Pallet Profile

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Continued Strong Demand Coupled with Low Availability and Mill Output Lead to Soaring Prices Entering 2021 - Jan 19, 2021
Once again, the hardwood and softwood markets appear to be on course to reach historic high prices. more...
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Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 Includes Logger Assistance - Jan 15, 2021
This supplemental relief package allotted $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have, as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic, experienced a loss of not less than 10% in gross revenue during 2020 compared to 2019. Loggers were considered essential workers from the start, however, they were not targeted for relief funds.; Truck Driver Shortage Persists, Made Worse by Pandemic: While there were shortages and concerns, the sector has proved to be resilient despite aging infrastructure and labor challenges. Trucking companies worked extended shifts to ensure essential supplies were delivered, but the glaring weakness in the trucking sector is the lack of qualified truck drivers.; News in Brief: Paramount Pallet has opened the largest recycling facility in Canada. more...
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What the New Stimulus Bill Means for PPP Funding - Jan 8, 2021
Some provisions will help small businesses; others could hurt the labor pool, such as the extension of unemployment benefits and stimulus checks.; News in Brief: Bloomberg reported just this week that a measure of U.S. manufacturing expanded in December at the fastest pace in more than two years.; Profile Regional Lumber Trends: For reporting lumber price trends graphically, the U.S. is divided into six regions, five for hardwood cants and the western for Doug Fir RL softwood. These graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
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Year Ends with Major Industry Acquisitions - Dec 23, 2020
UFP Industries has agreed to acquire PalletOne for approximately, and Grey Mountain Partners sold 48forty Solutions, formerly CHEP Recycled, to Audax Private Equity.; 2021 Industry Events Rescheduled: The NWPCA is scheduled to hold its annual leadership conference in Orlando, Florida on March 3-5 and The WPA has rescheduled its 2021 annual meeting to April 16-20th at Rancho Mirage, California. The Virginia Forest Products Association is moving ahead with plans for its 37th EXPO Richmond show to be held May 21-22, 2021.; Research Raises Concerns about Pallet Safety Risks in Retail Stores and Home Projects: The lower extremities were the most often injured body parts in pallet-related accidents. The overall severity of injuries is likely low, however, a small percentage were severe enough to require hospitalization.; Merry Christmas to all of our readers! more...
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Three Pallet Industry Companies Recognized for HR Excellence, Community Impact - Dec 23, 2020
A story in Christianity Today magazine highlights how pallet companies are taking initiative to develop outreach efforts to their blue-collar workforce and communities.; European Pallet Industry Prepares for Brexit Transition Challenges: There are serious consequences if EU suppliers do not use ISPM15 pallets for shipping goods, and these include fixed and variable monetary penalties ranging from £250 to £250,000.; Holiday Schedule: As we arrive at Christmas once again, we want to wish our readers a very special Merry Christmas. This will be our last market report of the year. more...
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UFP Industries Agrees to Buy PalletOne Inc. - Dec 18, 2020
The company just announced its biggest move into the sector. PalletOne is the largest pallet manufacturer in North America with 17 pallet manufacturing facilities in the southern and eastern regions of the country.; COVID-19 Concerns Related to Most OSHA Inspections: Companies should evaluate their workplace and work to eliminate ways that a respiratory virus can spread, such as improving distancing between work stations, training employers on PPE, requiring greater sanitation and cleaning practices, etc. more...
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Research Raises Concerns about Pallet Safety Risks in Retail Stores and Home Projects - Dec 11, 2020
The first-ever investigation of non-occupational injuries that occur due to unintentional contact with pallets yielded startling statistics. The good news is that most of these injuries did not require hospitalization. But the research does show that pallets can be dangerous if people misuse them.; 2021 Industry Events Rescheduled: The Virginia Forest Products Association is moving ahead with plans for its 37th EXPO Richmond show to be held May 21-22, 2021 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. more...
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Grey Mountain Partners Sells 48forty Solutions to Audax Private Equity - Dec 4, 2020
48forty Solutions is one of the largest pallet management services companies in North America, with a national network of over 225 facilities, including 44 company-owned and operated plants and more than 180 affiliates.; CHEP Offers Higher ARP to Smaller Recyclers: Whether or not the fee is fair or amounts to unjust enrichment is another matter. At the same time, recyclers can decide if they want to participate in the CHEP ARP.; Holiday Schedule: Pallet Profile will not be published January 1, 2021, according to our regular schedule. After the New Year, the Profile will be published again on January 8, 2021. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our readers! more...
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Is It Time to Revisit Pallet Standards? Recycler Highlights Creative Cores - Nov 24, 2020
Increasingly, we are hearing from recyclers about creative cores that are coming into their shop. We define a creative core as a pallet that lacks critical components, one that surprisingly held a load but most recyclers wouldn’t want their name associated with. Andy Archer of Cleveland Custom Pallet & Crate recently submitted pictures of creative cores.; CHEP Offers Higher ARP to Small Recyclers: This fall, CHEP has offered smaller recyclers across the country a higher rate than what has been offered last year to pallet recyclers.; Recycle Bits: The NWPCA has worked with the ALSC to change existing requirements on mark obliteration for pallet recyclers. OSHA has issued guidelines for improving workplace ventilation. The Pallet Foundationjust completed a rebrand initiative that coincides with the launch of a new logo and website. According to the latest figures October’s shipping volumes surpassed year-ago levels. more...
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Pallet Foundation Announces Major Environmental Study Results - Nov 24, 2020
Until now the wood pallet sector had a good story to tell. But it lacked independent, scientific proof to back up its claims. That has now changed with the first of its kind in the distribution packaging space Life Cycle Assessment.; USDA Decides to Offer No Pandemic Assistance to Loggers: This decision came after a bipartisan group of lawmakers called for aid to the beleaguered sector. As with the first CFAP package, timber was left off the list. Zero dollars went to loggers. more...
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