Article Directory
Cutting Edge Technology and Best Practices on Display - Nov 19, 2025 
The NWPCA tours visited a Relogistics reusable packaging center, Neopal and Hinton Lumber all located in or near Houston, Texas. Key focuses for the tours included high-speed nailing machines, pallet inspection, AI Vision and quality control processes.; Brambles Continues to Focus on Serialization and Asset Tracking in North America: The pallet rental giant sees its investment in data generation and digital technology as critical to its future success. Tracking will help CHEP provide data about supply chain movements to customers, reduce waste and improve asset utilization that will change the nature of tough audit conversations with customers and distributors.; Dallas Pallet Fire Tied to Incinerator: Only the pallets and the incinerator were damaged according to various media reports. Investigators determined that sparks from an incinerator used to destroy old pallets ignited nearby stacks.; AI Poses Problem with Pallet Sales and Billing Scams: So, what red flags should you look for? One thing to be careful of is companies using the names of other recognizable players as a way to develop a false sense of credibility. Check references and be sure that new contacts are indeed credible. more...
Tags:
 
UFP Industries Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results, PalletOne Sales Down Slightly - Nov 14, 2025 
Gross profit declines were primarily due to PalletOne because of price competition as the pallet manufacturer executes its strategy to increase market share. Long-term the company hopes to achieve 7-10% unit sales growth annually with at least 10% of all sales coming from new products.; Plastic Pallet Manufacturer Greystone Logistics Lays Off Almost 40% of Its Workforce: A major customer putting a halt to orders demonstrates the difficulty in the current market. Sluggish demand is not only affecting wood pallet companies. It is also a challenge for plastic producers.; EU Decides Not to Delay EUDR Implementation: Even though full enforcement won’t occur until next year, regulators may issue warnings to shippers and guidance on compliance in some cases. The EUDR does not cover pallets under load going into the EU. more...
Tags:
 
Fall Plant Tours – Part II: Neopal, A Masterclass on Quality Control and Precision - Nov 7, 2025 
This location in Houston, Texas was designed from the ground up to fit Neopal’s mission and vision of the future to employ more advanced technologies and new approaches beyond what is seen today. This is the second facility in the company’s history. Jeff Krug, owner, opened up this facility to the industry even as he is planning the next generation of manufacturing at a new plant to be built in 2-3 years.; U.S. and China Reach Trade Deal: China agreed to buy more American agriculture products (including hardwood and softwood logs). In addition, the Trump Administration has initiated a 301 investigation of China’s Implementation of the Phase One Trade Deal, which did require hardwood lumber purchases.; Crosstie Demand Holds Steady Despite Sluggish U.S. Economy: Some positive drivers for railroad activity this year have been moving coal to power data centers, new manufacturing facilities and cryptocurrency mining. The potential for a recession could affect this outlook as well as railway mergers if they occur.; Auction: Premium Lumber Absolute Auction, November 18th, 9 AM EST. Seller: Various Consignors. Online and phone bidding only. No minimums! No reserves! This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available at various locations. Call Jonathon: (574) 821-7530. Bright Star Auctions. more...
Tags:
 
Cutting Edge Technology and Best Practices on Display – Part 1 - Oct 31, 2025 
The Relogistics Houston facility tour showcased how the Pallet-Track™ ERP is used in combination with AI software and cameras. It is a test center for trying new technologies. This facility has a Robotic Dismantler from Alliance Automation, IVISYS pallet inspection system, Pallet Track Vision AI and robotic sorters tied in with a legacy Universal Logistics inspection system.; AI Poses Problems with Pallet Sales and Billing Scams: The pallet business has been very tough this year. So, it is easy to see how someone would get excited about the phone ringing for unexpected orders. But it can be difficult to get any legal help if you do get scammed.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Inbound sea container traffic for major U.S. ports dropped 6.6% in September. PECO Pallet, Inc. recently named Eric Sobanski, Ph.D. as the new chief operating officer. more...
Tags:
 
Hardwood Industry Seeks Trade Assistance Amidst International Turmoil - Oct 24, 2025 
The letter was sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutkin, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Over 430 hardwood mills, manufacturers, yards, logging companies, and suppliers signed on to the letter explaining the dire situation.; Brambles Continues to Focus on Serialization and Asset Tracking: The pallet rental giant sees its investment in data generation and digital technology as critical to its future success. Audit reconciliations have been a touchy area with customers in the past due to the fact that most of the flows are tracked in batch mode. Serialization gives unique IDs to each pallet asset.; Auction: Premium Lumber Absolute Auction, November 4th, 9 AM EST. Seller: Various Consignors. Online and phone bidding only. No minimums! No reserves! This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available at various locations. Call Eugene: (574) 622-8190. Bright Star Auctions. more...
Tags:
 
Retail Forecasts Suggest Holiday Season Could Be First Drop Since COVID - Oct 21, 2025 
Given the rough economy and some news of layoffs at major employers, concern has arisen over what type of holiday sales retailers can expect. Of course, the holiday season is usually a big driver of non-grocery retail pallet demand for the second half of the year.; NWPCA Survey Reveals Split Opinion on Short-Term Industry Outlook: According to the survey results, members overwhelmingly cited tariffs as the biggest threat to stability in the coming months. Looking to the future, most predicted relative stability.; PECO Pallet Commits to Net Zero Emissions by 2050, Strengthens Sustainability Program: PECO has announced a number of ambitious environmental targets. The company hopes to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Also, the company plans to divert 35% of its waste from landfills by 2035.; Recycle Bits: The tensions between China and the United States intensified. Job openings remains depressed as manufacturing activity slows. more...
Tags:
 
