Palleting is an essential process to optimize the storage, transport and handling of products in the supply chain, principally for perishable foods requiring controlled temperature.
By standardizing the stacking and movement of cargo, the technique improves operational efficiency, reduces costs and improves safety at all stages of the logistics. Find out more on the matter and how we can help!
What is palleting?
Palleting consists of the use of pallets, wooden, plastic or metal structures that serve as the base for stacking, moving and storing products in an organized manner. This method enables the use of forklift trucks and other mechanical equipment, reducing the manual effort and time spent on the operations.
In the foods industry, where temperature control and careful handling are fundamental, pallets guarantee stability and protection of the products. Besides this, they facilitate the standardization of processes and the maximum use of the space available in cold rooms and refrigerated trucks.
Types of palleting
There are different forms of palleting, which vary depending on the type of product, the layout of the warehouse and the equipment used. The most common ones are:
- Fixed palleting: the products are stacked statically on the pallet, ideal for homogeneous cargoes and ones of standardized sizes;
- Mobile palleting: uses structures or supports which allow movement of the pallet without dismounting the cargo, guaranteeing agility;
- Cross palleting: the layers are disposed in alternate directions, affording greater stability and avoiding slippage;
- Automated palleting: involves the use of robots and automatic systems to stack and organize products, improving the precision and productivity.
Each method should be chosen depending on the characteristics of the cargo, the environmental conditions and the logistical optimization objectives.
The importance of using pallets in logistics
Palleting is one of the pillars of modern logistics. By enabling large volumes of perishables to be moved quickly and safely, it reduces operational bottlenecks and improves the flow of products entering and leaving distribution centers.
Find out more about the principal benefits of using pallets:
Safety of the products
One of the greatest benefits of using pallets is the increased safety of the perishable foods. By correctly stacking the loads, it is possible to avoid falls, crushing and other physical damage during transport or storage.
In the case of perishable foods, this means lower risk of contamination and waste. Furthermore, the use of standardized pallets allows better circulation of cold air between the packages, guaranteeing that the temperature is kept constant and within the required parameters.
Palleting also contributes to the safety of workers, as it reduces the direct contact with the loads and the physical effort involved in handling.
Efficiency in transport and storage
By standardizing how products are grouped, palleting facilitates the stacking and the loading of vehicles, optimizing the use of space and reducing the loading and unloading time.
In temperature controlled warehouses, this organization is essential to make the most of each cubic meter in an efficient manner, maintaining the proper circulation of air and guaranteeing that all the products receive refrigeration uniformly.
Furthermore, palleting simplifies inventories, as each pallet can be identified and tracked easily, speeding up stock control and improving operational visibility.
Control of cargo
The control of cargo is another point where the use of pallets has a direct impact. With standardized and structured stacking, it is possible to count and monitor the movement of products more precisely.
This favors accompanying in real time, avoids losses and contributes to the compliance of sanitary and safety regulations. In operations with perishable foods, the proper control of the cargo is essential to guarantee that the products maintain their quality through to the final destination.
Principal palleting practices
Some practices are fundamental for palleting to be efficient and safe:
- Proper choice of pallet: the weight, type of packaging and the conditions of temperature must be considered;
- Uniform distribution of weight: avoid unbalancing and the risk of falling from the load;
- Use of stretch films and belts: guarantees greater stability and protection against dust and humidity;
- Training of the team: operators must be trained to stack correctly and to handle the pallets securely;
- Standardization of processes: contributes to greater productivity and reduces failures during transport and storage.
These practices strengthen the efficiency of the operation and reduce costs of reworking and loss of product.
Challenges in using pallets in the logistics process
Palleting presents challenges that have to be managed. The principal one is the standardization ofthe pallets, as different sizes and materials can compromise the use of space and the compatibility with equipment.
Another point is the control of hygiene, especially in controlled temperature environments, where humidity can encourage contamination if there is not constant care.
Besides this, companies dealing with large volume of products must invest in automated systems and data integration to accompany the movement of the pallets and guarantee complete trackability.
Find out about our controlled temperature storage and transport solutions
Emergent Cold LatAm is a benchmark in cold chain logistics solutions, offering modern infrastructure and advanced foods storage and transport technology in total safety.
Our operations observe rigorous thermal control, trackability and efficiency standards, guaranteeing that the products maintain their quality from the start to the end of the chain.
With strategically located units and specialized teams, we provide customized solutions that adapt to the needs of each client, from the producer to the distributor.
Efficient palleting is just one of the elements that make up our commitment to operational excellence, contributing to more sustainable, agile and secure logistics throughout Latin America.
