Pallet Profile

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Election Nears, Change Is in the Air - Nov 2, 2018
As the nation goes to the polls what does all of this mean for the pallet and forest products sector? This article looks at some key issues that may not make the evening news, but they are important for a healthy forest products economy.; Profile Seeks Input on Softwood Report Additions: We need your feedback to help us know exactly what we should track and how we should report it.; EPAL Names New CEO, Focuses on Developing a Smart Pallet: The European Pallet Associationhas tapped Christian Kühnhold as the new CEO of the organization. more...
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Hardwood Federation Calls on Industry to Lobby Lawmakers Face-to-Face While on Recess - Oct 26, 2018
Now is the best and most effective time for you to speak directly to them about what you are most concerned about. Members of Congress will be holding public forums, participating in community events and touring various businesses across your state.; OSHA Relaunches Site-Specific Targeting Program for Inspections: It appears the new inspection initiative is designed to encourage greater participation in OSHA’s electronic data collections efforts. Sources say that barely half of employers who are required to submit OSHA Form 300A have actually done so.; President Trump Proclaims Forest Products Week: On October 19, President Donald Trump proclaimed October 21 to 27th National Forest Products Week. We provide the full copy of his statement. more...
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Faith-Based Conference Explored Culture Change Trends & Tips - Oct 26, 2018
Many attendees commented how helpful all the real-world information was as L&R opened up its human resources practices that have garnered attention from the industry as well as national media. This article is a summary of some of the key lessons from the event.; Pallet Recycling Pioneer Wants to Talk: And he is seeking to jump start a series of Roundtable Discussions that will bring together a small group of recyclers from around the country to talk specifics about how to solve some of the pressing issues of the day.; OSHA Relaunches Site-Specific Targeting Program for Inspections: What does reviving the SST Program mean for pallet companies? It suggests that you can expect stepped up inspections, as well as that you should consider filing electronic data if you haven’t already done so in the past. more...
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Cement Industry Takes Aim at CLT - Oct 19, 2018
The concrete industry has called for more detailed tests to be conducted and released to the public regarding cross laminated timber. It wants exterior fire, wind damage and heavy load tests.; Profile Seeks Input on Softwood Report Additions: You will find a simple five-question survey in this issue. We are also going to email out the survey in the coming weeks. We need every subscriber east of the Rockies to fill out this survey.; Vicki Christiansen Named as New Forest Service Chief: She discussed her vision for the U.S. Forest Service, her efforts to improve management on National Forest Service lands, and the recognition of loggers as the “boots on the ground” to help ensure better outcomes for public lands.; Financial Press Indicate Interest in IFCO Sale: Brambles obtained IFCO in 2010 from private equity investors APEX Partners. According to the Australian Financial Review, the Macquarie Financial Group has suggested a value for IFCO of $3-3.6 billion in Australian dollars when sold. more...
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Faith-Based Conference Explored How to Change Company Culture for the Better: Part I - Oct 12, 2018
Many attendees commented how helpful all the real-world information was as Denver based L&R Pallet opened up its human resources practices that have garnered attention from the industry as well as national media.; Wood Pallet Design Training for Pallet Users: Consider signing up your customers for FREE for a webinar scheduled for October 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EST). The webinar is titled, “A Truly Smart Pallet — Designing the Best Pallet to Reduce Damage and Costs.”; Maine Industry Must Adapt, Says Report: A wood supply analysis performed in conjunction with the report concluded that there is a significant opportunity for increased use of Maine softwoods, most notably the spruce/fir resource, as well as hemlock. more...
