7 Things to Consider When Buying New Pallets for the Warehouse

When it comes to buying new pallets for your warehouse, there are multiple things to consider before you take the plunge. This is because new pallets can be a costly outlay for warehouses and distribution centres, but there’s nothing stopping you from purchasing second-hand pallets that are in good condition. Whether you’re looking to buy brand new pallets or used ones, however, there are still several things you should think about before bringing your pallet stock levels back up, and that’s what we’ll be talking about in this article.

1. What will your pallets carry?

Possibly one of the most important factors to consider when buying new pallets is knowing what they’ll be carrying. Will the load be lightweight and easy to manage or will it be heavy and bulky? How much can the pallet actually hold and how large is its base? Will you be able to fit all of your stock onto it at once or will your inventory need to be split across two or more pallets? As one of your main methods used to transport and lift your stock, making sure that the pallet can withstand the weight of your inventory is the number one requirement when buying additional pallets, or when purchasing them for the first time as a start-up business.

2. How big do you need your pallets to be?

We have already touched on the point of making sure that your new pallets can withstand the weight of your stock, but how large is the base? Will you be able to fit everything on it at once or do you need to spread the stock across two or more additional pallets? Warehouse operations have to be streamlined and efficient in order to deliver the goods to their customers. Therefore, splitting the same stock across two different pallets isn’t an effective use of store capacity, and nor is it efficient for your employees. Fit as much as you can onto one pallet in order to streamline the process, but make sure that your new pallets have a large enough surface area to accommodate your inventory.

3. How much do the pallets cost?

Something that businesses have to take into account is how much these additional things will cost, regardless of the industry you work in. You must have an adequate budget in mind to be able to comfortably afford to bring on new pallets. As such, you need to do as much research as you can in order to determine the cost and whether there’s a discount if you purchase several at once.

If you’re confined to a considerably tight budget, then this is the time to consider used alternatives. They might look a little worn, but they’ll do the job just as effectively as brand new pallets. Also,you’ll be amazed by the amount of money it will save you when compared to brand new pallets.

In addition, if you buy them second-hand, then you might be able to purchase more pallets for the same amount it would have cost you if you’d have opted for brand new alternatives. Whether you go for new or second-hand pallets, how much they cost is an important factor to consider.

4. What are the pallets made from?

Typically, pallets are made from wood, but there are some on the market that are made from plastic and composite materials. Where these are new materials that can do a great job of transporting your goods from point A to point B, you might find that some materials are more durable and hard-wearing than others. This is why many warehouse owners will count on wooden pallets more so than plastic ones.

They’re far more effective at accommodating heavy loads, but if you’re dealing with lighter inventory, then plastic and composite might be the way forward for you. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the cost for each pallet, based on the material they’re made from, will be reflected in the price, so do your research before making a purchase if you’re looking for new pallets for your warehouse.

5. How can you keep the pallets clean?

This might depend on the nature of the stock you’re working with, or the setting in which they’re used, but how likely is it that your pallets will become dirty or soiled? If it’s high then think about how you can keep those pallets clean. If the pallets are made from wood, then it’s important that they remain as dry as possible, because if they’re constantly wet, this can cause the wood to weaken and the pallet will either break or bow as a result.

Plastic and composite, on the other hand, would be far easier to clean as the water used will not negatively affect the material as it would with wooden pallets. Where you might not think it’s an important factor, it quickly becomes paramount if you’re delivering goods to customers, because the last thing you want to do is supply them with an item that is dirty as a result of placing it on soiled pallets to begin with.

6. How sustainable are the pallets?

Sustainability when it comes to pallets can be a tough thing to balance. On the one hand, you have wooden pallets that can be reused, but once they’re no longer needed, they can be broken down and chipped up for use elsewhere. But on the other hand, you have plastic or composite materials that can be used over and over again, but what happens if you need to get rid of it? It will simply end up in landfill, which isn’t great for the planet.

If sustainability is something your company prides itself on, generally, then you need to look at the smaller things and that includes the pallets you’re using. Where do you source your wooden pallets from? Are they sustainable in their workings? It could be that they plant a tree for every pallet sold or they fashion new pallets from old ones or from wood that’s not needed from a tree surgeon.

If sustainability is something you hold as a priority, giving you a unique selling point against your competitors, then wooden pallets from sustainable sources would be the best option for you, even over reusable plastic ones.

7. Are they of good quality?

After spending out on brand new pallets, the last thing you want to happen is for them to break and be rendered useless only a few months after making your purchase. As a necessary financial outlay, you want to make sure that those items last as long as possible, and that’s where the quality of them comes into play.

You need to be questioning their quality before buying them. What have they been made from? How are they joined together? Are there any reviews about them? Do your research in order to determine the life you’ll be able to get from them and then weigh your findings up against how much it will cost you to buy them all in the first place.

Multy Lift have over three decades of experience in the material handling industry, providing customers throughout the country with high-calibre material handling equipment that will stand the test of time, from forklifts and order pickers to pallet trucks and stackers, we are your one-stop-shop for all things material handling. If you would like further information about our new and used warehouse equipment, or if you’re interested in purchasing some industrial cleaning equipment, then get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.