A packing pallet is a product designed to hold goods during shipment. It normally consists of a wooden platform that has a thick, cardboard carton attached to it. In some instances, the top section may be constructed of wood or heavy foam rather than cardboard. It may also have a lid that sits down over the top, so one or more of these pallets can be stacked on top of each other.
The bottom of this item often resembles a traditional pallet used to transport and store goods. It is usually made of wood and has holes or slats in the side and front to accommodate the tongs of a fork truck. A standard packing pallet is typically four feet (1.22 m) wide and four feet (1.22 m) long.
The sides of a packing pallet can be around 42 to 46 inches (1.07 to 1.17 m) high, to include the platform it is sitting on. When a lid is added to the top it can be around 48 inches (1.22 m) high. The ends of the box do not normally extend beyond the base, but in some circumstances they could be around an inch (2.54 cm) or so wider on either side.
This type of container is often used when there is a large number of small items that need to be shipped. This is sometimes thought to be an effective way of keeping these goods from being damaged, as they cannot fall if the load inside a truck were to suddenly shift. This could easily happen if a truck driver needed to slam on his brakes, for example.
In some cases, expensive or heavy merchandise can need to be secured more than it would normally be with pallet wrapping. Some of these items could include electronics or machinery. These products may be shipped inside a packing pallet made of wood for extra protection. A foam container might also be used, as this type can help absorb vibration and shock that might otherwise damage sensitive goods.
A packing pallet can save a company time and money versus using standard pallets covered in shrink wrap. Goods inside one of these cardboard containers might not need to be re-packed before being placed in storage. These crates can often be reused, which can reduce the number of pallets that need to be purchased. For these reasons, using this product to receive, store, and ship merchandise can be a good decision for a variety of businesses.