Accurate fork alignment reduces damage to pallets
Every day millions of pallets are moved using forklift trucks. It is estimated that the UK alone requires 50 million new pallets to be added to the supply chain annually. For the whole of Europe the figure is 350 million, globally 1.5 billion*. Most of these new pallets are to replace older pallets that have reached the end of their useful lifecycle (typically between 6 and 10 journeys).
Currently 20% of all the timber grown in Europe is consumed in producing pallets and packing cases.
The costs associated with producing these new pallets and in scrapping the old pallets are staggering, but much of it is absorbed by the supply chain as a running cost. Companies up and down the country having a pallet graveyard tucked out of sight and out of mind.
Most damage is caused to pallets when they are being moved, and most of this movement is performed by forklift trucks. Every time the forks hit or rub against the timber they stress the pallet structure. Every time loaded pallets are lifted or lowered with unlevel forks they experience large twisting and bending forces.
To minimize pallet damage, forklift forks should be parallel with the ground as they are lifted and lowered, but this is very difficult to judge from the driver’s position.
ForkAngles makes it possible for the forklift operator to set the correct tilt angle first time every time, which will reduce the amount of damage caused to pallets. By reducing the amount of damage the life cycle of pallets can be increased, which improves the CO2 footprint.
* Figures from Timcon – Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation