Wooden pallets are made with a sustainable practice in mind: being reused. They are cost-effective, so it pays to know how to maintain them properly in order to extend their service life.
Your investment in pallets or Euro pallets can be maximised if you maintain them properly. The following guide will help you do just that.
Extend the service life of your pallets/Euro pallets! Here’s how!
# Choose the right product for the intended purpose
We are talking about proper maintenance, of course, but we cannot ignore a mismatch between the product chosen and its actual use. In other words, the durability of pallets or Euro pallets also depends on how they are used in a given context. Keep in mind that:
- Euro pallets are recommended for international transport, automation and stacking.
- Simple (non-Euro) pallets are recommended for heavy loads and internal use.
Choosing and using them in the wrong way also means a higher risk of premature damage.
# Check their condition regularly
Check for cracks or broken corners, loose or missing components, and structural deformation. Any form of wear can compromise the stability of the load. Depending on how often the pallets are used, a weekly inspection may be necessary.
# Proper cleaning
To prevent the build-up of dust, oil, mould or various industrial residues, it is advisable to clean the surfaces regularly.
Wooden pallets can be cleaned with compressed air or medium-pressure water – for treated pallets, a strong water jet is not recommended.
# Correct storage
With the same aim of extending the service life of reusable wooden pallets, reducing replacement costs and optimising the supply chain, storing pallets correctly is also important.
This far-from-negligible aspect requires attention to stacking and storage. Neglecting them is one of the main causes of premature damage. Pallets should be stacked on a flat, level surface. Preferably, no more than 15 units should be stacked on top of each other without spacers or lateral support.
In the storage area, the conditions make all the difference. You should therefore avoid prolonged exposure to sun, rain or excessive humidity – and exposure to the elements in general.
Recommendations
Repairing a pallet may be your first thought, but a split board, rusty nails or other forms of wear cannot be repaired properly by amateurs. For certified Euro pallets, for example, only authorised centres can carry out compliant repairs.
We recommend introducing a labelling system in your internal management to keep track of the life cycle of each pallet efficiently, and to take quick action to replace and optimise the pallet fleet when needed.
We believe it is necessary for your team to receive proper training in handling and storing pallets and Euro pallets. The way they are used directly determines their service life. What can happen? Forced stacking and incorrect lifting can damage the structure of pallets and Euro pallets.
Did you know that training staff to handle pallets and Euro pallets correctly can reduce wear by up to 30%?
Proper maintenance = savings
A properly maintained wooden pallet can be used dozens of times. This means an extremely low cost per use, and in the long run it means fewer losses, greater safety in transport and storage, and a contribution to a sustainable logistics system.
It all starts with the right choice. So visit our website to choose the type of pallets and Euro pallets you need – one-way or long-life – made from quality wood.