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New North American Trade Deal Reached, Questions Remain for Softwood Dispute - Oct 4, 2018
A key concern for the U.S. sawmill sector is the Chapter 19 special dispute resolution process, which the Canadian government has used in the past to thwart softwood duty assessments. The new agreement pretty much retains the Chapter 19 process under a new name.; Alleged Pallet Thieves Apprehended in California: After an assault and theft on October 1st, local authorities may have caught suspects who were involved with previous pallet theft incidents.; Brambles Continues to Make Strides Towards Its Long-term Sustainability Goals: This Sustainability Review should inspire other pallet companies to consider how they can track and report various actions they take to improve the environment, reduce waste and give back to local communities.; Profile Regional Lumber Trends Quarterly Graphs: These graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
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Get Ready — Forest Products Week to Be Celebrated in October - Sep 28, 2018
The presidential proclamation to be issued on October 22nd offers an opportunity for wood products companies to tout the benefits of wood and promote our stewardship of national resources. For most pallet companies, this is just another week on the calendar. But what if you took a few steps to promote the benefits of wood to your employees, customers and community?; Chinese Plywood Subject to Duties: The ruling applies to hardwood plywood packaged as kitchen cabinets. According to the DOC, it is being sold at unfairly low prices in the United States. Going forward, it will be subject to duties unless it is packaged for sale to a consumer end-user. more...
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PECO Agrees to Pick Up Pallets - Sep 28, 2018
Recently, PECO and Northwest Pallet entered into an agreement where PECO will send its personnel to pick up the pallets from Northwest and partner facilities. This is a slow process when you are talking about hundreds of thousands of pallets in various yards.; Pallet User Survey Indicates Greater Demand for Services, Rental Interest: Strength and quality may be more important than in the past given the difficulty in finding quality used pallets. Cores continue to decrease in quality as new pallets are built with less lumber than in the past to reduce purchase price. Interestingly, a leaner pallet may actually lead to higher total system costs over the long run.; APHIS Proposes to End EAB Domestic Quarantine: Federal authorities have used a variety of quarantine restrictions to limit the intrastate transport of ash wood and ash-based wood products that could harbor the insect. Despite the restrictions, the EAB has spread throughout the country to 31 states and the District of Columbia. more...
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APHIS Proposes to End EAB Domestic Quarantine - Sep 21, 2018
EAB has become a major wood pest that attacks ash trees. It was first discovered in the United States in Michigan in 2002. Federal authorities have used a variety of quarantine restrictions to limit the intrastate transport of ash wood and ash-based wood products that could harbor the insect. Despite the restrictions, the EAB has spread throughout the country to 31 states and the District of Columbia.; Hardwood Tariff Update: The Chinese government has indicated it will impose a 5-10% duty rate starting the same day – Monday, September 24, 2018, including hardwood logs and hardwood lumber. more...
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Pallet User Survey Indicates Greater Demand for Services, Rental Interest - Sep 14, 2018
MMH reported that at least 50% of survey respondents expressed interest in getting help to better understand the interaction of pallet and transport packaging solutions. This suggests that more and more pallet users are welcome to the idea of taking a more collaborative approach with packaging and pallet providers.; Are You Ready for a Major Storm?: Be prepared to follow instructions from local authorities and to evacuate if instructed to do so. A business should have an evacuation plan that includes emergency functions and who performs them, and procedures for accounting for all personnel and customers and visitors, and more.; Pallet Recycler Found Guilty in Cardboard Recycling Case: The Albany Business Review reported that Sam Donadio, president, admitted to underreporting the weight of cardboard he recycled from Stewart’s by 20% in an effort to increase profits for Power Recycling.; AUCTIONS and LIQUIDATION: Please check out upcoming auctions and pellet mill liquidation sale. more...
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Has the Housing Market Reached a New Normal? - Sep 7, 2018
With housing starts showing lackluster growth and a lack of existing inventory on the market, the difficult sales situation isn’t getting any better. Add to that rising interest rates, home prices and borrowing prices, and it is easy to see why some buyers are sitting out this summer.; Ongweoweh Expands, Moves to New HQ Facility: The company has doubled in the past five years and plans to hire 25-50 employees over the next 3-5 years. The new 27,000 square-foot facility is located in Dryden, New York.; Multiple Auctions: Attend the listed three separate auctions on September 15, 22 and 29, and pick up a great deal on that desired piece of machinery! more...
