Loaded pallets

Pallets are useful carriers of big loads. Pallets must be strong enough to allow storage under load. There are standard sized pallets (for example 80 x 120 cm) that fit standard sized boxes. The bottom of the pallet is designed to be used by forklift and pallet jack and to allow air circulation. The packaging on the pallets must be stacked neatly and stable and stabilized by (cardboard) corners and straps. The straps should be tight but not so tight that it deforms the boxes. Instead of straps also nets are being used or film wrap. However, film wrap should not be used around boxes that need ventilation.

Well palletized boxes protects the products and are easy to handle. Photo by WUR.

Well strapping of pallets with packaging

Pallets with packaging must be strapped well in such a way that the boxes cannot shift or fall. (Cardboard) edges are used to stabilize pallets. These corners include the pallet.

Corners and straps at long-distance transport of melons. Photo by WUR

Use of corners and straps

Corners and straps are used when transporting products on pallets, to prevent pallet and boxes from collapsing. In this way, the packaging stays together well. A correct use of the binding straps (sufficiently tight and horizontal) is necessary for stability. By including corner supports, extra stability is obtained. The wrapping is done with (at least) 3 straps: on the second layer from above, in the middle of the pallet and on the first layer. Depending on the product, the packaging and the transport circumstances, more straps may be necessary.

An example of a carboard top cap to cover the upper layer of the pallet. Photo by WUR

Cardboard cover for pallets

For many products, it is necessary to additionally cover the top of the pallet. This is on the one hand to prevent falling dirt in the top packaging, but sometimes also to prevent a too cold product temperature (freezing) during truck transport. Often this is a cardboard cover.

Attention! Overhanging boxes on a pallet can easily lead to product damage. Photo by WUR

Neat stacking

Boxes should not overhang the edges of the pallets. This greatly reduces the strength of the boxes. As a result, the products inside can easily be damaged.

Attention! The handles of these boxes are covered with film wrap. This reduces ventilation with fresh (cooled) air. Photo by WUR

Film wrap

Film wrap should not be used on boxes that need ventilation. It can be beneficial to reduce moisture loss, but on the other hand, it reduces cold air to move through the stacks to the interior of the pallet. Product can then heat up too much. It is advisable to check the quality in the inner boxes.

Attention! Pallets with packaging are not designed to walk on. The local heavy weight can damage packaging and products. Photo by WUR

Damage by weight

An unevenly distributed endangers the stability of the pallet. Packaging is not designed to be walked or sit on. The local heavy weight can easily damage the packaging and the products inside.

Attention! Boxes with damages may lead to damaged product. Photo by WUR

Damage due to poor stacking

Boxes should be properly stacked on top of each other, in a straight vertical position. Otherwise, the stacks of boxes may skew. This usually damages the boxes of the lower layers. This will damage the products in these boxes. Mark these boxes and keep them separately if necessary, as product damage may not appear until later.

Attention! This is not a good way of palletizing cabbages. Photo by WUR

Deviating pallets

The quality of the materials plays a major role in the construction of the pallet (pallet, packaging, corners, binding tape). Packaging should be stacked neatly. The full pallet must be transported carefully. When deviations are detected, extra attention should be paid to checking the product quality.

More information?

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is a contract research organization that works together with companies, government authorities and other knowledge institutes. Postharvest consultancy is one of our areas of expertise.

Would you like to know more about packaging in practice? Please contact our experts.

The contents on this page was created within the project "Keurmeester van de Toekomst /Quality Inspector of the Future" with financial support from the "Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Agriculture, Water and Food in the Netherlands".

FreshKnowledge Team

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