Litco International, Inc., North America’s leading source of Inca ® presswood pallets, launched its 48×45 nesting automotive pallet. This new product is specifically designed to meet the needs of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to the automotive industry that can use a low-cost, non-plastic pallet which can nest in storage.
Traditionally the 48×45 footprint has been used by the automotive industry for plastic returnable pallets and shipping totes. Space-saving nestability, long life span and exemption from IPPC-ISPM 15 regulations has made plastic the pallet material of choice for many Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers shipping components both domestically and to assembly plants in Canada and Mexico. Although automotive supply channels tend to be closed loop environments, therefore less apt to lose pallets, higher pallet acquisition costs and increasing loss rate have some logistic professionals searching for alternatives.
According to Gary Sharon, vice president of Litco, many of the design features that make presswood a viable alternative to plastic and wooden pallets are a function of the manufacturing process. Presswood pallets are made using a unique process that combines wood fiber and resin with high heat and pressure to create a precision molded 48×40 pallet. The finished pallets are nestable, offering a 4:1 space savings ratio over conventional pallets. Because Inca pallets are considered “processed wood,” they are not regulated by IPPC-ISPM 15 and can be used worldwide.
The molding process also yields a stiffer, more rigid automotive pallet. Sharon explained, “It has a density greater than air dried red oak. This enhances the integrity of a unit load because the stiffer the pallet the better the unit load performs resulting in less package and product damage during transit. And, they are generally more affordable.” Although this new size was developed for automotive applications, Sharon points out that the 48×45 is a popular size which should appeal to shipping professionals from a broad range of market sectors. This pallet size ranks #7 in popularity of all pallets produced in the United States.
For more information, you may contact Gary Sharon at 330/539-5433×117 or email at gary@litco.com.