PECO Pallet Commits to Net Zero Emissions by 2050, Strengthens Sustainability Program - Oct 17, 2025 
Also, the company plans to divert 35% of its waste from landfills by 2035. One key aspect of this has been developing grinding operations and waste markets for non-reusable pallets and boards at many of its facilities.; Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic Agree to Merge: The deal creates the second-largest publicly traded timber and wood products company in North America.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The Canadian lumber industry and its employees indicate that they have not received any of the financial relief promised by Canadian officials. The tensions between China and the United States intensified when China announced sweeping restrictions on rare earth exports. more...
Tags:
 
Promote the Industry During Forest Products Week - Oct 10, 2025 
Now is a great time to stop and think about how you might celebrate the industry and recognize its economic and environmental contribution in your social media, website and customer communications. Wood is green. Wood is good. Trees are the answer.; Pallet Profile Website Fixes: Most of the issues have been resolved. But if you are having difficulties accessing or using Pallet Profile pages, please do the following first. Try to clear your cache. We apologize for any inconvenience.; Auction: 2 Day Virtual Only Sale. Complete Lumber Stacker, Planer,Dry Kilns, Complete Pellet MFG Facility,Complete Cooper Scragg Operation & Rolling Stock. Multiple Consignors & Locations. Thursday & Friday, October 16th & 17th, 2025 9AM CST. Bid In-Person or Online; Premium Lumber Absolute Auction: Seller: Various Consignors. October 21st, 9 AM EDT. Online and phone bidding only. This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available. more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Sets 10% Lumber Tariffs, 25% on Cabinets and Furniture - Oct 3, 2025 
This is part of the campaign to bolster domestic industry for some sectors it claims are vital to national security. The White House stressed that it would explore options to mitigate the security risks with exporting countries and to re-evaluate the tariffs in the future.; NWPCA Industry Survey Reveals Split Opinion on Short-Term Industry Outlook: Some key economic concerns are rising overhead, soft consumer sentiment and a stalled housing market. According to the survey results, members overwhelmingly cited tariffs as the biggest threat to stability in the coming months.; Could QR Codes Become More Common on Pallets in the Future? As customers seek more proof of sustainability, the ability to trace the path of products, identify risky unit loads for recalls and other concerns, one potential solution could be to use RFID tags.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Additional sawmill curtailments were recently announced for Canadian lumber suppliers. Wood-Mizer has named Ben Brydges as its CEO.; Fourth Quarter Regional Lumber Trends: These graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
Tags:
 
City of Stockton Considers Pallet Storage Rules to Prevent Fires - Sep 26, 2025 
After a string of recent pallet fires, it is not clear if these are connected to arson, homeless encampments or other causes. Some popular methods for safeguarding pallets include using security gates, surveillance cameras and a night security team.; Kamps, Inc. and General Motors Win Reusable Packaging Award: The companies were applauded for their outstanding achievement in executing a comprehensive national pallet management program. Kamps worked with GM on research, pilot programs, and strategic capacity increases to ensure the sustainability and strength of the program.; Hinton Lumber Products Launches New Website, Submit Your Website for Inclusion in the 2025 Pallet Enterprise Website Awards: The Hinton Lumber website redesign is a perfect example of a company improving its website to reflect growth and changing customer expectations. If you recently updated your website or believe you have a top-notch website, please e-mail Chaille Brindley at chailleb@gmail.com to be considered and recognized in our annual website awards.; Auction: October 7, 2025 • 9am EDT • Located at various locations. Notched #1 grade Pallet Stringers. Trucking Available. No minimum, no reserves. This auction provides an excellent opportunity to purchase high-quality pallet stringers in bulk. We’re excited to announce that we will be holding lumber auctions on a regular schedule—every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. www.BrightStarAuctions.com • Call Eugene: 574-622-8190 more...
Tags:
 
Recyclers and CHEP Battle in the Court Over California Law and Fair Compensation - Sep 19, 2025 
Several individual cases in California are now being consolidated under one major legal challenge from several members of the North American Pallet Association (NAPA). CHEP has sued this group in state court claiming conversion, interference with CHEP’s possession of its pallets, unfair trade practices, among other allegations.; MMH Pallet Survey Highlights Changing Environment: While many of the trends this year are holding to historical norms, there does seem to be a growing need for quality pallets due to more automation in the supply chain. more...
Tags:
 
Recyclers and CHEP Battle in Court Over California Law and Fair Compensation - Sep 19, 2025 
Several individual cases in California are now being consolidated under one major legal challenge from several members of the North American Pallet Association (NAPA). CHEP has sued this group in state court claiming conversion, interference with CHEP’s possession of its pallets, unfair trade practices, among other allegations.; Freight Market Remains in the Doldrums: It appears the trade war has taken a toll on shipments as well as the general economic malaise affecting the country.; Pallet Foundation Makes Second Call for EPD Data Submissions: Your participation is desperately needed to reach the total goal required for an effective EPD representing approximated industry totals. This call particularly goes out to new pallet producers in the United States.; Forest Service Announces Millions in Grants to Boost Timber Production: The program is designed to help businesses, nonprofits, and state, local, and tribal governments make use of trees, downed vegetation, and other hazardous fuels that would otherwise go to waste or fuel catastrophic wildfires.; Mid-South Pallet Theft Highlights the Need for Greater Pallet Security and Education: Given the tightening of used pallet supply in some major metro areas, the industry should not be surprised if scavengers become more aggressive. Having lighting and security alarms can be beneficial.; NEWS IN BRIEF: U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will take up the legality of Trump tariff policies and presidential authority. The USDA is investing more than $8 million for five new projects. more...
Tags:
 