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Brambles to Shed IFCO RPC Business - Aug 31, 2018
One key difference between the decision to sell off the white-wood pallet division (CHEP Recycled) and the RPC business is that RPCs don’t really compete against CHEP rental pallets as is the case with recycled pallets.; Wood Pallet Design Training for Pallet Users: The webinar features Mark White, Ph.D., a leading authority pallet and unit load design and will be held October 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EST).; Reusable Packaging Group Launches Blitz: The campaign is called Switch, Save & Sell. It includes a website (www.SwitchToReusables.org) designed to promote the benefits of reusable plastic containers. more...
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Investor Groups Announce Class Action Lawsuits Against Brambles - Aug 31, 2018
Angry investors claim that the parent company of CHEP withheld information about its true financial position for the fiscal year 2017. The lawsuits could cost Brambles both financially and in terms of investor reputation.; Trade War with China Intensifies, Puts U.S. Hardwood Exports in Crosshairs: At this point neither the United States nor the Chinese government have been willing to back down or express willingness to make concessions on major sticking points. The hardwood sector is lobbying Congress to try to get some help.; Pallet Business Workshop Adds Speaker: The Kingdom Business Workshop which takes place in Denver Colorado on September 26-27th has added a new speaker to its lineup, Ben Ortlip, who is an expert on developing better company cultures and employee retention. more...
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Rhetoric and Political Talking Points Get in Way of Real Solutions for Worsening Forest Health Crisis - Aug 24, 2018
As the West faces one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, politicians, scientists, activist, the timber industry and private citizens like to debate causes for these fires, but nobody is really doing much about them, except to spends millions on fighting existing fires.; Local Outreach Can Pay Big Dividends: We offer simple tips to help you stay in the good graces of local officials and neighbors. Spending a little extra time now can pay off later when it comes to fire marshal visits, zoning boards and other encounters that can sour if neighbors have an axe to grind.; Online Auction: 1000’s of PALLETS • VAN TRAILERS • TRUCKS. Bidding Closes Tuesday, September 11. more...
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Brambles Faces Two Class Action Investor Lawsuits - Aug 17, 2018
Angry investors claim that the company withheld information about its true financial position for the fiscal year 2017, and that they lost millions in shareholder value after the company was forced to revise its profit estimates for FY2017.; Hardwood Trade Association Calls for Industry Action: Before the proposed Chinese tariffs were announced, prices had dropped dramatically on certain species. Now that China has officially announced proposed tariffs on hardwood lumber, the prices have dropped even more.; Denver Pallet Employee Workshop Adds Speaker: The Kingdom Business Workshop has added Ben Ortlip, who is an expert on developing better company cultures and employee retention. Ortlip has worked with some of the top brands and employers in America including. more...
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China Targets U.S. Hardwoods for Retaliatory Tariffs - Aug 10, 2018
It is projected that the hardwood tariffs would take effect in early October unless the trade war subsides. The hardwood sector is lobbying Congress to try to get some help.; RISI Acquires Random Lengths Softwood Report: Founded in 1944, Random Lengths provides market reporting primarily on the North American softwood lumber and panels markets, publishing over 1,500 prices each week. more...
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Recyclers Plead Guilty in Postal Pallet Scheme - Aug 3, 2018
The two conspirators were sentenced to two years in federal prison and have been ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution.; PE Video Guide Offers Best of Web: The Web Extra page runs every issue in the print magazine and can be accessed online at the www.palletenterprise.com.; SFI Releases Report, Provides Good Industry Statistics: It has recently released its latest report titled “Forests Are the Answer,” and is a good read for the lumber and pallet industries.; News in Brief: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) added the entire state of Vermont to the quarantine area for the emerald ash borer (EAB). CHEP recently released a customer case study which highlights its relationship with SAQ, the government corporation responsible for the trade of alcoholic beverages in Quebec, Canada. more...
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Pallet Business Workshop Focuses on Employees and Business Culture - Jul 27, 2018
While the event will cover Biblical principles to run a better business, it is open to any and all executives and managers in the pallet industry, not just those who have a strong Christian faith.; OSHA Cites Pallet Company, Highlights Carbon Monoxide Issue: After ten employees required medical treatment for exposure, the company faces more than $200,000 in fines. more...
