The pallet is, without a doubt, an important element of a warehouse. Historically, the Euro pallet has been used to transport all products and help store as well as transport goods in the best possible way. All areas of activity use the logistics palette: agri-food, pharmaceuticals, construction and public works, etc. Each sector has developed pallet standards adapted to the standards and to its needs. The Europe pallet was created at the end of the 1950s to support the logistics organization on European territory.
What is the Europe pallet? Through this guide, the European pallet called EPAL will no longer hold any secrets for you.
What is a pallet?
The “handling pallet” logistics pallet is a key element of logistics, usually made of wooden or plastic boards, assembled to form a support. Typically, the pallet is designed as a base that is used to position and unload each carton or crates.
A pallet is used to standardize and rationalize warehouse storage, but also the transport of goods. Its interest is:
- Accounting for goods and large stocks
- Facilitate the transport of products using additional tools or machines (pallet trucks, forklifts, etc.).
There are different models of different size. To date, the best known is the Europe pallet which is a standardized version. It meets the standards and has precise technical characteristics.
What is the Europe pallet?
The Europe palette was created with the aim of optimizing spatial organization and European logistics management.
Palette Europe: What does the regulation say on the subject?
The Europe pallet, also called Euro Pallet or EUR/EPAL, is an EN 13698-1 reference logistics pallet (according to the obligations concerning the various manufacturing characteristics, dimensions and use of the pallet). In accordance with the recommendations of the WTO and the current ISPM15 standard for the protection and treatment of wood against pests with environmentally friendly products, the Europe pallet is specially made from ecological wood.
As an indispensable tool in the logistics sector, the EUR/EPAL Europe pallet is a widely used exchangeable pallet on a global scale.
How can we recognize it?
It is easy to identify the Euro pallet. Each Europe pallet manufactured in France bears the FR mark (code of the country of manufacture). It bears a number from the national phytosanitary authority as well as the acronym HT which means ” heat treatment or “heat treatment”, the treatment given to construction timber. In addition, each Euro pallet has the manufacturer’s license number.
Note that a EUR/EPAL pallet is designed to have several lives, being recyclable, reusable and repairable. It can be recognized by the EPAL witness nails which certify that the pallet has been repaired by an approved EPAL repairer.
Europe pallet: what are the characteristics?
The Euro Palette is unrivaled in reliability. It ensures the smooth flow of goods and provides a stable storage surface, whatever the product. In general, next to the food industry, the construction company is the main user of this type of pallet. Indeed, the Europe pallet is of high quality for maximum work safety.
This EUR/EPAL pallet design allows for easy to move and reusable racks. Of the “multi-rotation” type, Euro pallets are positioned at the heart of the circular economy. Thanks to its method of manufacture, the EPAL pallet or the EUR pallet is resistant to bad weather and shocks during logistics. The certified Europe pallet guarantees the quality and reliability of the wood from which it is designed.
The EUR EPAL pallet meets the compliance standard and follows the specifications of the EPAL or European Pallet Association specifications, which is none other than the guarantor of the quality control of the pallet:
- Precise dimensions: 800mm wide x 1200mm long x 144mm high
- Average weight: between 25 to 30 kg
- Support capacity: up to 1,500 kg of loads (with a maximum stacking load of 6,000 kg).
All this is possible, because the Europe pallet consists of 3 skids. It has 9 dice and its main function is to make room for equipment and handling machines. The pallets are more resistant thanks to the 3 crosspieces which ensure the connection between the floor and the blocks.
Euro pallets are made of wood (pine, fir, Douglas fir, spruce, poplar or even beech). The same pallet can be made up of several species of wood. It is the wood pallet trades and services commission (SYPAL or national wood pallet union) that controls and enacts all the important recommendations for the use of wood to create wooden pallets.
What are the advantages ?
Using a Euro pallet has many advantages. It allows the storage of goods. Therefore, it is not necessary to immediately transfer the products during a delivery. This not only saves time, but also organizes the supply chain more dynamically.
Thanks to the manufacturing standards and the materials used, the pallets make it possible to secure handling, both for the carrier and for the loader and the goods.
This standardized version of logistics pallets facilitates the grouping and management of goods during transport. Indeed, the standardized dimensions adapt to the internal storage space of the loading trucks. For example, a semi-trailer can hold up to 34 Euro pallets.
Since the pallets are made of wood, they contribute to the reduction of waste and the protection of the environment. In addition to being repairable in the event of damage or degradation, Euro pallets are reusable and have a long lifespan. At the end of its life, the pallet is recycled.
What is the price of a Euro pallet?
The price of a euro pallet is generally between 30 and 60 euros. Buying in bulk can lower prices!
