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Light-weight Steel Distribution Pallet Debuts from Worthington Steelpac
Durable pallet passes performance tests with big box retailers and consumer packaged goods companies; aimed at helping material handling managers reduce shipping costs
Top view of Steelpac Distribution Pallet from Worthington Steelpac
Worthington Steelpac
Corner view of Steelpac Distribution Pallet from Worthington Steelpac
Worthington Steelpac
Columbus, OH — February 22, 2008 — Worthington Steelpac plans to begin mass producing in March the first light-weight, flame-resistant steel pallet designed to meet Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) capacity and compatibility standards.
The Steelpac Distribution Pallet offers a stronger, more durable steel pallet that provides material handling managers a way to reduce shipping costs per trip compared to wood or plastic pallets, the company said. Made of the most recycled material on Earth, the new distribution pallet prevents rust, is flame retardant, does not attract or harbor insects and has superior racking strength compared to traditional pallets, according to Worthington Steelpac.
The Steelpac pallet, made of galvanized steel, measures 48" x 40" x 5.5" and has four-way forklift and pallet jack access. It features a welded assembly without fasteners that gives it more than 3,500 pounds of unsupported racking capacity and 40,000 pounds of static load. The pallet weighs 63 lbs., 10 lbs lighter than comparable wood pallets, according to the company.
The pallet's target market includes material handling managers in the pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, chemical, lubricant and printing industries.
"We feel our tests in big box retail and consumer packaged goods environments have prepared us well to offer this durable, cost-efficient product to material handling managers nationwide," said Jon Holthaus, sales manager for Worthington Steelpac. "In the final 12 months of this testing, our steel distribution pallet had less than a 5 percent damage rate, which is five times less than the average damage rate of a traditional wood block style pallet."
The company said that additional testing at Worthington Cylinders, a subsidiary of Worthington Industries, reinforced the product's durability claim, producing a 0 percent damage rate after two years and 52 turns.
"The value proposition of the Steelpac Distribution Pallet is its durability, allowing the number of replacement pallets introduced a year to be reduced, saving the environment and saving organizations thousands of dollars," Holthaus said.
The company's Pennsylvania-based facility currently has the capacity to produce large volumes of pallets. However, expansion plans for additional facilities are also being considered.
There are approximately 1.3 billion pallets currently in United States circulation with another 500 million replacements entering the market each year.
A Worthington Industries company, Worthington Steelpac began operations in 2001 and has concentrated on the customized pallet and racking business. The Steelpac Distribution Pallet will extend the company's line of products and is aimed at creating new markets for the company.
Columbus, Ohio-based Worthington Industries is a diversified metal processing company with annual sales of nearly $3 billion. The company manufactures such products as automotive aftermarket stampings, pressure cylinders, metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser-welded blanks.
The Steelpac Distribution Pallet offers a stronger, more durable steel pallet that provides material handling managers a way to reduce shipping costs per trip compared to wood or plastic pallets, the company said. Made of the most recycled material on Earth, the new distribution pallet prevents rust, is flame retardant, does not attract or harbor insects and has superior racking strength compared to traditional pallets, according to Worthington Steelpac.
The Steelpac pallet, made of galvanized steel, measures 48" x 40" x 5.5" and has four-way forklift and pallet jack access. It features a welded assembly without fasteners that gives it more than 3,500 pounds of unsupported racking capacity and 40,000 pounds of static load. The pallet weighs 63 lbs., 10 lbs lighter than comparable wood pallets, according to the company.
The pallet's target market includes material handling managers in the pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, chemical, lubricant and printing industries.
"We feel our tests in big box retail and consumer packaged goods environments have prepared us well to offer this durable, cost-efficient product to material handling managers nationwide," said Jon Holthaus, sales manager for Worthington Steelpac. "In the final 12 months of this testing, our steel distribution pallet had less than a 5 percent damage rate, which is five times less than the average damage rate of a traditional wood block style pallet."
The company said that additional testing at Worthington Cylinders, a subsidiary of Worthington Industries, reinforced the product's durability claim, producing a 0 percent damage rate after two years and 52 turns.
"The value proposition of the Steelpac Distribution Pallet is its durability, allowing the number of replacement pallets introduced a year to be reduced, saving the environment and saving organizations thousands of dollars," Holthaus said.
The company's Pennsylvania-based facility currently has the capacity to produce large volumes of pallets. However, expansion plans for additional facilities are also being considered.
There are approximately 1.3 billion pallets currently in United States circulation with another 500 million replacements entering the market each year.
A Worthington Industries company, Worthington Steelpac began operations in 2001 and has concentrated on the customized pallet and racking business. The Steelpac Distribution Pallet will extend the company's line of products and is aimed at creating new markets for the company.
Columbus, Ohio-based Worthington Industries is a diversified metal processing company with annual sales of nearly $3 billion. The company manufactures such products as automotive aftermarket stampings, pressure cylinders, metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser-welded blanks.
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