For many decades the wooden pallet was the standard platform for loading and storage in most industries and warehouses. It gave companies a standard-sized platform unit to help them calculate available space for storage, in trailers, and to estimate shipping costs.
But today, slowly but surely, early adopters of the steel or metal pallet have discovered its superior qualities and many industries are now gradually replacing wooden pallets with the more reliable metal pallet solutions such as that offered by Daywalk.
Any company still using wooden pallets would find it to their advantage to take note of these four key reasons to switch to the steel pallet.
- Steel Pallets are Logistics and Engineer Rated – The Daywalk Steel Pallet system is rated to transport heavy equipment – giving you peace of mind that a wooden pallet will not break, leading to potential transport incidents on the road.
- Steel Pallets Last Longer
Metal pallets will never chip, crack, or snap apart like wooden pallets. Companies don’t have to send them to be repaired, incurring additional costs. Depending on the need, companies can find a variety of steel pallets to suit their needs, especially when it involves heavy loads. For instance, Daywalk steel pallets have load ranges from 1 tonne up to 6 tonnes. And because their steel pallets are manufactured from engineered steel, this means that each pallet exudes strength, durability, and power that makes them cheaper than wood pallets in the long term.
- Easy to Handle
The design of the steel pallet follows whatever international standards are required for handling, loading, and unloading. Thus, metal pallets are compatible with all types of forklifts, pallet trolleys, and automatic lift machines. They are also designed to facilitate stacking when loaded with products or when stored away. With Daywalk steel pallets, they are either powder-coated or painted to prevent rusting, contains four to six tie-down points (not typically found in wooden pallets), has a steel grid mesh top for more strength, and is riveted – not screwed – to provide more endurance.
- Easy to Clean and Sanitise
The biggest disadvantage of wood pallets is that they can be contaminated by chemical substances, oils, fats, liquids, and dirt. In contrast, metal pallets can be quickly cleaned using standard washing equipment. Also, since wood absorbs liquid – especially from rain – they gain weight over time. Steel pallets retain their constant weight and, as such, will not impact on logistics cost.
- Better Return on Investment
All companies need to get a good return on investment (ROI) in order to stay profitable. This includes investing in packaging materials such as the steel pallet, which is already proven to have the fastest return on investment, through its long-term use, quick cleaning process, and that they don’t need constant and costly repairs. They guarantee a lower total cost of ownership compared to wood pallets. Also, in terms of weight and specialty, steel pallets can carry parts, spares, equipment, goods, and components of different shapes and sizes. Even circular shaped objects such as cable drums or liquid containers can be loaded on metal pallets without the need for special wood pallets.
To view the whole range of Daywalk steel pallets and other metal cages or pallet cages, visit the Daywalk website at https://daywalk.com/ for enquiries or to request a quote.