Steel Orbis News Link

Regularly updated intelligence and news on the world steel industry is now on page one.  We are pleased to have this association.

Posted on 22 February 2012 | 6:59 pm

PALLET INVERTER

The pallet inverter works well with an in house reversible long lasting steel pallet. The inverter enables received deliveries to be quickly transferred to in house steel pallets wtih rental pallets available for collection soon after arrival. Conversely the inverter facilitates the easy transfer of any outgoing load  onto a rented pool pallet.

Posted on 20 February 2012 | 3:46 pm

PALLET TYPICAL ATTRITION RATE and opportunity.

A typical wood pallet attrition rate in a more careful industry seems to be 12.5% p.a. (repairs excluded) depending on industry and user.

Here is a natural operational opportunity to acquire and phase in non-welded lightweight steel bailey pallets using ‘rental’ rather than purchase methods (see previous post).

Every user should know what they lose, what they repair, associated operations expenses, what they throw out and costs over time, and the wastage.  Do an ROI and IRR or any other evaluation and see how it compares for steel.   Short term thinking is obsolete.  This is best for closed loops and closed circuit operations.   Accountants and financial controllers please take note.

Posted on 15 February 2012 | 12:51 pm

Steel Pallet Rental

Our steel pallets may be rented (operating lease) for under 10c per day, at a fixed rate, depending on time frame, and volume and approval.  The bank is happy to finance to approved customers.  Compare the pallets quality side by side then with the longevity of wood or plastic pallets and think again.

Posted on 15 February 2012 | 11:49 am

Steel Pallet – Twenty Parameters

Before the pallet was designed twenty parameters were written down  as necessary to accomodate for success.  All twenty.   Solutions for one, two, three, five, eight or ten or more would be insufficient to go ahead.  History is replete with failures.  We did not want to join that list.

Posted on 9 February 2012 | 4:26 pm

Reversible Steel Pallet

A fully reversible steel pallet will be introduced this month.  This pallet is compatible with the existing racking and will provide added value and usefulness to the newly installed pallet inverter.

Posted on 9 February 2012 | 4:16 pm

Pallets Per Head of Population

It has been said the pallet population of a typical industrialised country is one per head of population.  This may have been reasonably accurate for a country like Australia years ago.  Not now.

However, it is estimated by the industry in Europe that more than three billion timber pallets are in circulation in the European Union.

“Over the pond” in the USA the estimate is 2,000,000,000.  This is the highest rate of pallets per head of population in the world (well over 90% are wood).

Perhaps one can see a relationship between national industrial productivity and efficiency in materials handling that is directly assisted by the simple but vital flat pallet and associated equipment.

Posted on 2 February 2012 | 7:04 pm

One tree = six pallets, six pallets = one tree

The following is a quotation exceprt from a USA pallet recycling association that appears to be now disbanded.  The information is significant.

“The recycling of pallets is an environmentally friendly business which saves thousands of acres of trees from harvest each year. The construction of new pallets ranks second only to the construction industry in the use of lumber. Every six pallets that are recycled saves a tree. Every 200 pallets that are recycled saves an acre of trees.”

Here is a seconder from a research paper appearing to confirm that figure and an interesting addition.  Note: the date of this paper is ten years ago.

 ”In 1996, more than 40% of hardwood used went towards pallets!  (That’s about 6 pallets per tree.)

“In 1995, 223 million pallets went to landfills in US (6 million tons)”

Of course this six per tree is subject to variations up and down but it is some indication.  For example trees and logs vary in size.  What average size has been used and is it correct.  One can do their own investigation, searches, estimations and even calculations on this subject, and disputes will exist.  It says this dynamic vital and growing  industry has a definite place for an appropriate and compatible flat steel pallet now in existence and available.  An unquestionable space for those who know.