Analysts Suggest Modest Retail Holiday Growth For Year - Sep 12, 2025 
Where will shoppers go? There was some disagreement on this issue. Deloitte predicted that the biggest gainer will be e-commerce retailers, growing at a healthy pace. Shoppers are going to be looking for bargains and ways to save money even though many still have enough disposable income to make for a decent holiday season.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The NWPCA has selected Kate Doherty as its new director of government affairs. General Pallets and Southland Manufacturing have rebranded as River States Pallets & Crates. more...
Tags:
 
MMH Pallet Survey Highlights Changing Materials Handling Environment - Sep 5, 2025 
Key concerns in order of importance when it comes to pallet quality are: broken or damaged components, squareness, protruding nails, dimension tolerances and deflection. These are the key quality concerns that pallet producers need to be aware of when it comes to inspecting finished pallets.; NEWS IN BRIEF: U.S. inbound container traffic increased by 3.2% in July. The SFPA has actively communicated its concerns regarding the EUDR to U.S. officials. Auction: September 16, 2025 • 9am EDT • 763 E. Miller Road, Mio, MI 48647. Notched #1 grade Pallet Stringers. Trucking Available. This auction provides an excellent opportunity to purchase high-quality pallet stringers in bulk. We’re excited to announce that we will be holding lumber auctions on a regular schedule—every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. www.BrightStarAuctions.com • Call Eugene: 574-622-8190 more...
Tags:
 
Despite Uncertain Business Environment, Brambles Reports Solid Sales and Profit Growth - Aug 29, 2025 
Contributing to its recent success includes net new business wins and the ability to raise or maintain upward pricing, which offset lower like-for-like volume decline from existing customers. In addition, CHEP was able to improve asset efficiency while the costs of new pallets dropped.; Trump Administration Reaches Trade Agreement Framework with EU: Overall, the U.S. will limit tariffs to 15% on most EU imports. The agreement recognizes that products coming from the United States pose a negligible risk to global deforestation. more...
Tags:
 
European Pallet Association Suggests EUDR Doesn’t Apply to Most Pallet Situations - Aug 22, 2025 
FEFPEB clarified the rules requiring a deforestation product declaration only apply when pallets are first placed onto the market, not as pallets are moving through supply chains with products under load or for repair or reuse.; Data Shows Strong Tree Growth in America's Appalachian Forests: The opposite of deforestation is true as hardwood forests have increased their growth to removals by more than 15%.; ONLINE ONLY ABSOLUTE AUCTION! Premium Cut Lumber Auction. September 2, 2025 • 9am EDT • 763 E. Miller Road, Mio, MI 48647. Notched #1 grade Pallet Stringers. Two loads of mulch. This auction provides an excellent opportunity to purchase high-quality pallet stringers in bulk. We’re excited to announce that we will be holding lumber auctions on a regular schedule—every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. www.BrightStarAuctions.com • Call Eugene: 574-622-8190 more...
Tags:
 
Strategies for Pallet Companies to Prepare for Immigration Raids – Pt. 2 - Aug 15, 2025 
It all starts with employers and workers knowing their rights. Companies can educate workers and prepare them just in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to the door. Firstly, remain silent. You are not obligated to divulge information regarding your birthplace or immigration status.; 48forty Letter Challenges Narrative in the Bloomberg Article: While the letter was limited on facts or clear rebuttals of specific assertions in the article, it does suggest that the company is profitable and is confident in its path forward to continue to deliver on its promises to customers and vendor partners. When contacted by the Recycle Record, 48forty declined to provide any comment about its debt or process with creditors.; Kamps Pallets Opens New Iowa Facility, Expanding to Service Greater Omaha Area: The Council Bluffs location will continue to provide comprehensive pallet solutions to a wide array of major industries in the region, including food manufacturing and meat processing, baking, paper manufacturing, and chemical manufacturing.; Tax Provisions Benefit Business Investment: There are both good and bad aspects of President Trump’s tax and budget bill. These new tax provisions take effect this year giving companies the opportunity to rethink their capital investment strategy this year as well as into the future. more...
Tags:
 
Tax Provisions to Know About in the Big Beautiful Bill - Aug 15, 2025 
There are both good and bad aspects of the bill when it comes to small businesses and the overall business environment. The OBBBA will significantly raise the federal debt, which could cause some long-term economic issues for the dollar. But without the bill, Americans would have faced a major tax hike at the end of the year.; PECO Pallet Receives Green Leadership Award: PECO’s pooled pallet system supports a circular supply chain model by emphasizing reuse, repair, and recycling, helping reduce dependence on single-use alternatives. more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Further Modifies Reciprocal Tariffs, Canada to Invest in Domestic Lumber Market - Aug 8, 2025 
According to the White House, products from the European Union, Japan and South Korea will be taxed at 15% percent, while imports from Taiwan, Vietnam and Bangladesh will be taxed at 20%. A special tariff rate of 50% will be imposed on India in about three weeks as punishment for India’s purchase of Russian oil.; Kamps Pallets Opens New Iowa Facility, Expands to Service Greater Omaha Area: Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the plant has over 150,000 square feet of usable space for machinery and an extensive pallet inventory. This substantial increase in size was a primary driver for the move.; ONLINE ONLY ABSOLUTE AUCTION! Premium Cut Lumber Auction. August 19, 2025 • 9am EDT • 763 E. Miller Road, Mio, MI 48647. Notched #1 grade Pallet Stringers w/ 99% Usability Guarantee. This auction provides an excellent opportunity to purchase high-quality pallet stringers in bulk. We’re excited to announce that we will be holding lumber auctions on a regular schedule—every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. www.BrightStarAuctions.com • Call Eugene: 574-622-8190 more...
Tags:
 
