Shipping bulky goods and bulk orders is an extremely common practice for many commercial, service and industrial companies. In this case, instead of sending individual cartons, the best solution is to create a palletised shipment. How should goods be stacked on pallets? We answer this question in today’s article!
Shipping on pallets – is it worth shipping on pallets?
Palletised shipments are a fairly common practice, especially when there is a need to ship large machinery or electronic equipment. What’s more, there are many industries on the market that use this method while saving time and costs. Why? The situation mainly relates to multi-pack or multi-piece orders, which would traditionally be shipped in individual corrugated cardboard boxes or other packaging. Properly stacked on a pallet, they will reach the customer intact.
A pallet is nothing more than a wooden platform consisting of crosswise stacked boards, which are reinforced with additional supports made of the same material. Available in universal sizes, they are ideal for storing goods. An extremely important aspect is the aforementioned construction, which allows the pallet to be moved freely by means of a pallet jack or suitable lifting device. Due to their robustness, selected models can carry up to several thousand tonnes of load. It all depends on both the type of carrier and the options made available by the carrier, who will collect the prepared shipment from you.
What goods can be loaded onto a pallet?
The pallet is a product that allows almost any type of product to be transported. The most important aspect here is the proper preparation of the load. This is why the most common question is how to stack goods on pallets. Before we get to that, however, you need to know which products you should not transport using a wooden platform.
Of course, the transport of any animals is prohibited in the manner described. It is important that the goods being transported are properly secured and undamaged. This applies in particular to loose products such as garden soil, animal feed, flour, etc. This is why, before you send a consignment, secure it properly and arrange the goods in such a way that they do not pose a danger to couriers and employees. Find out here how to organise your storage space to improve the work of your team.
How do you stack goods on pallets to ensure safety during transport?
When looking for the right methods to pack goods on pallets, you need to consider the stability of the structure first and foremost. As long as you have one larger product to transport, the matter seems simple. All you need to do is place the equipment correctly on the pallet and secure it against any possible movement. However, what should you do when your pallet has to hold a dozen or more different products? In this case, the best solution is to use shipping cartons, in which you arrange the smaller items. Stacking cartons tightly on top of each other will help maintain stability and ensure safety during shipping.
You must take into account the available dimensions clearly stated by the carrier. Importantly, the products must not protrude beyond the pallet area in any way and the height of the pallet must not be more than 2 metres.
Did you know that when preparing the pallet, you can use specially prepared accessories to ensure that the shipment is transported without damage? The most common items are cardboard or plastic dividers, which separate the individual layers of stacked goods. This will prevent any mechanical damage through abrasion or scratching. Additionally, it is worth taking care to use stretch film, the function of which is to wrap the pallet. Check here which pallet wrapping products are worth using when arranging packed cartons for shipment.
How to make pallet preparation easier?
The right tools will certainly help you to stack goods on pallets. Platform scales and precision scales can prove to be extremely important. Why? Because in addition to the load capacity of the pallet, the courier company with which you have a contract clearly specifies the maximum weight you can send through them. In addition, you will need to provide the approximate weight and dimensions of the pallet when setting up the transport service. This will allow the courier to prepare the appropriate equipment such as a trolley or pallet truck.
Universal knives, carton k nives and strapping tape will also help you to evenly and stably distribute the individual products on the pallet. Such solutions are extremely useful not only during the preparation of shipments, but also during their storage. That is why it is worthwhile for you to familiarise yourself here with tried-and-tested products that will optimise your company’s workflow.
Preparing a pallet for shipment – why is it worthwhile?
Palletised shipments are used for several reasons. The first and most important point is the ability to ship bulky products that, as a standard shipment, would be difficult to move and deliver to the designated location. The second, extremely important reason is the economic aspect. It takes much less time to prepare a shipment sent on a pallet, so your employees will quickly be able to focus on other tasks in the company. What’s more, it is a much more economical option that allows you to save costs, if only by carrying out one bulk shipment instead of a dozen smaller parcels.
It is important to note that the individual pallets used for shipments are reusable, which contributes to cost savings and environmental protection. Before shipping, however, it is worth checking that the product is whole and bears no visible signs of damage. This is a safety issue for the products being transported, which are supposed to reach the customer intact.
Find out here how to organise your warehouse storage and how to secure individual products.
The RAJA company – the best packaging manufacturer on the market
Use the products offered by Raja to secure your palletised goods. We can boast many years of experience, which we have gained throughout the European market. The trust that our company has achieved is established by the high quality of the proposed goods and the trouble-free execution of services. Many of the products available on the website can be obtained ‘off-the-shelf’, which in practice means that once an order has been placed, dispatch will take place even within 24 hours.
The proposals available on the website can be used by both individual customers and businesses in need of more packaging. Take a look at the wide range of products on offer, which includes security films, cardboard boxes, eco-friendly and biodegradable products, as well as those made using recycled materials.
Palletised shipping is one of the most convenient options for delivering larger quantities of goods to a single contractor. Prepare it properly to ensure the highest customer satisfaction with the services provided.