Unlike those of us in the packaging industry, most professionals hope to avoid (or at least find unnecessary) the unique details that go into making a pallet. For many buyers, basic packaging lingo can be confusing, alienating or just plain frustrating.
Our job is not just to offer the best pallet for the job, but to help you understand why. That's where our packaging lab comes in. The lab is a place to test pallets and packaging equipment with your merchandise to determine that perfect balance between cost-savings and protective thriftiness. So next time you need to talk with a pallet expert, be sure to ask if you don't understand!
Here are some of the vocabulary terms that may help you when discussing your pallets:
- Spacer - A rectangular, square, cylindrical or conical pallet component located between top and bottom deckboards or decks, or beneath the top deckboard or deck.
- Block - A rectangular, square or otherwise multi sided deck spacer, often identified by its location within the pallet as a corner, end, edge, inner or center block.
- Stringer - The continuous, longitudinal, solid, built up or notched beam component of a pallet, supporting and spacing deck components often identified by its location.
- Notch - The filleted cutout in lower portion of stringer to allow entry for fork tine, usually nine inches long and 1.25 to 1.5 inches high.
- Fastener - A device for connecting pallet components to form integral structure such as a nail, staple, screw, bolt, lag bolt, adhesive or weld.
Did you enjoy this mini-pallet lesson, or do you have bigger and bolder questions that need answered? Let us know in the comments, and we'll do our best to address your questions as they come!
Note: These terms and their definitions were provided by the Approved American National Standard on Pallets, Slip Sheets and Other Bases for Unit Loads.