Logistics Trends and Palletization – Part 2 - Aug 1, 2025 
Palletization is not disappearing, but it is evolving. The reality is that bulk handling still needs pallets. More supply chains will likely become increasingly complex – a hybrid approach where pallets are used alongside totes, trays, and smart handling systems.; Commerce Announces Final Anti-dumping Results for Softwood Canadian Lumber Imports: The decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. Canadian officials have talked about the potential to craft a new Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA). more...
Tags:
 
Logistics Trends and Palletization – Part 1 - Jul 25, 2025 
Better consistency in pallets provides greater flexibility when it comes to mixed loads, which may be less stable than a load carrying just one product and size. Proper stacking configurations and preventing product damage is a key objective when using mixed cases.; Strategies for Pallet Companies to Prepare for Immigration Raids – Part 2: Being prepared all starts with employers and workers knowing their rights. Companies can educate workers and prepare them just in case ICE agents come to the door.; PalletTrader Survey Shows Mixed Results, Suggests Higher Pricing Environment in the Future: Most buyers indicated that pallet prices remained flat, while several suppliers experienced price drops, hinting at increased competition and shifting supply chain conditions. Nonetheless, short-term expectations are more positive.; Pallet Foundation Secures Funding for Wood Residual Research, Needs Your Help: As part of the project, the Foundation has launched a survey of pallet industry companies to gather first-hand insights into the scope of current handling challenges, the cost of managing wood residuals, and untapped opportunities for market growth.; Premium Lumber Absolute Auction: August 5th, 9 AM EDT. Online & Phone Bidding ONLY. This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. more...
Tags:
 
Pallet Industry Faces Risks of Immigration Raids–Pt. 1 - Jul 18, 2025 
Even pallet companies that follow strict screening procedures could be a target if a worker used false records or is wanted for a criminal offense. Immigration officials are using these raids as an opportunity to find and capture illegal aliens working at businesses beyond those on named warrants.; 48forty Letter Challenges Narrative in the Bloomberg Article: While the letter was limited on facts or clear rebuttals of specific assertions in the article, it does suggest that the company is profitable and is confident in its path forward.; Summer Fire Safety Tips for Pallet Plants: Pallet companies must remain vigilant and work to identify and reduce hazards. A focus on fire risk prevention means safer facilities are less likely to have a major blaze that takes out the entire business.; Heat Safety Rule Update, Best Practices to Beat the Summer Heat: Now is a good time for any employer to develop a comprehensive heat illness prevention plan. The key mantra to remember is “Water, Shade, Rest!”; NEWS IN BRIEF: Don’t miss the Forest Products EXPO to be held in Nashville, August 6-8, 2025! more...
Tags:
 
48forty Solutions Faces Debt Restructuring Challenges - Jul 11, 2025 
Nobody expected the pandemic highs to last forever. But the recycled market has certainly come crashing down over the last two plus years. As interest rates have rocketed upwards, the cost of borrowing has risen. The pallet industry faces dropping prices for recycled pallets over the past few years while labor costs remain elevated.; Trade Deadline Delayed: This pause is an extension of the original pause on the 10% reciprocal tariff on all countries (except Mexico, Canada and China).; Regional Lumber Trends: Quarter 3 graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
Tags:
 
Pallet Industry Faces Risks of Immigration Raids – Pt. 1 - Jul 11, 2025 
Most notably, a Pennsylvania pallet recycler, Wyoming Valley Pallets, Inc., was targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents due to the presence of a worker who was wanted for an outstanding arrest warrant connected to an alleged DUI infraction.; 48forty Solutions Faces Debt Restructuring Challenges: A recent news story about 48forty Solutions and its debt challenges has surprised some in the industry. Pallet companies face the challenges of a market that was oversaturated with both production capacity and pallet supply and cores.; PalletTrader Survey Shows Mixed Results, Suggests Higher Pricing Environment in the Future: Many still see uncertain conditions ahead, especially related to U.S. trade policies, tariffs and the overall economic malaise that has set in globally. But the general pricing sentiment is that we will see more of the same or some slight price increases.; TIME Magazine Recognizes Brambles for Sustainability Record: The pallet rental giant once again leads the transportation and logistics category. This ranking is based on over 20 key performance indicators. more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Rescinds Roadless Rule, Eases Access for Timber Projects and Active Forest Management - Jun 27, 2025 
Eliminating the Roadless Rule will allow more decisions to be made at the local level. Preservationist groups are concerned that more logging activity and building more roads will lead to even more wildfire. While this is a major step toward more active forest management, there are still many steps in the process.; Summer 2025 Publishing Break: The staff of the Pallet Profile will not publish an issue next week July 4th, and will publish its next issue on July 11th.; APHIS Launches Dashboard for U.S. Data on Wood Packing Material and Holds Instructional Webinar; APHIS’ new dashboard allows users to make more informed decisions about where they source wood packing material. The creation of this dashboard is a significant step forward to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful pests. In addition, federal agencies are offering a webinar to be held on Thursday July 10th at 1:00 p.m. (EST). more...
Tags:
 
