The Plastic Pallet Pool

August 8th, 2008

iGPS is a relatively new venture that is getting increasing attention in the supply chain industry.   For those who haven’t run into them yet, here’s a brief primer on what they are doing.

 The  company rents pallets along the lines of the CHEP program.  The difference is that iGPS rents plastic pallets - imbedded with an RFID chip.

The traditional benefits of a plastic pallet are in full force: the pallets are roughly 30% lighter than typical wood pallets, providing attractive savings potential in freight and they are impervious to contamination.  Moreover, the iGPS pallets meet the GMA standards as well as ISO 8611-3 requirements and are capable of supporting loads up to 2,800 lbs.  They are rackable and provide comparable fire safety performance to wood pallets.

This option deserves exploration from operators across a broad range of industries, but, of course, the cost-benefits case needs to be made.  Like buying plastic pallets, renting them comes with a premium over their wooden counterparts. 

Entry Filed under: Distribution Operations