Increasing the Load Capacity of Plastic Pallets
The primary function of building-in steel pipes into plastic pallets is to enhance their load-bearing capacity. For example, a 12kg Three Runner plastic pallet without steel pipes has the following load capacities: rack load: 500kg, dynamic load: 1000kg, static load: 4000kg. With eight steel pipes built into the Three Runner, its load capacity becomes: rack load: 1000kg, dynamic load: 1500kg, static load: 4000kg.
Plastic pallets are made of HDPE or PP, both of which are inherently tough. When heavy loads are placed on them, the toughness of these materials causes the pallets to deform and bend. When a plastic pallet contains steel pipes, it effectively compensates for this shortcoming. The rigidity of the steel pipes supports the plastic pallet, preventing significant bending and deformation. With less deformation, the pallet’s load-bearing capacity is improved, allowing for more goods to be placed on it.
Maximizing Product Value with Minimal Cost
Different steel pipe thicknesses are available, but the cost is calculated per pipe. A maximum of 10 steel pipes can be added to a single plastic pallet. The price of plastic raw materials is calculated per kg. For every additional kg of plastic raw material, the corresponding mold for the plastic pallet becomes larger, and the mold design and manufacturing process must be more stringent to accommodate the increased load. In other words, the cost of adding internal steel pipes to increase the load capacity of a plastic pallet is the cost of the steel pipes and the simple labor cost of installation. However, if the same load capacity is achieved using plastic raw materials, the cost goes beyond just the raw materials themselves. It includes additional costs for mold design and development, and the need to consider injection molding machines with larger injection volumes. Hidden costs also include increased electricity and wear and tear.