Housing Slumps, Will Lower Pricing Attract Buyers? - Jun 20, 2025 
The latest housing numbers show continued downward trends when it comes to housing starts as builders rush to offer incentives during the important summer housing season. The drop in single-family housing starts in May was 9.8% below the revised April estimate.; Washington D.C. Tax Update as Senate Releases Its Version: The tax portion of the budget reconciliation bill allows businesses to immediately expense 100% of capital investments in machinery and equipment, in addition to allow businesses to fully write off their R&D costs in the same year in which those costs were incurred. more...
Tags:
 
Groupe Rémabec Drastically Scales Back Its Arbec Operations - Jun 13, 2025 
This move will result in roughly 1,000 workers or more being laid off. The company is a pillar of the Quebec forest industry and the province’s second largest sawmill operator. It seems the ongoing U.S. trade war with Canada has taken its latest casualty.; USDA Invests $200M to Expand Timber Production: The aim of this new initiative is to increase timber harvests and improve forest health while strengthening rural communities. This investment also focuses on innovative wood products like cross laminated timber.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The deadline for submitting data for the next round of the EPD for wood pallets is quickly approaching. Don’t miss the Forest Products EXPO to be held in Nashville, August 6-8, 2025!; Auctions: Formerly Ridge Creek Industries, 7184 Washington St., Covington, GA 30014. Thursday, June 19th, 2025 - 9am ET; Formerly River City Hardwoods, 2310 Hwy 61., Muscatine, IA 52761. Saturday, June 21st, 2025 - 9am CT; Formerly R 3 Lumber, 100 FM 114., Clarksville, TX 75426. Thursday, June 26th, 2025 - 9am CT. more...
Tags:
 
Research Report Outlines Pallet Industry Trends During Pandemic - Jun 13, 2025 
Recycled pallet production dropped due to a lack of supply as retailers reduced the number of cores released into the market. The pandemic era (2019-2021) was a boom time for new pallet production increasing 79.14% over 2016 levels. A major driver in the increase in new pallet production was the boom in e-commerce and multi-channel supply strategies deployed by retailers.; Heat Safety Rule Update, Best Practices to Beat the Summer Heat: Key areas to address include: providing cool drinking water and shaded rest areas, implementing a plan to acclimate new or returning workers gradually, conduct regular training on the issue, ensure that workers can identify symptoms of heat illness, monitor temperature, and develop a schedule for rest breaks during high heat periods.; Modern Pallet and Lumber Equipment Auction, Including Brand New Robotic Pallet Dismantler: Equipment from Alt Pallet in Riverside, California will be auctioned on Tuesday, June 17th via a timed online auction.; Recycle Bits: President Trump announced this week that negotiations with Chinese officials are finally moving in the right direction. The deadline for submitting data for the next round of the EPD for wood pallets is quickly approaching. The North American wildfire season has already started, and conditions are ripe for a crazy summer. more...
Tags:
 
Modern Pallet and Lumber Equipment Auction, Including Brand New Robotic Pallet Dismantler - Jun 6, 2025 
Equipment from Alt Pallet in Riverside, California will be auctioned on Tuesday, June 17th via a timed online auction. Don’t miss this list of brand new and lightly used equipment.; Conditions Suggest a Potentially Active Wildfire Season: Drier than normal conditions are expected across the northern half of the West and much of the Plains into the Midwest through September. If the Forest Service pushes more fire responsibilities to local and state organizations, recent federal agency changes could affect the ability of various government agencies to counteract a strong wildfire season. more...
Tags:
 
First U.S. Hardwood Mass Timber Company Identifies Challenges and Opportunities - May 30, 2025 
What if a sector usually associated with softwoods becomes a burgeoning market for hardwood? That’s the dream behind Crosswood Mass Timber, the first U.S. producer of hardwood mass timber. Crosswood hopes to revolutionize the construction sector and develop a large, new market for underutilized hardwood material.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Global trade activity has increased 21% over the last 3 weeks. The U.S. Court of International Trade just ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs on a global level. more...
Tags:
 
New FALM CEO Shares about Business Transition, Industry Partner Opportunities - May 23, 2025 
Thanks to this ownership transition, FALM will continue to serve its nationwide clientele while investing in new resources to drive future growth and innovation. The outgoing CEO, Glenn Merritt, is a pallet industry veteran with decades of experience.; NEWS IN BRIEF: PalletOne will shut down its Chase City, Virginia. FEFPEB has noted increasing upward pallet price pressure. West Fraser recently achieved best first quarter results in more than two years. E & E Hardwoods Inc. has announced plans to expand its sawmill in Bell County, Kentucky. CBP recently highlighted its role in combating invasive species. more...
Tags:
 
U.S. and China Reach Temporary Trade Agreement, Possible Outcomes Emerge - May 16, 2025 
The Trump administration is actively in talks with Chinese officials to develop a long-term deal. But uncertainty remains after August when tariffs could be reimposed at higher levels.; New CLT Standards Developed, Including Hardwood Materials: A group of researchers has been exploring the feasibility of using hardwoods, primarily yellow poplar. The data generated helped pave the way for formal inclusion of hardwoods in the new standard. more...
Tags:
 
U.S. and China Reach Temporary Trade Agreement; Possible Outcomes Emerge - May 16, 2025 
The Trump administration is actively in talks with Chinese officials to develop a long-term deal. But uncertainty remains after August when tariffs could be reimposed at higher levels.; Sam’s Club Changes Pallet Spec to Mandate Block Pallets Only: While a large percentage of the pallets going into Sam’s Club stores have been block pallets for a long time, the company earlier this year decided to completely eliminate stringer pallets.; Brambles Cuts Pallet Sales Forecast Due to Sluggish Retail Activity: Thanks to ongoing supply chain and asset productivity initiatives as well as overhead cost control measures, the company anticipates full year sales revenue growth around 4-5% with profit growth in the 8-11% range.; Recycle Bits: iGPS and its iDepot system streamline the recovery process. CBP recently highlighted its role in combating invasive species. more...
Tags:
 
