When it comes to shipping and storing products, the pallet you choose directly impacts safety, efficiency, and total operating cost. While used pallets are often seen as the most economical option, more businesses are moving toward new and custom-built pallets to improve consistency, reduce product damage, and support supply chain demands.
Why New Pallets Are Becoming the Standard
New pallets offer one major advantage that used pallets can’t consistently provide: predictability. Each pallet is built to specific material, size, and load requirements, reducing variation in performance from pallet to pallet.
New and custom pallets are typically the preferred choice for:
Heavy or High-Value Products
When product protection is critical, structural consistency matters. New pallets can be built to match specific load requirements, helping to reduce deflection, breakage, and transit damage.
Automated Warehouses
Automation systems depend on uniform, consistent pallet dimensions and structural integrity. Even small variations in re-used or recycled pallets can create jams, downtime, or handling issues that interrupt production.
Retail and Customer-Facing Shipments
Presentation matters when pallets move through retail distribution or direct-to-consumer channels. New pallets provide a clean, uniform appearance that reflects product quality and brand standards.
Export and Compliance Requirements
Certain shipping environments require pallets that meet specific dimensional or structural standards. New pallets ensure compliance without uncertainty or variability.
The Real Cost of Inconsistent Pallets
The purchase price of a pallet is only one part of the total equation. An inexpensive pallet that breaks prematurely or causes damaged shipments can quickly become the more expensive option.
Some of the hidden costs businesses overlook include:
- Damaged products during shipping
- Production downtime from pallet failures
- Employee safety concerns
- Increased replacement frequency
- Shipping delays
- Higher overall handling costs
A lower-cost pallet doesn’t always translate to lower total cost. In many cases, it increases downstream losses that are harder to track. Learn more about the hidden costs and risks of low-quality shipping pallets.
Custom Pallets Deliver the Highest Efficiency
Standard pallets don’t fit for every business. Custom pallets are needed when standard dimensions, weight capacities, or handling requirements don’t match the demands of a specific product or workflow.
At Lakeland Pallets, we use the Pallet Design System™ (PDS) to engineer custom pallet designs based on load requirements and application conditions. This includes everything from lumber grade, deck and stringer configuration, and load performance criteria to determine the appropriate specification for each application.
Custom new pallets can help you to:
- Better protect your products
- Reduce material waste
- Improve shipping efficiency
- Lower long-term packaging costs
- Deliver consistent performance across every shipment
Build a More Reliable Pallet Program with Lakeland Pallets
If you’re looking for new pallets or a custom-designed solution, contact us today to request a quote and discover the best pallet solution for your business.
Where You Can Find Us
Lakeland Pallets has three convenient locations to ensure your wood packaging needs are met. Feel free to give us a call, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Phone: (616) 949-9515
Phone: (630) 232-4840
Phone: (574) 630-5906