which means that around 40 pallets will stack in a 1000mm (40 inch) high stack, saving storage space.

They generally offer low loading capacities at low prices. Ideally suited to air freight, export, one-way consignments, and floor-standing storage. Not suitable for pallet racking.

Lightweight Nestable Plastic Pallets with Clip-On Runners or Skids

As above, but with limited use on pallet racking.

Clip-on runners/skids are available as an add-on to some nestable pallets and, when fitted, increase the pallet’s overall strength, allowing limited use on racking.

Mediumweight Nestable Plastic Pallets

Generally offer higher loading capacities at mid-range prices. Ideally suited to air freight, export, one-way consignments, and floor-standing storage. Not suitable for pallet racking.

Mediumweight Plastic Pallets on Runners

The top deck of some plastic pallets is mounted on three runners that run along the longest side. These runners are moulded as part of the pallet, and adding them creates a stronger pallet than the basic nestable design.

With permanent runners, these pallets offer increased loading capacities at mid-range prices, but with higher net weights. A universal midrange pallet, suitable for many applications and “closed loop” environments, will provide many years of service. Suitable for racking in one direction, as the runners are always on the long side (within loading capacities).

Heavyweight Plastic Pallets on Runners

As above, but with increasing loading capacities

Heavyweight Full Perimeter Plastic Pallets

A full perimeter pallet has base runners on all four sides. The runners are often joined by one or two cross runners, sometimes called a cruciform base. A full perimeter pallet is ideal for pallet racking and can be racked in both directions.

The full-perimeter base provides bi-directional racking flexibility, and increased loading capacities make these pallets well suited for all-around applications in any distribution environment—with excellent life expectancy in “closed loop” scenarios.

Hygienic Plastic Pallets

All plastic pallets are more suitable than wooden pallets for use in hygienic areas. However, top-range specialist hygienic pallets have 100% smooth surfaces, leaving no cracks or gaps for contamination to build up, and are often made from virgin plastics.

Whilst all styles of plastic pallets are suitable for use in hygienic areas, for the food and pharmaceutical industries, true hygienic pallets have a 100% smooth structure that can be easily cleaned and has no spaces or gaps where deposits or bacteria can build up. These pallets are at the top of the price range.

Carbon Conductive Pallets

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) compatible pallets, or carbon conductive pallets, are made from specially formulated plastic materials to provide the desired anti-static effect. Only a plastic pallet with conductive properties is the ideal complement to conductive crates and can protect components from electrostatic charge and electric fields.

Carbon conductive pallets are ideal for the automotive and electronics industries. The carbon conductive pallet is designed to meet the special demands of these industries, while also considering suppliers’ requirements for a refined logistics system.

Trackable Pallets

The CR1 is the first plastic pallet in serial production equipped with 2 transponders (13,56 MHz), offering new scope for intelligent logistics and process optimisation in the handling of pallets and goods. We can now supply customers with an all-in-one solution, from the load-carrier plus transponder through to the full installation of a completely integrated system.

The high-quality standard of our products provides a firm basis for our company’s successful long-term development and, therefore, for satisfied customers.

Bacteria can grow at any point before your product is consumed, including during transport or while stored on pallets. Wooden pallets are particularly problematic because they create a breeding ground for bacteria, so many businesses no longer choose them first. Aluminium and plastic pallets offer better protection against bacteria because they don’t provide the right environment for microorganisms to grow. If spills occur during transportation, debris can also be easily wiped up with clean water and utensils.

What is good food hygiene?

Good food hygiene involves keeping harmful bacteria at bay so that diseases cannot develop. The four essential components of food hygiene are:

1. Avoiding cross-contamination
2. Thorough cleaning
3. Chilling to the appropriate temperature
4. Following full cooking guidelines

It is important to note that the microorganisms that cause food poisoning are invisible and can enter the food chain at numerous points along the journey, from manufacturing to the plate.

Call Us at: +353 (0)23 8847333
Email: info@aicplastics.com

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