Within logistics operations, industries are always looking for alternatives that facilitate processes — whether to increase productivity, ensure greater ergonomics for employees or to meet regulations in their segment.
In this context, the pallet is one of the main pieces of equipment, regardless of the sector. For some years now, wooden models have been replaced by rotomolded plastic or metal pallets, both of which are much more resistant than the first. But, among them, which is the best?
Next, check out the answer to this question. Happy reading!
Metal pallet: what are its characteristics?
Robust and durable, steel or metal pallets are used in various segments of industry, commerce and logistics.
They are known for their high resistance and ability to support large loads, making them ideal for companies that demand safe and efficient transportation of heavy or large volume products. Typically, automotive, metallurgical, chemical, agricultural and logistics industries invest in this type of pallet.
Its main characteristics are:
– High strength and durability: metal pallets are very resistant. However, in addition to being heavier (compared to rotomolded pallets), they cause many work accidents, presenting a risk of cuts to the hands. Another point is that metal pallets require a certain amount of care when moving them, as they can damage the soil or structure of the site.
– Support capacity: as we said, metal pallets are capable of supporting very high weights, which makes them perfect for moving heavy goods, such as metal parts, chemicals or machinery.
– Corrosion resistance: although many metal pallets receive special coatings, such as galvanization to prevent corrosion, the useful life is around one year. After this, the pallet starts to rust, increasing maintenance costs.
– Reuse and recycling: after the end of its useful life, the metal can be recycled, which contributes to the sustainability of the logistics process.
– Safety: due to their solid structure, metal pallets offer high safety during transport and storage, minimizing the risk of breakage or damage.
Rotomolded plastic pallet: what are its characteristics?
Even though they are less robust when it comes to load capacity, compared to steel models, rotomolded plastic pallets offer several advantages that make them ideal for many types of operations.
Its main differentiators are:
– Resistance to corrosion and humidity: rotomolded pallets are not damaged by environmental conditions, such as humidity, water or chemicals.
– Ease of cleaning: easy to clean, they can be used in segments that require high cleaning standards, such as food and medicine industries.
– Durability: even though they are lighter than metal, plastic pallets are designed to resist impact and withstand moderate to high loads, depending on the model. They are also very resistant to wear and tear and can be reused for a long period.
– Chemical resistance: rotomolded plastic is still resistant to many chemical products and, therefore, meets the demands of companies in this segment.
– Sustainability: made with recyclable materials, they contribute to the environment and can still be reused at the end of their useful life.
– Variety of models and sizes: they are available in different models, sizes and capacities, allowing them to be adapted to different logistical and storage needs.
What are the main differences between metal and plastic pallets?
Understand, in a practical and summarized way, the particularities of each of them and see why plastic pallets can still be more advantageous:
Check out some more advantages of rotomolded plastic pallets
Plastic pallets, specifically those produced from the rotomolding process, such as those from Tecnotri, also present other benefits, in addition to those mentioned above, such as:
- Monoblock and has no seams;
- Prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria and allows direct contact with fresh foods, meeting sanitary requirements and Good Manufacturing Practices;
- Withstands temperature variations from -35°C to 60°C without suffering variations in weight and color;
- 100% recyclable and reprocessable;
- Customizable and customizable.
See more rotomolded pallet differences on our blog
Continue here and check out other articles about rotomolded plastic pallets and how they can help your company to be much more productive.
