Plastic pallet rental: built for advanced automation systems

When characterising modern industry it is no exaggeration to conclude that Australia is undergoing major changes in its logistical and supply chain landscape and setting new standards for the future.

While considering the enormous amount of investment in technological advances already made in such things as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and communications, most companies will be reflecting on the strategic direction it is likely to take in the coming years. This is particularly relevant in view of the government’s recent Budget announcements to stimulate the economy.

While significant changes will take place in the short term, some things of course will remain the same; this does not mean that improvements in design and functionality cannot be undertaken with traditional equipment.

Take for example the standard Australian pallet, which is still likely to be a necessary requirement for many years to come. The nature of the materials used, however, and the capabilities to integrate easily into what appears to be increasingly demanding and complex automated warehouse systems (ASRS) cannot be ignored.

New systems design engineers and end users must anticipate potential downtimes brought about by damaged or poor quality pallets. This will mean a necessary reassessment of what standard and type of pallet is used in order to mitigate against issues likely to stop production and increase costs. When coupled with higher hygiene, safety and durability expectations in the food and pharmaceutical industries, a plastic pallet that can meet these demanding standards and be rented at competitive rates is worth further investigation.

Advances in plastic pallets

While renting plastic pallets in Australia has been an option for many years, according to the National Marketing Manager for Ozkor, Alan Morgan, there is now an advanced choice of plastic pallet for industry to consider.

Ozkor is an Australian ISO 9001 certified company that specialises in the design development and manufacture of injection-moulded plastic materials handling products such as plastic pallets designed to meet specific industrial applications.

Morgan said the company’s latest PPX-1165 plastic rental pallet can handle a load of 1350 kg in drive-in racking without the need to use a steel framework. Made with specialised virgin polypropylene copolymer, it is designed to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from freezer temperatures of -30°C to as high as 50°C in warehouse environments.

Vertical side blocks are given extra protection against MHE (materials handling equipment) damage by incorporating patented nylon inserts inside the block structure, which enhances impact resistance in what is a normally vulnerable area.

“The PPX is a heavy-duty workhorse designed for long-term re-usable use along the dimensional lines of a standard timber pallet but by far exceeds the operational, hygiene and longevity of pallets traditionally used,” Morgan said.