A pallet is a foundation structure made out of different material like wood or plastic with a loading surface. Their structure helps to move stores, goods, and containers or heavy loads around the warehouse. They are also used for delivery and shipping purposes.
A pallet is the most important link in your supply chain but more often than not companies overlook this requirement. To cut costs they invest in cheap pallets which don’t provide the proper structure for their product and it ends up damaging their product costing them even more. However good quality pallets can be really expensive and might cost you more than your product in some cases. An alternative to that would be investing in a plastic pallet or a wood pallet. These are cheap pallets and also reliable and can survive the wear and tear and abuse when shipping from one place to another.
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Wood Pallets- These are mostly made out of molded wood or treated wood. These can also be customized according to the needs of the customer however that will cost more than the usual wood pallet. These are the traditional material choice for a pallet as it more durable and can carry heavy loads.
These also have lower acquisition costs and as it is wood it can be recycled repaired and reused. That’s why it is an ideal choice for a cheap & reliable pallet. However, some cons are that it is too bulky and have more chances of being contaminated with bacteria or molds.
Plastic Pallets- There are three types of plastic pallets available which are nest able, stackable and rackable. These are inexpensive and a light weighted compared to wood. It is also more durable and lasts up to 10 years or more as it has no chance of contracting any molds or bacteria. They weigh about one-tenth of a wooden pallet.
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However, these have higher acquisition costs compared to wood but it can be recovered over the life span of the pallet. As there are no tools or accessories involved like nails or screws like in the wooden pallets it leads to fewer accidents and hazards. However, some cons are that these cannot carry heavy loads as compared to wood and if a plastic pallet is destroyed it cannot be repaired or restored in any way.
There are other alternative or options also available on the market to find a cheap pallet with durability and a decent shelf life which will do the job for you. Here are a few other ways to find a cheap pallet.
Reused Pallets- Lot of time companies nowadays are reusing and recycling their pallets to cut down on their costs and also have a positive environmental impact. Recycled pallets are the way the greener environment. However, this will require you to invest in a good quality pallet which has a longer shelf life.
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Another way to cut down costs would be to buy reused pallets from other companies. There are a lot of companies out there who sell their used pallets which are in good condition at a quarter of costs or there are companies which are solely dealing in selling reused pallets. They provide good value for money and durable and resilient pallets.
Rented Pallets- Another way to save cents on dollars would be to rent a pallet. They will cost you less than a new pallet but definitely more than a second-hand pallet. However, you don’t have to deal with the hazards of repairing it or fumigating it as they are in a good condition.