Pallets and racking are the backbones of most warehouses and distribution centers in the country. Facilities rely on these two relatively simple pieces of warehouse equipment to store and transport millions of different items. For a majority of our customers, the basic selective pallet racking and wooden pallets are going to meet their needs just fine. This setup gives you a decent amount of versatility to pack, store, and ship products around the world. Your traditional wooden pallets will hold everything from cartons to furniture and much more. But wooden pallets aren’t the only storage option that you have, and depending on your business, it might not even be the best option for you.
RMH Systems offers several different reusable pallet types, including heavy duty and environmentally friendly options. This is a great way to cut down on the waste of wooden pallets, and investing in these reusable pallets can be a great way to cut down on your supplies budget over time.It’s important to know all of your options and which environment they work best in so you can ensure you are using the pallets that are going to work best for you.
Pallet Options from RMH
100% Recycled Pallets
These plastic pallets are a great way to go green in your warehouse while still getting the strength you need from a pallet. These pallets are made from a lightweight recycled plastic material, so not only are they good for the environment, they can actually be beneficial for workers because they cut down on worker fatigue. These pallets can also be steam cleaned, meaning you can eliminate germs and bacteria from the surface easily, which makes them ideal for food and perishable products.
Aluminum Pallets
Strong and lightweight, these are a great investment for your warehouse. The aluminum pallets that we carry come with a lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion as well as a five-year guarantee against material defects. That means you can invest in them with confidence knowing that the manufacturer will stand behind their aluminum pallets. We like that they are available in custom sizes, so if you are struggling to find a tough all-metal pallet to ship a non-standard sized product, then this could be absolutely ideal.
Nestable Export Pallets
These nestable pallets are also made from 100% recycled plastics, so they are an environmentally friendly pallet that you can feel good about investing in. One of the big benefits of these pallets is that they won’t absorb moisture in the shipping process, so they don’t gain weight and end up incurring unnecessary expenses. They are also easy to clean and won’t harbor pests that can damage your exported goods.
Plastic Pallets
We carry plastic pallets of every shape, size, and design! The lifespan of plastic pallets will make you wonder why you ever used wood. They might be a larger initial investment than their wooden cousins, but the lifetime use will more than make up for the expense. A lot of insurance companies offer discounts when you use plastic pallets, which could make the change to plastic pallets even more cost-effective. The plastic pallet reduces the risk of warehouse injuries, too, since there are no splinters or shards to worry about. Whatever kind of pallet you need, whether it’s a two-way or four-way entry, you need a lipped deck board or stringers, or you need a specific configuration, there is a plastic pallet for you.
Containment Pallets
These are specialized pallets used when transporting liquids that need to be safely contained. You’ll find them used in the oil and gas industries a lot. The pallets have storage space for pails, drums or buckets inside with a hard flat-topped surface. These pallets can be stacked up for more storage capacity and easier transport. They work with your forklift, too, so it’s easy to move them from point A to point B.
Steel Corrugated Pallets
These steel pallets can hold an incredible 6,000 pounds of weight. They have a solid surface, which makes them easier to stack in your warehouse or on your truck. They also eliminate the need for decking on your racking, so if you cannot put wire decking in, then this might be a cost-effective alternative. They are easy to clean, too, with a little water and elbow grease.
Which Pallets Are Right for You?
It’s going to depend on a number of factors, but our Illinois warehouse consultants can help you determine which pallets are right for you. They will help you take factors such as these into consideration:
- What you are storing. If you need to store a lot of weight on a single pallet, then a plastic or steel pallet might offer you more capacity per square inch as compared to a wooden pallet.
- Your budget. Some options are going to be more expensive than others, especially at the beginning, but you’ll want to look at the long-term costs of the pallets as well.
- Where you are shipping products. If you are shipping products within your own warehouse system, then investing in plastic pallets might make sense. If you are sending products out to other locations, then you might want to stick to wooden pallets so you don’t end up losing specialized pallets in which you’ve invested your capital.
- Whether you need to clean the pallet. Some options are easier to clean than others. For instance, plastic pallets can be steam cleaned and sanitized, while wooden pallets cannot. You’ll want to consider that if you are handling a product that could be contaminated.
Ready to Order the Perfect Pallets for Your Warehouse?
Don’t use wooden pallets just because they are what you’ve always used. Let us help you see if there is a better option out there for you! With all the pallet options available in our online store, we can help you find a pallet that gives you more capacity at a lower lifetime cost. Give the RMH Systems project managers a call today and we’ll help you find all of the perfect materials handling supplies you need in the Chicagoland area.