Pallet Profile

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Brambles Releases Third Quarter Update, CHEP Americas Revenues Increase - Apr 19, 2019
CHEP has been successful pushing through price increases to offset higher production and lumber costs. In Europe, sales revenue grew by 8% led by net new business wins and price increases across the region.: New Alcohol and Drug Database May Worsen Truck Driver Shortage: The shortage is expected to worsen in the beginning in January 2020, but further down the road, some other changes are in the works that could potentially ease the shortage.; News Briefs: Georgia-Pacific has announced that it will close its Coos Bay lumber mill in Oregon and lay off all 111 workers. more...
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WTO Panel Issues Decision in Softwood Lumber Dispute Methodology - Apr 12, 2019
The WTO dispute settlement panel issued a split decision, but the biggest win went to the United States, as the panel upheld the use of a controversial anti-dumping calculation method called “zeroing."; Debate Continues in Washington as Some States and D.C. Raise Their Base Wages: The legislation, if passed, would gradually raise the federal minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $15 through 2024, and the bill would also do away with special “sub-minimum” pay.; News Briefs: A Guinness World Record for pallet dominoes was set last week in Yakima, Washington. British Columbia’s Forests Minister Doug Donaldson has announced an investment of $7.9 million by B.C. and the federal government in Canada. East Texas is now being called the nation’s “wood basket,” because of the abundance of tall southern yellow pine planted on private land. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – Part 3: U.S. Economy Slowing, But Still Pretty Good - Apr 5, 2019
Forecasts from leading economic experts are a big hit at industry events. One of the top voices on the U.S. manufacturing sector spoke at the recent National Wooden Pallet & Container Association annual meeting. He delivered a mixed bag of both good news and some warning signs to monitor.; Seeking A Better Market for Residuals: Researchers are working on finding ways to put wood in everything from computer chips to concrete to diapers. The problem is that many of these potential markets are years from the full commercialization stage.; Quarterly Graph Update: Profile regional lumber trends track hardwood cants over the past year. more...
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OSHA Citation Highlights Wood Dust Concern for Recyclers - Mar 29, 2019
Why would OSHA target a company that isn’t a high danger target and one that goes above and beyond the standard in the industry? I will leave others to speculate on that question.; Trade Groups Launch Global Wood Packaging Forum Initiative and Website: Professionals will be able to access numerous research studies, articles, web sites and other tools addressing frequently requested topics related to wood packaging with ease and convenience. more...
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Filling the Leadership Vacuum - State of the Pallet Industry – Part 2 - Mar 29, 2019
As the pallet business becomes more complex, you need people who can troubleshoot a lot of scenarios and even interact with customers.; January 2019 Housing Report Shows Tepid Housing Construction and Sales: Most problematic was the continued decline in single-family permits, as well as construction spending – total and single-family.; NEWS BRIEFS: A federal appeals court blocked a logging project in western Montana while it considers a lawsuit that claims the project could harm threatened species. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – Part 1, Trucking Trends for the Future – Will the Trucking Picture Improve? - Mar 22, 2019
The big blessing is that trucking capacity is starting to ease although this trend is not universal. Capacity is complicated… It’s not just supply and demand any more. It really depends on what you are shipping and where you are sending it.; Trade Groups Launch Global Wood Packaging Forum Initiative and Website: The Global Wood Packaging Forum website offers information and helpful tools for wood packaging professionals and their customers worldwide.; News Briefs: The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) is seeking nomination for open seats. New research suggests climate change makes it increasingly difficult for tree seedlings to regenerate following wildfires in low-elevation forests. more...
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Chinese Government Unveils Future Forestry Plans - Mar 15, 2019
China has become the largest buyer of logs and lumber on the global stage. Any action by China can leave a profound impact on global wood markets. The U.S. hardwood sector has dramatically re-oriented itself around exports to China. Chinese buyers are now a major purchaser of softwood material.; Virginia Tech Offers Unit Load Short Course: It will be held August 13-15th in Blacksburg Virginia at the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design features Best Load design software.; Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes: Every company needs a driver safety program to save lives and reduce company liability. With more and more online devices, the number of distractions has increased over the last decade. more...
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Supply Chain Trends Could Drive Pallet Changes - Mar 8, 2019
Pallets will be as important as ever in the future, and the key things to differentiate you will be your quality and service levels. In order to win in those areas, you must be evolving and getting better at your core business – making and recycling pallets.; Congress Considers DRIVE Act: Seeking to entice younger drivers to enter the field, a bipartisan group of Congress members have introduced a bill that would set up an apprenticeship program to train younger truck drivers (18 to 21-year-old range) and allow them to traverse state lines on the interstate.; AUCTIONS FORMERLY DODD WOOD PRODUCTS • SAT, MARCH 16th, 2019 • 10AM EST 3720 State Rd 43, Spencer, IN 47460. COMPLETE SCRAGG MILL, CUT STOCK OPERATION & ROLLING STOCK.; Equipment Liquidation: Ready to Install & Ready to Run! more...
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USA vs China Trade Fight: Both Sides Likely to Delay New Round of Tariffs - Mar 1, 2019
It is not certain whether the delay will last for long enough to cover the shipping lead time required to get products to China, so please keep in mind that the tariff level could go into full effect any time in the next month.; Carbon Monoxide Can Be Stealth Risk: CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of material containing carbon such as natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal or wood. One of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine.; Winter 2019 White Paper: Challenges persist for the pallet market. The staff of the Pallet Profile has developed a two-page White Paper for subscribers to share with their pallet customers. more...
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CHEP Faces Cost Pressures, Raises Prices, Invests in Repair Network - Feb 28, 2019
This comes as news in spite of the fact that the company recently reported its half year results for fiscal 2019, which included sales revenue growth of 5%, which is at the higher range of estimates.; Winter 2019 White Paper: As challenges persist for the pallet market,this White Paper is designed for subscribers to freely share within subscribing companies and to any third party.; OSHA’s Increases Civil Penalty Rates for 2019: The increase reflects a 2.5% inflation adjustment rate, and took effect on January 23, 2019. more...
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