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 – Way of the Future

For decades, wooden pallets had served as the standard flag bearer for industrial storage and transportation. This was owing to their many advantages. Wooden pallets served as a standard unit for measurement to companies which in turn a dual purpose. They helped with ease in calculating the total amount of goods in weight that needed to be stored or transported. Furthermore, owing to the ease with which the number of goods could be so easily determined, the cost of storage or transportation could also be in turn easily obtained.

However, the trend of storing and transporting industrial goods now is rapidly shifting towards plastic pallets. When it comes to enviable advantages, plastic pallets score over wooden pallets in myriad ways and some of them have been discussed in brief below –

Plastic pallets are substantially more durable than wooden pallets

When it comes to shelf life, plastic pallets outscore wooden pallets by miles. Wooden pallets had a lesser shelf life which meant higher costs for the company. In this regard, plastic pallets enable companies to reduce their costs considerably.

Plastic pallets are easier to use

Plastic pallets may be so designed such that they come fitted with accessories to facilitate activities such as docking, undocking or even simple handling of the goods. There are readymade models from which companies may choose what best fits their needs – open deck, one-way export pallets etc.

Plastic pallets are easier to clean than wooden pallets

Owing to the porous nature of wooden pallets, they are prone to very quickly get contaminated by the products which they carry. Compared to that, plastic pallets do not get contaminated easily and can be cleaned readily with any common washing equipment.

Plastic pallets are easily customizable

Goods come in various shapes and sizes so transporting them can present its own set of challenges if they are not properly packaged to withstand the rigor of extended travel. Plastic pallets score an undeniable advantage here over wooden pallets in that they can be easily customized to perfectly fit the products they will be carrying which also lead to lowering of costs for the company.

To know more about lightweight plastic pallets, please visit plasticpalletsltd.co.uk/product-category/lightweight-pallets