Pallets
To
ensure safe transportation of your palletised consignments
please follow these guidelines:
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Pallets
A low portable platform made of wood, plastic,
metal, fiberboard or a combination of these
materials that is elevated to allow handling by a
forklift truck or pallet jack.
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European
(Euro size) standard pallets have dimensions of 120 cm
length, 80 cm width and 15 cm high. The maximum weight that
can be safely carried on a Euro sized pallet is 1000 kg and
the maximum height is not to exceed 180 cm.
Corrugated Pallets
Many companies are now turning to corrugated pallets because
these are acceptable for carrying air freight shipments and
can be as effective as wooden pallets. In many cases
corrugated pallets are lighter and easier to recycle.
However corrugated materials are susceptible to loss of
strength in wet conditions unless specially constructed with
water repellent materials and this type of construction is
necessary in most cases.
Please make sure you are aware of the conditions the pallet
will experience in transit and discuss with your supplier
before purchasing.
Crates
Use
of crates is an ideal approach to protect your shipment from
damage and potential losses. The design of and materials
used to construct a crate are important if these benefits
are to be realized.
The crate will only be as good as its weakest part and the
design of the corners is critical.
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Crates
have differing relative strengths as shipment
weights increase so the design and the materials
used in constructing a crate must take into account
the weight of the items to be carried in the
container.
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Overpacking
Overpacking similar to crating, surrounds the items
with a protective layer. Examples come in various
forms tailored to the customer requirements. The
advantages are reduced pilferage and damage.
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Drums
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Securing
Drums to Pallets
Liquid filled drums can be very heavy and care must
be taken not to exceed the pallet weight capacity.
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1.
Corrugated Sheet
Must be between drum and pallet decking. Any piece
of corrugated sheet must not be smaller than the
base of one drum. Corrugated sheet reduces wear and
punctures caused by decking fasteners.
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2.
Interface Material
Is used around and between the drums and should be
something the strapping can dig into such as wood or
heavy paperboard
Prevents steel on steel contact and slipping.
Spreads the force exerted by the strapping.
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3.
Loading The Drums
Do not allow overhang of drums at the pallet edge.
Keep load as close to the center of the pallet as
possible.
Multiple drums must be bundled tightly together and
use the least amount of pallet surface area as
possible.
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4.
Strapping
Steel strapping is preferred due to its low elasticity.
Strap multiple drums together first one create one unit
which is easier to secure.
Use an interface material under the strapping and drum to
distribute the load and prevent slipping. Keep strapping as
close to the drum sides as possible to limit shifting of the
load and protect from damage. Please consider running the
strapping between deck boards instead of out to the edge of
the pallet.
Pipes
Pipes
should be secured to a wood pallet with appropriate blocking
protection. These types of shipments require special
packaging to prevent the product from puncturing or damaging
vehicles, aircraft or other shipments during transportation.
Examples include but are not limited to; pipes, rods,
tubing, automotive exhaust components.
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1.
Bundle:
Two or more items secured together. Bundling
increases the integrity of the load and can reduce
loss and damage in the event the load becomes
separated from the pallet during transportation.
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2.
Blocking materials;
Used in packing and loading to ensure items remain
fixed during transit by bracing the items against
the pallet.
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3.
Securing:
Use strapping material to secure the bundled
item(s)to the pallet
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Spools
and Reels
Spools
and reels can shift during transportation due to their
shape. Furthermore spools and reels are hard to lift without
mechanical assistance. These items must travel in a certain
position (on their side or forward facing) and due to weight
and safety considerations must be secure at all times. It is
for these reasons that spools and reels must always be
secured to a pallet for transportation.
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1.
Blocking:
Should be placed tightly against the object being
secured to prevent any movement.
2. Fasteners:
Nails, screws or staples should be used to secure
the blocking and item to the pallet.
3. Strapping:
Steel strapping is preferred over plastic and should
be applied where it is not exposed to damage during
transportation. The strapping will ensure that the
items do not break free from the blocking.
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INFORMATION
TAKEN FROM THE TNT WEB SITE |
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