Palletization (Standards)
Introduction
A palé (only term recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy),[1] pallet (not recommended by the Fundéu, as it is neither English nor Spanish),[2] pallet (in Latin America, where the terms palet, estiba and tarima are also used), parihuela (in Peru), or (ambiguously) paleta is a frame of wood, plastic or other material used in the movement of load, to facilitate lifting and handling with small hydraulic "Crane (machine)") cranes, called forklifts or pallet trucks. It is not clear whether the first to use it was the American army or the Europeans to supply their troops in Europe during World War II. In Colombia and in some areas of South America, the term estiba is used.
Pallet size
The most common measurements and denominations (in millimeters) for the pallet platform are the following:[3].
There are also other sizes that are used in much smaller proportions, almost marginally:.
Industrial pallets may have other standards or specific dimensions, particularly in the chemical sector. The size is the most widespread in Europe, although .
Materials
Pallets are made of various materials: wood, plastic, pressed cardboard, light alloy, etc.[4][5].
Developments for non-stackable or liquid products
Products that are not stackable due to their lack of quadrangular shapes can be packaged, handled and transported on Box Pallet type pallets in the case of finished products or on a pallet-container for bulk products (potatoes or semi-finished products), generally composed of a metal, wooden or plastic pallet and four walls.
For the handling of liquids or bulk fluids in all types of industries, new proposals have emerged such as the pallet-tank, composed of a metal pallet on which a polyethylene tank (approximately 1 m³ capacity) is mounted that is protected with a mesh of metal tubes. They are usually reusable and are equipped with a filling and emptying hole. They are suitable for all types of liquids, even dangerous or flammable liquids. This type of pallet-deposit is beginning to displace the old barrel-type metal drums due to its cubic shape, its durability and the advantage of being able to be handled by a forklift.[6].