Is There Any Difference Between A Pallet And A Skid?

A person who runs a business that involves transportation of goods is well acquainted with the terms-pallets and skids as he or she is with the terms-cartons and crates. Both pallets and skids achieve the same aim of moving goods from one location to the other in a secured manner. Both are loading equipment used commonly in warehouses across the world, but there are some stark differences between the two. Let us explore the differences by first having an understanding of both the equipment.

What is a skid?

A skid is a loading platform devoid of any bottom deck with four runners or legs. It is portable and easy to maintain. Lifted by a hand lift or a power lift truck, it often proves a great asset in a factory set up where demand is of cost-effective transport of goods or material handling. However, skids fixed on runners are called dead skids. Once extensively used in warehouse operations, skids are now replaced by pallets.

The emergence of double-faced pallet seals the fate of skids which were in use for several hundred of years for transportation of goods. These were used cleverly during the World War II to pull supplies over the beaches to ensure an uninterrupted line of supplies for the front line.

What is a Pallet?

A pallet, however, comes with both a top and bottom deck which is a deviation from that of a skid. Also, a pallet can withstand a considerable weight. Today, because of the varied shipping needs, pallets come in a variety of sizes. Earlier wooden pallets were in use across the world, but over the years plastic pallets shot into prominence due to the benefits they offer like- the ease in cleaning, more durability, light-weight, and more.

In short, both have their own set of uses and found application in material or load handling, but it is also true that since pallet is an advanced version of a skid or rather we can say skid is a predecessor of a pallet. So, there exists a difference between the two.

Both skids and pallets are now used on conveyors in automated warehouses to increase efficiency in material handling. However, plastic pallets found extensive application in warehouses with high hygiene standards. In case, you have still doubt in your mind, visit http://plasticpalletsltd.co.uk/. The UK based company is one of the largest manufacturer and supplier of plastic pallets of a wide range.

 

Plastic Pallets Are Indispensable To The Modern Industry

Whether it is their ability to be far more durable than their wooden counterparts or the fact that they are much more lightweight and can be easily moulded into a shape of the customer’s choice to better accommodate the product being shipped, plastic pallets are with every passing day becoming the choice of product across industries when it comes to shipping and storing a variety of goods.

Plastic pallets are hygienic

Industries such as the pharmaceutical industry and the food and beverage industry where items need to be stored or transported from one place to another in an as hygienic manner as possible without posing any risk of contamination or potentially harming the health of others prefer the usage of plastic pallets in their shipment and storage.

The aforementioned industries have to adhere to strict international regulations when it comes to the import and export of goods across countries and plastic pallets help them to stay in compliance. This is because dirt or any other forms of contamination do not stick to the surface of plastic pallets. On the other hand, containers such as wooden pallets are porous in nature and absorb bacteria and moisture.

The pallet of choice when exporting goods

When it comes to shipping products or goods over large distances, plastic pallets are the overwhelming choice across industries for a variety of reasons. Firstly, they are hard-wearing and durable. Secondly, unlike organic products such as wooden pallets, they do not need any special treatment before shipment to keep vermin away. Lastly, unlike plastic pallets, wooden pallets are prone to damage such as warping, splitting or rotting owing to which they are being gradually reduced in use when it comes to export and import of goods.

Usage in the chemical industry

One of the primary usages of plastic pallets is in the shipment and storage of goods in the chemical industry. This is because the chemical industry constantly needs to move large amounts of volatile and hazardous materials over long distances which cannot afford to be contaminated themselves nor can they be allowed to contaminate any other products. These products may include medicines, bagged products, chemical liquids or octabins. Plastic pallets that are specifically made for usage in the chemical industry are known as CP-Pallets.

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