Protect Your Shipment by Following These 5 Pallet Stacking Rules
07 Jul 2017
Are you preparing for a shipment and want to ensure that your shipping pallet reaches its destination safely? Here are some tips on how to package your pallets to prevent damage or loss during transit.
A Guide to Pallet Shipment
Not only does the perfect pallet ensure stability and protection, it also prevents any additional costs from mounting due to weight, volume, loss or damage. Here are some of the main things to remember when preparing your shipment.
1. Stack in Columns
You should pack goods in columns to maximise the shipping pallet’s stacking strength, using a brick-laying method if the contents are solid enough.
2. Don’t Overhang
When packaging your contents, don’t let them hang over the edge. Shipments should ideally fit squarely onto a pallet, as this cuts down the risk of items being damaged in transit.
3. Keep Top Flat
Pallet shipments should be stackable to ensure optimum space in transit. By keeping the top of your shipment flat, you are ensuring that your goods are kept compact and safe in the event of pallets being stacked one on top of the other.
4. Strap or Wrap
To ensure maximum hold, pallets should be strapped and/or wrapped to hold items securely in place. If using stretch wrapping, this should include the pallet too.
5. Provide Labels
Since pallets are often stacked during transit, labels should be attached to each shipment so that it can easily be identified at any point during transportation.
Packaging Irregular Items
Heavy, large or irregular-shaped items have rules of their own when it comes to packaging them for shipping and handling. If pallets are too big or don’t fit squarely, they may not be able to be stacked, picked up by forklift trucks or placed on conveyor belts as easily. Unboxed items, for instance, should be strapped to a pallet and protected by a wooden frame or overturned box filled with padding. Any sharp or protruding pieces must be wrapped with protective padding. Finally, large cylindrical-shaped items should be carefully strapped to a pallet in the upright position, avoiding any overhangs, while smaller or lighter tubes can be placed in triangular shipping tubes and may not require a dedicated pallet.
What Packaging Materials Will I Need?
When preparing shipment pallets, you should ensure that you have the necessary supplies. First of all, look at where you can get hold of shipping pallets for sale. Pallets for shipping don’t necessarily have to be new, so broaden your search to a company that can offer you a pre-owned shipping pallet too, and then weigh up the costs. Aside from the pallet, you may need materials such as cardboard boxes, foam padding or packing peanuts, duct tape, pallet wrap, plastic bands, liner paper and/or sticky labels. Most of these items can easily be purchased in hardware stores.