Posted on 9 January 2012 | 4:40 pm

Pallets Manufactured p.a. 2 Billion Minimum

United States pallet producers manufacture approximately 500,000,000 new wood pallets per year (and a further 200,000,000 is repaired by the recycling industry).  The total pallet “population” of the USA in a given year is approximately 2 billion.  Therfore it is reasonable to estimate the annual production of new pallets in all countries worldwide is at least 2 billion.  One supplier has estimated 4 billion.  That is a lot of wood, a lot of trees, a lot of pallets, a lot of recyling. a lot of turnover.   It is evident wood is the vital material for the pallet and materials handling industry.

Posted on 6 January 2012 | 8:30 pm

Pallets (wood) – 2 to 3 Year Lifespan!?!

A major pallet rental company has publicly indicated that purchased wood pallets have an average life of TWO to THREE YEARS.  To be added to the purchase cost is the cost of repairs, cannibalisation for replacement parts and losses.

No doubt an experienced manager may add to this list of costs.

For companies locked into a purchased pallet operation this appears a negative reality.

Therefore substituting with our durable lightweight galvanised steel pallets, that are compatible in configuration and size to your industry, on a purchase or rental or operating lease situation, offers a strong long-term multi-advantaged solution.

steelpalletsystemsfeedback@gmail.com

info@steelpalletsystems.com

Posted on 3 January 2012 | 6:48 pm

CHINA PALLET

The Pallet Professional Committee of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing is the only industrial organization of the pallet industry in China and an agency established within the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

The aim of the Pallet Committee is to extensively organize and unite the enterprises engaged in the production, utilization and research of pallets as well as the experts and scholar engaged in the research of pallet under the guidance of the relevant general and specific policies of the State and under the leadership of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing in order to raise the technical and managerial levels of pallet production and realize the modernization of the logistics service in China.

The working scope of the Pallet Committee is to report the aspirations and recommendations of the pallet industry to the government of the People’s Republic of China and provide reference information for guiding the pallet industry of China in making the general and specific policies, such as working out a scheme for the pallet industrial standard, accelerating the construction of the pallet sharing system, undertaking the relevant tasks entrusted by the relevant government departments, defending the legal rights and interests of the members, organizing investigations and studies, holding seminars, exhibitions, and the achievement release conference, carrying out international academic exchange and promoting international trade and cooperation, training the pallet professional personnel, editing and publishing professional data, periodicals and books, conducting qualification authentication of enterprises, providing consultant services  etc.

The Committee members are:

Advisors: Mr Lu Jiang and Mr Lu Yansun

Chairman:

Prof. Wu Qingyi,

Director of the Pallet Professional Committee of the CFLP

Vice Chairman:

Mr. Byung-Yoon Suh

Chairman on duty by rotation of The Asian Pallet System Federation and President of The Korea Pallet and Container Association

Committee member:  Mr. Pierre Clenin  

Chairman on duty by rotation of The European Pallet Association

Committee member: Mr. Ymazaki Sumihiro

Chairman of the Japan Pallet Association

Secretary General:

Mr Jin Wei

Deputy Managing Director of the Pallet Professional Committee of the CFLP

Deputy Secretary Generals:

Mr. Tang Ying, Mr. Sun Xi Jun

Addendum:

A representative of Steel Pallet Systems Pty Ltd has accepted an invitation to join this Committee

Posted on 23 December 2011 | 1:34 pm

FROM NICCOLO

“There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.   For the reformer has enemies  in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new”.

Niccolo Machiavelli 1515

So success will be much grander than usually experienced.

Posted on 23 December 2011 | 12:21 pm

Mexican Patent Granted

Notification has been received that the Mexian Patent has been granted.

Canada and Mexico are now legally IP protected markets.

Posted on 22 December 2011 | 7:54 pm

STEEL PALLET CASH QUANTIFIABLE BENEFITS

This is an early first pass approximation variable by industry and user on cash measurable benefits likely to eventuate for adopting lightweight steel pallets.  The message is still there.  It is a matter of time.

