Wooden pallets: Pallets to Mexico, pallet testing and pallet services on display

Wooden pallets are more of a local than national sale when compared to plastic pallets. That’s because its cost prohibitive to ship a load of pallets more than a couple of hundred miles from the plant to the customer. As a result, there were fewer wood pallet manufacturers exhibiting at ProMat than plastic pallet manufacturers.

Three wood pallet companies that sponsored booths have a national reach, with an ability to service national accounts and are offering products and services that go beyond building wooden pallets. They illustrate how that industry is beginning to change and look at its role in the overall supply chain.

PECO Pallet: One of the few alternatives to CHEP in the pooled pallet market, PECO Pallet (http://www.pecopallet.com) announced that it is offering ISPM-15 certified heat treated pallets for shipments to and from Mexico. The pallets are targeted at manufacturers and distributors shipping product to Costco Wholesale, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and other major retailers through Mexico. PECO guarantees delivery of heat-treated pallets to a customer’s location within 5 days of placing an order.

Ongweoweh: A pallet management and services company, Ongweoweh (http://www.ongweoweh.com/) discussed its recent acquisition of White & Company, a unit load design and consulting firm. “What you’re seeing is an industry that’s moving beyond just building and brokering pallets,” said David Wickwire, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We’re focused on the additional value we can bring to a customer, including pallet procurement, recycling and dock sweeps to creating and managing a customer-specific pallet pool. That’s really where the industry is moving.”

Millwood: Value-added services were also on display at Millwood (http://www.millwoodinc.com), which sponsored two booths at the show. At its primary booth, Millwood introduced its new Unit Load Test & Design Lab. With an array of test equipment, the lab can replicate the stresses and strains a pallet, transport packaging and complete unit load will experience as it travels from the manufacturing plant to the distribution center to the end customer. Millwood also introduced Safeflo, an air-controlled solution for safe and gentle handling of pallet and slip sheet loads in high-density flow through storage applications.