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Arsonist Attacks Pallet Plant in Modesto - Two Times in One Day - Jul 27, 2018
Surveillance footage has caught a suspect on tape trying to throw a flaming object at stacks of pallets at a Modesto, California facility. It is unclear if the fires in the two California regions are connected because they are about six hours apart.; Firm Invests in 48forty Solutions: Private investment interest in the pallet sector has grown over the last five years as a number of investment firms have acquired full or partial ownership of some major pallet players. more...
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Trucking Rates Up; Changes Looming - Jul 20, 2018
The transportation industry continues to experience large rate increases for freight services. Tight capacity and rising demand continue to put upward pressure on rates.; Time to Comply with Digital OSHA Recordkeeping Rule: Many businesses have yet to make their environmental, health and safety records available digitally, and at risk of significant fines. more...
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Arsonist Attacks Pallet Plant in Modesto Two Times in One Day - Jul 13, 2018
It is unclear if the fires in the two California regions are connected because they are about six hours apart. However, these incidents underline the importance of proper security measures in a company’s fire prevention plans.; Firm Invests in 48forty Solutions: Private investment interest in the pallet sector has grown over the last five years as a number of investment firms have acquired full or partial ownership of some major pallet players.; Profile Regional Lumber Trends: For each hardwood region, the hardwood cant price represents an average of hardwood cant prices for the states included in the region. more...
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New Tariffs on Steel Are Directly Impacting Nail Prices, U.S. Providers - Jun 29, 2018
According to George Skarich, vice president of sales and marketing for Mid-Continent Steel and Wire, the steel tariffs has caused the company to lose significant orders, particularly in the construction market, and has forced it to lay off 60 workers.; Letter to the Publisher: Not all brokers are created equal. There are good and bad ones, just like with pallet manufacturers or recyclers. The primary point of the section on brokers was to cover the growth of their impact on the industry.; Virginia Tech Offers Fall Courses to Improve Packaging Design: Pallet Design for the 21st Century” is taking place August 21-23 at Brooks Forest Products Center on the Virginia Tech campus. This intensive three-day short course will teach techniques that pallet designers can use to save money when designing pallets. more...
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Trump Trade Policy Series: Mid-Continent Lays Off 60 People, Impacted by Steel and Wire Tariffs - Jun 29, 2018
It has been reported that more layoffs could come in the future and all 500 employees could lose their jobs by Labor Day in a statement made by Senator Claire McCaskill.; Pallet Profile Summer Schedule, No Issue the First Week of July: The staff of the Profile has decided to only publish 50 weeks out of the year, and will not publish the first week of July. Instead, the first issue of July will be published on July 13th. more...
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Trump Trade Policy Series: Lumber Wars and Trade Barriers - Jun 22, 2018
As renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have gone nowhere, it seems that the U.S. industry is in a protracted state where a new Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) seems like a distant dream.; Pallet Profile Summer Schedule, No Issue the First Week of July: The staff of the Profile has decided to only publish 50 weeks out of the year, and will not publish the first week of July. Instead, the first issue of July will be published on July 13th not July 6th.; Virginia Tech Offers Fall Courses for the Industry to Improve Packaging Design Capabilities: "Pallet Design for the 21st Century" is taking place August 21-23 at Brooks Forest Products Center on the Virginia Tech campus. This intensive three-day short course will teach techniques that pallet designers can use to save money when designing pallets. more...
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Trump Trade Policy Series: New Tariffs on Steel Are Directly Impacting Nail Prices - Jun 15, 2018
The immediate impact was that the largest pallet nail manufacturer in the country added a 19% surcharge onto shipments to cover those tariffs. Many are hoping the tariffs are temporary.; Senate Considers Pro Forestry Initiatives for Farm Bill: The Timber Innovation Act promotes research and development into mass timber, cross-laminated timber and tall building construction using wood. The proposal involves grant funding and market development. more...