Brambles Cuts Pallet Sales Forecast Due to Sluggish Retail Activity - May 9, 2025 
Current macroeconomic conditions have prompted the company to narrow its outlook for FY25 sales revenue growth to the mid-to-low end guidance range. Thanks to ongoing supply chain and asset productivity initiatives as well as overhead cost control measures, the company anticipates continued strong profitability.; Paul A. Frank, Jr., Pallet Foundation Pioneer Passes Away: As one of the pioneers and leaders of the Pallet Foundation, Frank was a guiding force behind the early years of the organization. In addition, Frank served as a past president of the NWPCA.; Hinton Lumber Gears Up for Block Pallet Growth, Hires Industry Veteran as National Account Executive: Keith Reinstetle came out of retirement to serve as the company’s national account executive. Reinstetle has more than 40 years of pallet sales experience, specializing in developing national sales programs. more...
Tags:
 
Sam’s Club Changes Pallet Spec to Mandate Block Pallets Only - May 2, 2025 
This change basically ends the flow of white-wood stringer pallets to the club store retailer. Product manufacturers must use 9-block pallets, either rental or white-wood options. Approved poolers for Sam’s Club are CHEP, Peco Pallet, Rm2 and iGPS.; Global Transportation Trends Suggest Pallet Activity May Drop This Summer: Concern is that many retailers pulled freight volumes forward to avoid tariffs. This will definitely depress pallet demand in the coming weeks and months for those involved with imports and retail activity.; Research Report Outlines Pallet Industry Trends During the Pandemic – Pt. II: Interestingly, 22% of respondents indicated that their sales were not affected by the pandemic. Many respondents saw a surge in sales during the pandemic despite some dips in March and April 2020. A surprising finding is that pallet brokerage supposedly decreased from 2016 to 2021 by 8%. But anecdotal evidence suggests the opposite.; Pallet Foundation Seeks Industry Help with Second Version of the Environmental Product Declaration: The data collection efforts this year are open to any pallet manufacturer or pallet recycler in the United States.The first step is to attend a live webinar to be held Wednesday, May 14 at 1:00 p.m. (EST). The final submission deadline is June 16th. The final submission deadline is June 16th. more...
Tags:
 
Research Report Outlines Pallet Industry Trends During the Pandemic – Part 1 - Apr 25, 2025 
Overall, new pallet production skyrocketed by 45.8% from 2016 to 2019. Total new production topped out at 919 million in 2021. E-commerce sales grew nearly 30% during the pandemic. The other interesting trend is to see the high percentage of non-standard sizes needed, suggesting that there is still plenty of demand in the market for odd-sizes.; EU Tariff Response Update: The reality is that the 25% European Union countermeasure tariffs if enacted will only cover some hardwood and softwood species and products. more...
Tags:
 
Publisher Soap Box – Commentary: Trade War Puts Hardwood Exports in the Crosshairs, Shipments to China Come to a Standstill - Apr 18, 2025 
As of right now, the largest export market for American hardwood logs and lumber is pretty much closed for business. The Chinese government announced last month that it was suspending processing of all U.S. log imports. The suspension however does not cover hardwood lumber or other wood products.; Raymond Gutierrez, Leader in the California Pallet Market, Passes Away: A fixture in the western pallet market, he began in 1974 what would become Commercial Lumber & Pallet Co., one of the largest pallet companies on the West Coast.; FCA Packaging Invests in Viking Packing Specialist: Viking is a manufacturer and distributor of custom wood crates, cases, metal containers, corrugated and dangerous goods packaging.; EU Announces Tariff Response, Some Lumber Categories Included: The specifics about the EU tariffs is better than expected according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). Only about 10% of U.S. hardwood exports to the EU would be impacted by the 25% retaliatory tariff.; NEWS IN BRIEF: An Asian long-horned beetle was intercepted last month inside wood cargo packaging from Romania at the Port Huran rail yard in Michigan. more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Announces Regulatory Reforms for National Forests - Apr 11, 2025 
This order directs the U.S. Forest Service to increase timber outputs, simplify permitting, remove National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, reduce implementation and contracting burdens, and to work directly with states, local government, and forest product producers.; DOC Announces New Higher Countervailing Duties after Preliminary Review: The U.S. Lumber Coalition applauded the most recent duty rates, while the Canadian industry claims these duties are unfair and will hurt Canadian industry as well as American consumers. more...
Tags:
 
State of the Pallet Industry – AI on the Brain - Apr 11, 2025 
The reality is that AI shows a lot of promise. But it is far from perfect, and any company that wants to keep up with the future needs to appoint executives or managers who will help guide their AI projects. Effective use of AI requires patience, trial and error and better data sets.; Recycle Record Adds Premium Pallet Prices: More states/areas will be added as we gather more data. That’s where we need your help. We need subscribers to submit data, both pallet users and pallet suppliers.; House Starts Increase Despite Market Concerns: Historically, housing activity has been a major barometer of lumber demand as well as pallet activity. While the market doesn’t look like it is going to collapse further, a significant surge doesn’t appear to be in the horizon either. more...
Tags:
 
