The Merits of Reconditioned Pallets

Changes in recent decades have meant that the timber industry has begun to make an impressive contribution to the production of more sustainable timber products. There is no doubt that reputable companies now ensure that the timber they use for timber-based products comes only from sustainable forestry. This is obviously a step in the right direction after years of ignorance and lack of care for the environment, but there are additional ways that your company can make sure that the timber products they use, such as pallets, make a minimal impact on the environment. One key way of doing this is to make sure yourexisting pallets are reused wherever possible or that you buy reconditioned pallets.

Throughout the UK, 90% of all new pallets are still made from timber despite the introduction of plastic pallets. Usually this timber comes from the “unwanted” parts, the parts that are not used for furniture making or building materials.

The average lifespan of a wooden pallet is between 5 and 7 years. Once a pallet is damaged there are a number of options available to ensure it is fully utilised:

· recondition it

· use it as a fuel source

· shred it into useful wood chips

· make another use for it (such as garden furniture)

So how is a pallet reconditioned?

Reconditioning or repairing a pallet is relatively simple and can be completed by an individual with the right tools. However, with the sheer scale of repair required by some companies it may make sense to contract out this work to a specialist, who can do larger numbers of repairs more speedily and more effectively.

Larger companies have machines that will disassemble pallets so that all the reusable components can be used to make new pallets, or repair damaged pallets and all the pieces that are in disrepair can be made into wood chip or fibre. The types of machines used vary from cutting wheels and discs, to band saw cutters, to hydraulic equipment. It can be quite a sophisticated operation.

By the time pallets have been produced from their predecessors and are ready to go back to their owners, or be sold on, they are as good as new. One of the benefits of buying reconditioned pallets however is that they are cheaper to produce than new ones. It is estimated that they cost between 30% and 60% of a new pallet and as such are  an appealing option.

If you want to know more about the process for repairing pallets, or you are looking to purchase reconditioned pallets then visit  Nicklin to discuss your pallet needs.