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Insights for Pallet Manufacturers and Sawmills from EXPO Richmond - Jun 8, 2018
The following are some key new products or developments for the pallet manufacturing sector that I saw at the show. Since the Profile already provided a lot of coverage in its pre-show article, this is more of my quick observations than a complete review of everything new at the EXPO.; Letter to the Publisher: Not all brokers are created equal. There are good and bad ones, just like with pallet manufacturers or recyclers. more...
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Industry Votes to Approve Continuation of Softwood Lumber Board - Jun 1, 2018
Industry Votes to Approve Continuation of Softwood Lumber Board: Known as the SLB, this industry market promotion program is funded by domestic softwood manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber. The SLB has pushed for mass timber and other new uses of softwood.; NWPCA Offers Fire Code Training: The webinar offers information on the fire codes, best practices, tips to evaluate your current procedures and a Q&A session.; Summer Heat Exposure Tips: Companies must provide workers with water, rest and shade. Also, new or returning workers must be granted a workload and more frequent breaks to allow them to acclimatize or build a tolerance for working in the heat.; Updated One-Pager Whitepaper: Our staff has removed a confusing graphic and replaced it with the latest hardwood cant composite showing the skyrocketing prices from June 2017 to June 2018.; Auction: FORMERLY DONALD L. SHIREY LUMBER SATURDAY, JUNE 16TH 2018 10:00 AM EST LUMBER ROAD NEW BETHLEHEM, PA 16242 more...
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Insights for Recyclers from EXPO Richmond - May 31, 2018
Overall, the show attendance was good according to many suppliers. The following are some key new products or developments for the pallet sector that I saw at the show.; NWPCA Offers Fire Code Training: The webinar offers information on the fire codes, best practices, tips to evaluate your current procedures and a Q&A session.; CHEP Receive Coca-Cola Canada Supplier Award: The companies worked together to reduce waste and improve transportation efficiencies due to the density of the CHEP network.; Summer Heat Exposure Tips: Companies must provide workers with water, rest and shade. Also, new or returning workers must be granted a workload and more frequent breaks to allow them to acclimatize or build a tolerance for working in the heat. more...
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EPA Recognizes Forestry Biomass Energy as Carbon Neutral - May 25, 2018
The primary assertion for carbon neutrality is that carbon released when trees are cut down and burned is absorbed again when new tree growth takes its place thereby limiting total carbon in the atmosphere.; More Details Emerge in Response to Chinese Hardwood Log Export Restrictions: According to published news sources, Chinese officials are making changes after finding pests in loads of hardwood logs coming from the United States. It is not clear if this is just a temporary emergency action or if new import restrictions will be permanent. more...
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U.S. Housing Dips Despite Remaining Strong, Both Positive and Negative Trends to Watch - May 17, 2018
For now, interest rates remain relatively low. As a result, housing affordability is good for many areas of the country. Lot availability is an issue limiting new housing developments, and the preference to rent is growing.; NWPCA Offers Free Fire Code Webinar: Safety should be a top priority for any pallet company, and this 90-minute webinar will take place May 24, 1:30-3:00 p.m. (EST), and feature fire code experts. more...
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Price Shock One Page Summary - May 16, 2018
We have developed this one-pager to provide a quick-read explanation for interested parties that don’t want to read the entire report. more...
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More Details Emerge on China Log Import Actions - May 11, 2018
According to various published reports, recent restrictions were imposed by the Chinese government on U.S. hardwood after Chinese officials discovered wood pests found in some log shipments.; Price Shock Special Report Developed: We have developed an updated white paper for pallet companies to explain the tough market conditions and help justify price increases connected to skyrocketing lumber prices. A modified one-pager is included in this issue of the Profile. more...
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EXPO Richmond Preview, What You Need to See at the Industry’s Biggest Live Equipment Expo - May 4, 2018
As a service to readers, the Pallet Profile contacted advertisers who will have a presence at EXPO Richmond exhibiting or marketing a new product or service, or offering live demonstrations of machinery or equipment.; NEWS IN BRIEF: resident Donald Trump is holding off on imposing tariffs on steel imports from Canada, Mexico, and European Union countries. more...