State of the Pallet Industry: AI on the Brain – Part 1 - Apr 4, 2025 
The reality is that AI shows a lot of promise. But it is far from perfect, and any company that wants to keep up with the future needs to appoint executives or managers who will help guide their AI projects.; Legislative Roundup – Tax and Transportation Policy: The Hardwood Federation trade group hopes that Congress will finally pass a five-year Farm Bill with strong forestry provisions. The Safe Routes Act bill would allow trucks traveling at the maximum gross vehicle weight on state roads to access the federal interstate highway system for short distances.; Senate Bill Aims to Help Forest Owners Recover after Natural Disasters: Previous disaster relief policies and programs provide much-needed relief for agriculture crops and farmers; however, they do not offer any economic relief for land owners whose timber crops were destroyed.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Conner Industries has acquired Kirkland Sales Inc., a custom foam fabricator. Billy J. Townley recently filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for his three companies in Texas.; Auction: Premium Lumber Auction. April 14th, 9 AM EDT. Online and Phone bidding only. 20+ truckloads available. This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers.; Profile Second Quarter Regional Lumber Trends: These graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
Tags:
 
Action Steps to Reduce Your Insurance Risk Profile - Mar 28, 2025 
The number of carriers offering coverage continues to dwindle as insurance companies look for more attractive sectors. Read about these best practices that insurance providers suggest for pallet companies to follow.; Marketing Gems – Promotion Starts with Thinking Like Your Customer: More than focus on what you have to sell, you want your content to cover key pain points and issues felt by pallet users. Everyone wants to attract more business, and in these competitive markets, it starts with thinking like your customer.; U.S. Lumber Coalition Calls Out Canadian Government Subsidies: In March, the Canadian government announced over $11.3 million in funding. The reality is that many countries, including the United States, subsidize some business activity through grants, loans, tax breaks and other funding mechanisms. more...
Tags:
 
House Starts Increase Despite Market Concerns - Mar 21, 2025 
Single-family housing starts were up 11.4%, multi-family starts increased 10.7% over the January results. The number of single-family homes under construction in February was down 6.7% from a year ago, at 640,000 homes.; PalletTrader Announces Strategic Alliance with Pallet Control Tower for Transatlantic Pallet Trading Network: Under this collaboration, the two platforms intend to offer a new service which will enable U.S. shippers to obtain and reuse European-standard pallets, initially used to transport goods into the U.S. from Europe and to ship U.S. exports back to Europe.; NWPCA Members Lobby Congress and White House, Association Warns about Increased Labor Enforcement: This is a great time to ensure compliance with work authorization and I-9 paperwork. If you haven’t checked your process in a while, you may want to conduct an internal audit to identify any concerns.; Virginia Tech Offers Crate Design Short Course: This 2.5 day course will take place April 15-17th in Blacksburg, Virginia and will introduce the different crate styles and characteristics commonly used in the United States.; Prayer Gathering to Be Held Around National Pallet Meeting: While the NWPCA doesn’t officially sponsor or promote the meeting, the association has set aside a meeting space on Friday, March 28th from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; Former Timber Executive Named as Forest Service Chief: The Trump administration has tapped Tom Schultz who does have years of experience in forestry public policy and land management roles. This selection is not without controversy. more...
Tags:
 
E.U. Proposes Tariffs on U.S. Wood Products and Other Goods - Mar 14, 2025 
Pallets and wood boxes are currently not on the list of products that may be hit with a tariff. European officials are calling for further talks and negotiations. The Hardwood Federation, the lobbying group for the U.S. hardwood sector, issued a call for action.; State of the Pallet Industry: Using Tech to Connect with Customers Is Key In a Challenging Sales Environment: Waiting for the phone to ring is not a sales strategy. Companies that thrive in the future will do more than just seek profit at all cost. Have you stopped to assess how you may be stuck? What is one new product or approach that could open up a whole new way of doing business? more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Announces Steel and Other Tariffs - Mar 14, 2025 
Some details are still unclear, but the tariffs certainly cover steel and nails. The guidelines exempt items processed from U.S.-origin steel or aluminum. President Trump is closing loopholes and extending the tariffs to cover all countries including those previously excluded. This stricter enforcement means that loopholes used to get around tariffs last time will not be available to producers or importers.; Brambles Reports Volume Growth, Sales from New Business Wins: The company’s first half profits rose thanks to sales volume growth, new business wins and improved asset efficiency. Some costs went up for the company (labor, repair, pallet storage and transport) while others went down (lumber and fuel). Driven by enhanced data analytics, the company is improving asset control.; Recycle Bits: Police in the Greenville, South Carolina area recently arrested a man for allegedly selling stolen CHEP pallets. Employees at Modesto pallet company are seeking nearly $629,000 from the owner in unpaid wages. more...
Tags:
 
Publisher’s Soap Box: Trump Administration Issues Executive Orders on Imported Timber and Land Management - Mar 7, 2025 
The Department of Commerce will issue a report with recommendations from its investigation. Some possibilities include: tariffs, export controls, incentives to increase domestic production, and policy ideas for strategic investments and permitting reforms. Growing America's forest products sector would be great. It just may take too much time to get the machine moving to make much difference in the short-term.; DOC Announces Antidumping Rate for Latest Review Period: The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) just announced its preliminary decision on softwood lumber from Canada. The DOC conducts a yearly review to assess market changes to duty rates in trade cases.; Auctions: March 27, 9am CST. Virtual/Online. Accepting consignments; March 29, Formerly 7-11 Shelby Lumber. 9am CST. Center, TX. All equipment like new. more...
Tags:
 
