In warehouses and DC’s as well as throughout the supply chain, we often see are broken pallets. Handling, abuse and damage over time all contribute to broken pallets, but nothing more than forklift damage. Over 70% of damage on a pallet is caused by a forklift and on the leg of the pallet. Once we see a damaged leg, there tends to be cracking, loose boards (if on wood) and additional issues that typically point to the end of the pallets useful life.

Whether it’s in your warehouse or in transit, forklifts are one of the most common sources of accidents. Next to loading docks, more injuries occur on forklifts than anywhere else in the warehouse. In addition, damage from forklifts is the number one reason for pallet jack failures. In a busy warehouse, forklifts can drop pallets, run into them or pierce part of the stringers or deck board with the fork.

All this damage means that pallets need to be sorted, evaluated and even replaced . Sorting pallets takes time and labor, replacing pallets constantly is expensive, so preventing damage improves your bottom line. On top of that, damaged pallets still in circulation are likely to cause stoppages in the plant and distribution. Some buyers will even turn down products that arrive on damaged pallets because of the risk of contamination.

Most of the damage caused to pallets by forklifts happens for three reasons. The first reason is that the pallets you’re using aren’t the right fit for your forklifts or your product. Improperly trained forklift operators also damage pallets. Finally, your warehouse may be set up in such a way that pallet damage from forklifts is more likely.

Luckily, preventing pallet damage is an easy and inexpensive investment. A few simple changes can reduce the damage to your pallets — and your need for replacements.

For example the forklift truck can be equipped with the KOOI® Palletbumper. This is a load protector which helps reduce product and pallet damage. Because of the “impact block” which is mounted on the center of the forklift carriage, keeps the shank of the lift truck forks away from the pallet planks.

For more information visit the page of the

KOOI® Palletbumper

Website: Prostack
Posted on: July 21, 2016