Posted on 22 December 2011 | 7:31 pm

Canadian Patent Granted

Posted on 21 December 2011 | 1:41 pm

Steel Pallet – No Sharp Edges

Is a fear of “sharp edges” valid?  Maybe but steel 0.9mm (say 1 mm) is not ”sharp”.   The same if the steel is 1.2 or 2mm thick.  There is no history of any injury.  But the ‘sharp edge’ perception in some industries is respected.  This is minimised by the side deck edge being recessed 2mm from the smooth bearer as standard.  An edge cap can be added for industrial situations where required.  The lead edges are rounded 2mm thick.  If one wants to manually move the pallet they can safely with bare hands but preferably should wear work gloves.

Steel will yield and bend on impact and not shatter or splinter as wood or plastic and so is safer.   The edge strip option that covers the side corrugations should  remove any perception of “sharp edges”.  In modern times pallets are moved typically with appropriate handling equipment and not with bare hands.

Posted on 19 December 2011 | 4:44 pm

Wood versus Steel – a Perspective for Consideration

The heating value of dry hardwood is approximately 4.5 KwH/Kg.

A hardwood timber pallet weighing 50 Kg stores approx. 225 KwH of energy which is the equivalent of 33 Kg of coal.

Thus in manufacturing a timber pallet you “waste” approx 225 KwH of stored energy also depleting the natural landscape and wildlife habitats for nearly double in energy it takes to manufacture a new durable long lasting steel pallet

A steel pallet at 25 Kg requires a total of 18.6 Kg of coal or 124KwH to manufacture and is infinitely recyclable at about 15KwH per cycle.  This is approximately half that of the heavier timber pallet and still a big saving over the typical hardwood timber pallet.

From the energy and “green” cost perspective, steel wins over timber, every time, does it not?

Posted on 19 December 2011 | 3:32 pm

Steel Pallet vs. Plastic Pallet – Energy Consumption

An HDPE pallet weighing 35 kg requires 805 KwH of energy to manufacture.

This is equivalent to 120 kg of coal.

The 25 kg lightweight steel pallet requires 124 KwH of energy to manufacture.

This is equivalent to 18.6 kg of coal.

A significant “green” generalisation subject to independent scrutiny and verification is:

Six steel pallets can be manufactured with the energy used to make one plastic pallet.

Perhaps surprisingly this is an indication of which process and end result is more energy-efficient.  Recycling adds another beneficial dimension.

Posted on 10 December 2011 | 8:57 pm

Steel Pallet be Damaged?

Can a steel pallet be damaged by a fork lift truck?

Yes.  The same as a wood, plastic, aluminium or a composite pallet.

Here is a picture of a universal beam column sliced like cheese by a fork lift truck.

Let common sense prevail.

Intrusive, abusive, destructive, negligent mis-use is possible anywhere, but the risk is minimised a high tech professionally managed materials handling environment.

Posted on 8 December 2011 | 8:37 pm

REPLENISH WOOD AT PLANNED INTERVALS WITH STEEL PALLETS

IT’S EASY.

As existing timber stock is disposed of, lost or stolen, at a generally known rate, plan to replenish at intervals with steel pallets compatible with equipment needs at the time.

This enables an orderly, pre-planned, non-disruptive and understood transition process to take place, and eventually over years replace wood with enduring reliable and lightweight steel pallets.

Build a consistent and enduring base of steel pallets and top up periodically as needed with wood.

If you need heavier units for heavier electric moving equipment just ask.   Lightweight may suit transport but is not for all purposes.

Drastically reduce your pallet expenditure over time.

Of course this relates to closed circuits.

CONSIDER THIS ASSET BUILDING NOT AN ENDLESS EXPENSE DRAIN.

If needed attractive rental / operating lease options exist negating a need to purchase and is pleasing for the balance sheet.

Email: info@steelpalletsystems.com.

Posted on 5 December 2011 | 7:35 pm