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IPPC Approves Two New ISPM-15 Treatments - Apr 27, 2018
The new treatments include the use of sulfuryl fluoride – a gas insecticide, and new-generation dielectric heating technologies that employ microwave and radio frequency waves to generate pest-killing temperatures deep inside wood products.; CHEP Half Pallets Are Carbon Neutral: CHEP says its half pallets enable customers to reduce in-store labor costs by up to 75%, increase sales of promotional items by as much as 30%, improve distribution center efficiency by more than 25%, and boost in-store efficiency by over 75%. more...
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State of the Recycling Sector – Part I. Industry Conference Seeks Answers Amidst the Mayhem - Apr 26, 2018
The good news for recyclers is that some pallet users are looking to recycled pallets to solve the supply problem. The bad news – there aren’t enough high quality recycled pallets to go around. There is plenty of junk on the market, and it costs too much in terms of labor to process it for producing combo pallets.; Multiple Factors Contributing to Pallet Nail Market Stress, Price Increases: There are several reasons for price increases such as freight increases, growth for construction nails, wire rod price escalation, reduction in capacity from foreign mills, trade duties and tariffs, U.S. dollar weakening, and general improved economic activity.; Landfill Survey Indicates Positive Pallet Disposal Trends: According to the survey, the number of wood pallets heading into landfills had dropped drastically since 1998. Only 25.39 million wooden pallets were landfilled in MSW and C&D landfills in 2016 compared to 178.5 million landfilled in 1998. That’s a huge drop due to the growth of the recycling market as well as the use of recycled lumber and combo pallets. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – IV, Pallet Automation Technology & Trends - Apr 20, 2018
When people first think of new technology in development, the first thing that comes to mind are robots. But advanced automation is so much more than just robots. There is no one technology that can solve every production challenge.; PPW to Stop PDF Delivery: We will continue to send out regular emails reminding subscribers that the latest issue is available, but we will stop including a PDF attachment after the first report in May.; NWPCA Announces Fly-In Details: Attendees will be able to meet with Congressional representatives and their staffs as well as hear from some major leaders in the federal government. more...
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Strategies for Dealing with the Labor Crunch, State of the Pallet Industry – Part III - Apr 13, 2018
When it comes to the labor shortage, there are three primary strategies: improve recruitment and retention efforts, use automation to reduce labor required, and optimize production processes to eliminate wasted motion and inefficiencies.; Developments in Canadian Softwood Lumber Market, Trade Case: Canadian officials stated that the duties represent a “considerable hardship” on softwood lumber producers and communities across Canada, while the U. S. government has argued that the duties were fully consistent with its obligations under the WTO agreements.; Brambles to Sell Off IBC Business: Brambles is making this move to focus on its core pallet and RPC business units. more...
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Multiple Factors Contributing to Pallet Nail Market Stress, Price Increases - Apr 6, 2018
There are several reasons for price increases such as freight increases, growth for construction nails, wire rod price escalation, reduction in capacity from foreign mills, trade duties and tariffs, U.S. dollar weakening, and general improved economic activity.; ORBIS® Corp. Acquires Response Packaging: With the intent to broaden its packaging solutions, ORBIS® Corp., a leader in reusable plastic packaging, has bought the company, which specializes in custom packaging, headquartered in Piedmont, South Carolina.; UFPI Signs Agreement to Acquire Certain Assets of North American Container Corporation: This acquisition will allow Universal to enhance capacity and expand into geographic areas identified as opportunities for growth, including South Carolina and Tennessee and offer existing and targeted customers additional solutions for packaging and crating needs.; News Brief: According to a news story by Lima News, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) recently visited Lima Pallet in a tour to review the impact of the recent federal tax cut package. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – Part II, Political Action and Industry Communication Are Crucial for Future Success - Mar 30, 2018
One thing on the agenda at the ALC was to improve the pallet industry’s outreach to government officials and regulators. The formally NWPCA unveiled plans for a new political action committee called PalletPac.; Landfill Survey Indicates Positive Pallet Disposal Trends: The industry has new data that indicates the wood pallet sector is doing a good job in terms of landfill disposal rates. The number of wood pallets heading into landfills had dropped drastically since 1998. more...
