In Australia, most pallets are manufactured from locally available wood species, such as spruce and pine. Therefore, the nature of wood supply in Australia has favoured the production of softwood pallets at relatively competitive prices. Gone are the days when pallet manufacturing companies used to rely on the hardwood for production. However, due to a shortage of hardwood tree species in the country, coupled with demand for cheaper alternatives, softwood pallets have gradually filled the gap. Here are some top facts for beginners about softwood pallets.
Pine Wood Pallets
Pinewood is popular in making pallets because of its low cost and availability in Australia. As natural forests and woodlands become scarcer, pine is being farmed in most plantation forests to meet the huge demand for wood pallets. Furthermore, pine can be treated using simple methods such as kiln drying to produce pallets that meet national and international standards for shipping and storing cargo. The treatment ensures that fungus, mould, and excessive moisture are eliminated from the pallets, making them safe for use.
Light Weight
Most pallets made from softwood such as pine are less dense compared to hardwood. Therefore, these pallets are light in weight and easy to handle, which is a desirable quality for buyers. If you are transporting cargo using softwood, then you are likely to reduce transportation costs in terms of fuel because of less weight. Furthermore, loading and unloading of softwood pallets is easy since the wood is less dense compared to pallets made from hardwood. Also, being light in weight means that softwood causes less wear and tear to warehouse equipment, such as forklifts. Therefore, the overall cost of machinery maintenance is reduced when you opt for softwood pallets.
Availability All-Year-Round
If you are in the pallet business, you don't want your supply limited during certain periods of the year. With softwood pallets, supply is always guaranteed all-year-round — and wait for it — the price is relatively constant due to the huge supply. You can get vendors for such pallets everywhere, and thus, you do not have to worry about pallet shortage in the market. The reason for availability is that softwood propagates and grows faster compared to hardwood, which can take decades to mature. The supply line for hardwood pallets can be erratic at best because of the high demand compared to the supply. Therefore, buyers might be forced to rely on long-term core suppliers who often increase prices during a shortfall.
For more information, contact a softwood pallet manufactoring service.
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