Aug 06, 2008
Grocer Users & Pallet Leaders Unite,Industry Leaders Launch Block ...
Posted by : ueb555
Grocer Users & Pallet Leaders Unite,Industry Leaders Launch Block ... Grocer Users & Pallet Leaders Unite,Industry Leaders Launch BlockPool Initiative By Chaille Brindley Date Posted: 8/4/2008 Pallet management has been the next big thing for wood pallets forthe last ten plus years. But it has yet to materialize in theUnited States in a big way due to the fragmentation of the whitewood pallet industry. That may all be about to change. The Board of Directors of the National Wooden Pallet and ContainerAssociation (NWPCA) assigned a blue-ribbon task group to explorethe concept of an industry-wide pallet management system uniquelytailored to the needs of the U.S. grocery market. This group hasworked closely with representatives of the U.S. grocery industry togauge customer interest and to iron out a few specifics. A lot ofdetails are still in the draft stage. Here is what we do know. The effort will be coordinated by anot-for-profit organization that is governed by both palletcompanies and pallet users. The pool will utilize a block palletthat is tracked using secure software on an individual palletbasis. Similar to the EPAL and CPC pools, the pallets will be madeand repaired to a specific quality standard. The NWPCA stated thatpallet quality will be guaranteed through rigorous and continuousthird-party inspections by qualified inspection agencies. The NWPCA intends to operate the tracking system in cooperationwith pallet suppliers and owners. According to the NWPCAannouncement, the program will be ISPM-15 compliant. Modern Materials Handlings Web site recently carried a news article on the program. BruceScholnick, president of the NWPCA, told Modern This will be a guaranteed buyback system, so once its up andrunning it will be a nominal cost program funded by itsparticipants. Well repair the pallets and the pallets will belongto the system. The participants will own a fraction of the system. A buyback system is unique compared to the CPC and EPAL systemsalthough some EPAL producers offer their own buyback programs forcustomers. Much of the particulars about how the system is going towork have yet to be decided. Currently, the task force behind theinitiative is looking for input and participation from both palletcompanies and users. Contact the NWPCA directly at 703/519-6104 ore-mail bscholnick@palletcentral.comto share your thoughts. A presentation and discussions on theconcept will occur at the upcoming NWPCA Recycling and PackagingConference & Exposition, held September 10-12, 2008 inMinneapolis, Minn. One thing that makes this initiative different is that the groceryindustry appears open to the idea. Concerns over pallet quality aswell as rising demand in some sectors for block pallets could beforming the perfect situation for an industry cooperative programto work. MaterialsHandling.Net will have more analysis and information onthe new pallet management initiative as plans develop in the nearfuture.
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