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CHEP Recycled Rebrands as 48forty Solutions, After Spinoff from Brambles - Mar 29, 2018
The recycler stated that the former CHEP Recycled is now executing a bold new name and brand image that positions it for growth while celebrating its position as the leader in one of the foundational businesses of the supply chain and logistics industry.; Brian Isard Retires from CWPCA, New General Manager Named: The CWPCA’s board has appointed Scott Geffros to be the next general manager. He previously worked for the association as its assistant general manager.; Don’t Miss EXPO 2018: EXPO Richmond covers a wide variety of equipment categories including: sawmilling, kiln drying, harvesting, biomass, trucking, pallet manufacturing/recycling, optimization/scanning, material handling, logging, firewood production and related equipment, supplies and services.; Recycled Bits: The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) has released an updated version of the Pallet Design System™ (PDS). U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) recently visited Lima Pallet in a tour to review the impact of the recent federal tax cut package. A report points out the rosy outlook for Canadian lumber producers. It notes that housing starts in the United States and lumber prices are both expected to rise again in 2018. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – Part I , Mayhem Is a Good Word for It - Mar 23, 2018
At the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association’s (NWPCA) Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) held recently in Florida. The theme for the meeting was “Manufacturing in a time of mayhem.” And all of the challenges and changes taking place right now suggest that “mayhem” is an accurate description.; Brian Isard Retires from CWPCA, New General Manager Named: The CWPCA’s board has appointed Scott Geffros to be the next general manager. He previously worked for the association as its assistant general manager. more...
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CHEP Recycled Rebrands as 48forty Solutions After Spinoff From Brambles - Mar 16, 2018
Beyond just branding and creating a new corporate identity, the name and logo underscore the recycler’s core mission. The company is committed to providing cost efficient pallet solutions, the consistent quality customers require, and a better customer experience.; Virginia Is the Place to Be for Pallet People in May: This large forest products show with a strong pallet flavor takes places Friday, May 18th and Saturday May 19th at the Richmond Raceway Complex. You can see equipment run at EXPO Richmond like no other event in the world.; The Pallet Design System™ Adds New Languages, Capabilities: Global demand for the most efficient, cost-effective, and safe pallet is drawing pallet manufacturers and pallet users to PDS. With the release of PDS v.5.4©, users have the option to enter the design details, and view or print, in any of the languages.; News in Brief: Guess where the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper is going to be built? The answer is Japan. The former head of OSHA is criticizing Congress for rolling back a rule that requires employers to keep records about worker injuries and illnesses for five years. more...
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Promotion Program Boosts Demand for Softwood Lumber - Mar 8, 2018
Third-party analysis shows the Softwood Lumber Board SLB’s portfolio of investments generated over 3.6 billion board feet of new demand since 2012. In that time, the SLB has generated $19.74 of revenue on every $1 invested.; Lakeshore Pallet Sold to Local Entrepreneurs: Lakeshore Pallet is a full-service wooden pallet manufacturing and recycling company, specializing in heat-treated pallets that meet ISPM compliance.; News Briefs: The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) has released an updated version of the Pallet Design System™ (PDS). A report points out the rosy outlook for Canadian lumber producers. Pennsylvania-based John Rock has pulled the trigger on ordering $2 million in new machinery and equipment. more...
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OSHA Cites Pallet Company, Provides Industry Lessons - Mar 2, 2018
A pallet industry employee was recently injured at a New Lenox, Illinois facility. The employee got his hand caught in a conveyor on a sort line when the machine was accidentally energized. Fortunately, the employee only experienced minor injuries and has been able to return to work.; Three Pine Mills Planned in the South: Companies announced plans for three mills — two in Georgia and one in Louisiana. Canadian companies are behind two of the projects. more...
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Trucking Capacity Trends and Concerns for the Future - Feb 28, 2018
Now is a time for great change for the U.S. trucking sector. Trucking rates are on the upswing as demand increases to be crunched by short supply.; Pallet Pac Launched by Association: Earlier this month, the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) launched the first and only political action committee for the wooden pallet industry in the United States.; VA Tech to Offer Unit Load Design Short Course: Offered at Virginia Tech. The program takes place from May 1-3, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. The course is designed to help pallet and packaging providers and users to make better design decisions. more...
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Brambles Posts First Half Results, Indicates U.S. Price Pressures - Feb 23, 2018
The parent company of CHEP returned to more historic growth trends after a very disappointing 2017 fiscal year. Profit dropped though due to joint venture costs and other factors.; Pallet Pac Launched by Association: Earlier this month, the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) launched the first and only political action committee for the wooden pallet industry in the United States. The group will work to represent the needs of pallet manufacturers and recyclers. more...
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Trucking Capacity Concerns and Trends for the Future - Feb 16, 2018
From increased demand to higher competition for drivers to an evolving supply chain due to e-commerce and omni-channel retail focus to the impact of technology and regulations, now is a time for great change for the U.S. trucking sector.; Grey Mountain Partners Finalizes Acquisition of CHEP Recycled: CHEP Recycled is the largest whitewood pallet recycler in North America, with a footprint of 73 locations and approximately 2,400 employees. Additional comments sought from Grey Mountain were unavailable other than prepared news releases. more...
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Things to Think About – WPA Recap, Part III - Feb 9, 2018
Publisher Chaille Brindley focuses on “Stranger Things – Five Key Trends that Will Change Everything in the Pallet Industry” and the presentation by the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) on its new outdoor storage best practices standard.; CHEP Partners with Grimmway Farms, Explores Benefits of Pooling: The pallet rental and pooling giant is targeting the North American agricultural market and recently focused on its long-term collaboration with Grimmway Farms, a major grower of carrots on the West Coast.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Investigators in Midland, Texas, believe that a second fire started on a pile of pallets likely was caused by arson. A New York company plans to put up an 11-story wooden building on a site it is redeveloping in Newark, New Jersey. A Canadian lumber company executive is urging the government not to give in to the lengthy battle with the U.S. over softwood lumber exports. The Colorado Department of Transportation is researching the use of wood material that would be scattered on icy roads to make driving safer. Oklahoma-based Greystone Logistics, which manufactures plastic pallets, saw sales increase 6% to $9.7 million for the three months ending in November. The driver of a van in the town of Paterna, Spain, was caught on video driving around with 20 pallets stacked on the roof of the vehicle. more...
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Things to Think About – WPA Recap Part II - Feb 2, 2018
Continuing a look at key issues covered at the Western Pallet Association (WPA) annual meeting, speakers spoke on major trends in the industry and how to run a lean operation.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Charlotte-based Tree Brand Packaging stated it will invest $1.3 million in a new plant. A recent fire destroyed Hershberger Manufacturing’s pallet plant in Windsor, Ohio. Beginning last month OSHA has adjusted the civil penalty amounts it charges for workplace safety and health violations. OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of OSHA’s Form 300A. more...
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Brambles Sells CHEP Recycled to Investment Fund Grey Mountain Partners - Jan 29, 2018
In early January, Brambles announced the sale of its CHEP Recycled division to Grey Mountain Partners, a private equity firm based in Colorado.; NWPCA Develops Pallet Storage and Fire Compliance Best Practices: The NWPCA has spent considerable resources to develop this manual, and it has released it for free to the entire industry because the hope is that it makes all pallet yards safer and help eliminate the need for stricter rules by code officials in the future.; Calif. Pallet Company Cited for Overtime Wage Violations: A pallet business in Fontana, California, has agreed to pay nearly $290,000 in back wages and damages to employees for alleged overtime violations. more...
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