What to consider when buying pallets and skids ?

Pallet jacks and forklifts – You need to be able to move your skid or pallet at some point, whether loaded or not. It’s important to understand what equipment you’ll need for all types of handling and lifting needed to keep your operations running smoothly.

Weight-bearing – Consider everything you might want to store on your pallet or skid to get an accurate picture as to how much weight you need it to bear. Guessing, or not properly taking into account how you’ll use your purchase, could mean you end up with a product that doesn’t suit your requirements.

Racking and shelving – Both loaded and unloaded, you’ll need to store your pallets and warehouses often make use of racking and shelving to ensure they maximise storage space. Consider what equipment is required to place pallets or skids in your storage of choice, while fully loaded.

Supply chain requirements – Whatever you use must fit into your whole supply chain. As well your warehouse, the design must work with all sections of your transportation network, including those operated by third parties. Look at what trucks and containers are used throughout the delivery process.

Materials used – Pallets are made from a variety of materials including plastic, wood, metal and cardboard. Skids are more likely to be made from plastic or cardboard. If your organisation has made a commitment to recycling, sustainable sourcing or reusable pallets, the materials used might be a crucial part of your decision-making process.