Trump Administration Announces Steel Tariffs, Affects Nails, Steel and Possibly More - Feb 28, 2025 
This expansion of Trump’s previous 2018 tariffs will likely push the cost of pallet nails up and could affect other products used by the pallet industry. President Trump has said that the word tariff is a beautiful thing.; Brambles Reports Volume Growth, Sales from New Business Wins: The company’s first half profits rose thanks to sales volume growth, new business wins and improved asset efficiency. Some costs went up for the company (labor, repair, pallet storage and transport) while others went down (lumber and fuel).; B&B Lumber Company Experiences Fire at Storage Facility: Despite the loss, the company minimized operational downtime, resuming full production just one day later and was also thankful to report that no injuries occurred as a result of the fire.; Auction: Online. March 13th, 10:00am CST, Thursday. Pinnacle Pallets, Pallet and Crate Mfr. more...
Tags:
 
State of the Pallet Industry: Next Generation Pallet Plants – Part II - Feb 21, 2025 
With pallet recyclers looking to produce more A’s and top quality pallets, there is a renewed focus on getting the most out of recycled boards. This means even more competition in the market for new pallet producers as recyclers try to pump out combo pallets.; UFP Announces 2024 Results, Sales Decreases: UFP Industries, which owns PalletOne, recently reported a 4% net sales decline for 2024 due partially to lower sales prices connected with slumping lumber prices. The past year hasn’t been easy given the depressed housing and forest products sector.; U.S. Lumber Coalition Touts Success of Trade Cases to White House: The Coalition sent a letter to President Trump urging the strong enforcement of the trade laws and suggested that the cases could end if the Canadian government eliminates subsidizing the Canadian lumber industry.; Biomass Power System Provider to Hold Open House: Air Burners is holding a BioCharger® demonstration event in Stuart, Florida from March 4-7. This event will unveil groundbreaking technology for processing wood and vegetative waste.; Auction: Online only, Premium Cut Lumber. Notched #1 Grade Pallet Stringers. 12 truckloads anticipated. March 3rd, 2025. 9am EST. Mio, Michigan. more...
Tags:
 
Higher Softwood Lumber Duty Rates Loom, Will Momentum Gain for a New SLA? - Feb 14, 2025 
Analysis from the Department of Commerce of anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports is likely to lead to significant combined duty increases based on feedback from both Canadian and U.S. lumber experts.; Arizona Congressman Introduces Bill to Abolish OSHA: The bill isn’t likely to move ahead or even get out of committee. It currently has no co-sponsors but it does raise the question, “Would industry be better off without OSHA?”; Pallet Company Owner Passes Away: Dennis F. Price was a previous owner/operator of General Pallet. NEWS IN BRIEF: Canfor Southern Pine has opened in Axis, Alabama. The Federal Reserve Chair told a Senate Committee that the central bank does “not need to be in a hurry” to cut interest rates. West Fraser Timber Co. recently reported fourth quarter 2024 results with a loss of US$62 million. J.P. Morgan Research has concluded that the U.S. housing market is likely to “remain largely frozen through 2025.” The NWPCA has received a historic $1,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. more...
Tags:
 
State of the Pallet Industry – Next Generation Pallet Plants for Recyclers - Feb 14, 2025 
Looking at warehouse automation, it is clear that automation of supply chains and warehouses is driving the need for higher quality pallets. At the same time, supply chain technology and deployment in Europe is years ahead of the United States. As a result, pallet providers are seeing reducing demand for B-grade pallets compared to high quality A’s and Premiums.; Higher Softwood Lumber Duty Rates Loom: Duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports are going up this year. Later this month, the Department of Commerce is expected to release its analysis of the preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports. This is likely to lead to significant combined duty increases based on feedback from both Canadian and U.S. lumber experts.; Google Invests in Biochar Offsets: Biochar is simply wood waste biomass that has been pyrolyzed (heated without oxygen) until it becomes a charcoal-like substance. Biochar involves using kilns to burn the waste and a way to crush and bag/transport the resulting product for farmers.; Recycle Bits: Promat 2025 will be held in Chicago on March 17-20. Enviva recently informed employees that it will close its biomass plant in Amory, Mississippi. more...
Tags:
 
State of the Pallet Industry: Next Generation Pallet Plants – Part I - Feb 7, 2025 
It is clear that automation of supply chains and warehouses is driving the need for higher quality pallets. Supply chain technology and deployment in Europe is years ahead of the United States. As a result, pallet providers are seeing reducing demand for B-grade pallets compared to high quality A’s and Premiums, and users are looking at combo pallets to replace new.; Google Invests in Biochar Offsets: Biochar is simply wood waste biomass that has been pyrolyzed (heated without oxygen) until it becomes a charcoal-like substance. Supporters of biochar point out that it improves soil health and sequesters carbon.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The Department of Labor recently announced higher civil penalties for OSHA infractions. Promat 2025, will be held in Chicago on March 17-20. Enviva recently informed employees that it will close its biomass plant in Amory, Mississippi. Southeastern Timber Products is expanding its operations in Ackerman, Mississippi.; GLOBAL WEBCAST AUCTION: COMPLETE CONTENTS OF A SAWMILL & PLANER MILL WITH LATE MODEL MOBILE EQUIPMENT AND 87 ACRE REAL ESTATE. Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 @ 9am PT INSPECTION: By Appointment Only. PREVIEW LOCATION: 330 S Bay Road, Toledo, OR 97391 more...
Tags:
 

Page of 23 page(s) | View per page
Copyright © 2025 Industrial Reporting Inc.