News

New datasheet September 2021: Sheet 31b until BS 7611:1992 is revised is essential reading for manufacturers it explains new field testing procedures for 1000 kg Bulk potato boxes. It may be useful for other crops too.

New datasheets February 2021: frequently revised, many new, this collection of over 210 sheets are leaders in the field of timber packaging. The latest is 33a on BS 7611, perhaps the toughest of all 20 British performance standards to attain. Bulk potato boxes need to be stacked up to 8 high (under cover only) with a tonne in each. Tesco, Sainsbury, Coop, all rely on this method of storage. Initially forced by weak storage box design before 1992, now one of the best BSs ever published with over 90% usage in the UK.

December 2020: New limit on stacking. The HSE, NFU and BSI consider amending BS 7611 to include height limits on the stacking of empty potato boxes outdoors. Currently not coverered in HSE publications or BSs. Recent wind storms have highlighted this need. More information from Palletlink, NAPD or Timcon

November 2020: Quality testing of annular ring nails by Palletlink has shown a large increase in strength made by producers in Eastern Europe over the last year. It is thought that this follows the mandatory strength now needed in building wood structures due to European Building Codes. Wood packaging is a beneficiary and horticultural boxes now have a much needed high quality level.

New service for 2020 - Palletlink free technical hotline and full use of the website and 200 datasheets will be extended in 2020 to pallet pools and fastening suppliers. If your company is a member of TIMCON or NAPD then automatically you become a member of Palletlink and qualify for the full range of services. If you have mislaid your Palletlink Membership Certificate or password, just email us for a replacement.

October 2018 - New datasheet on pallet safe loading, 92b, covers the little understood area of what is a safe load and what to define it as. Look on page Safe Loads or search for 92b in Quicksearch on top right of every page.

Sept 2018 Methyl bromide is a colourless gas which in the past has been widely used as a fumigant for soil, agriculture, timber and as a refrigerant. In 2005, the use of methyl bromide as a pesticide/fumigant was banned under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, apart from forest products quarantine and shipping uses........ See new sheet 85b

October 2017: BS 1133 Section 8: 2011 Packaging Code

BS 1133 Section 8: 2011 Packaging Code - Wooden boxes cases and crates, is one part of BS 1133 which is a very detailed standard that covers plastic, paperboard, steel and glass packing in depth. European standards (ENs) have not covered wood whether for small or large cases and crates simply because they are emphasising performance standards. The EN committee set up to produce a design document some years ago rapidly decided to cease any work at all when the complexity became apparent. The UK BS stands as the only design aid in Europe apart from well used commercial documents in France and Germany. Hence BS 1133 Section 8: 2011 Packaging Code continues to exist and be revised or amended from time to time as in recent months.

A revision has been made by BSI on Section 8 on compression strengths of wood used in packing cases this year to keep it up to date and rectify errors in the 2011 issue. (This document also serves as a reference document for pallets, a standard for which has not been possible since a comprehensive set of pallet standards were produced by CEN and ISO resulting in Standstill over a 10 year period. Hence we have a 100 page document that comfortably exists alongside the CEN and ISO pallet standards.

August 2016: HSE tail lifts

Discussions are taking place aimed at reducing pallet loads on vehicle tail lifts. Involved parties are HSE and certain pallet shippers. This is because when pallets are lowered by powered tail lift drivers still have to manoeuvre loads on pallet trucks, often on less than perfectly flat ground which can lead to operator injury with maximum tail lift loads

April 2016 - Zika virus prevention

China and Korea have introduced new requirements to prevent introduction of the Zika (human) virus, measures that affect shipping and imports. Palletlink have produced detailed datasheet 88m Far Eastern import measures for Zika virus prevention to assist wood packaging producers. Enter 'Zika' or 88m into Quicksearch to locate this new sheet.

3 March 2016 - New HSE Publication

The HSE have published a revised 4th version of 'PALLET SAFETY - GUIDANCE NOTE PM15' this includes stacking height on vehicles, safe loading, importance of load testing, avoiding slippage during shipping plastic pallets and the importance of using BS EN pallet terminology when advertising or communicating safe loads to buyers and users. To download or view the Health and Safety Executive Pallet Safety Guide enter 'PM15' into the Quick-Search Box above.

The HSE document is hard to interpret as regards block stacking (a major issue) and Palletlink have produced a datasheet to assist such interpretation. Enter 'block stacking' into Quicksearch to locate this.

4 November 2015 - Condensation in warehouses

Our member enquiry line is showing that shrink-wrapped pallets, coupled with industries widespread energy saving leading to cooler warehouses overnight, can result in dew-point sometimes being reached. Moisture then condenses under shrink-wrapping, leading to softened corrugated cases or damaged goods.

With cooler weather, with industry's widespread energy saving meaning cooler warehouses overnight, dew-point can sometimes be reached and dry shrink-wrapped pallet loads can be affected. Moisture condenses on cool surfaces in the warehouse, and sometimes under the unit-load shrink-wrapping, leading to softened corrugated packs, spoiled point-of-sale packing and even damaged goods.

There are structural implications too - a rise in moisture in corrugated cardboard packaging can mean a stacked loaded pallet can suffer substantial compression strength loss and stacked pallet loads become insecure. The weight of top layers on the bottom layers can no longer be supported. Corrugated card takes up moiture quickly with a correcpondingly large drop in strength.

PalletLink have produced an explanatory datasheet on the little understood issue of dew-point, ref 82d2, to view it enter that number, or 'dew point' into the Quick Search Box above.

13 October 2014 - 'Swing ticket' change

There are mandatory changes in the quality marking of plywood. It is now obligatory for good quality plywood, strandboard, waferboard and chipboard sheet to be face marked with 'CE' followed by quality level. A long time coming this requirement indicates wet resistance and quality of glueing. Although not mandatory for packaging it does prove the level the buyer is getting and shows what high grades are available.

We have modified our Datasheet on CE mark, Kitemark, Keymark etc to inform members what is required. Enter Swing ticket into Quicksearch to download.

11 September 2014 - Europallet – quality and exchange issues

In the past the UIC Euro and the EPAL Euro have been considered equal. However there have recently been non-acceptance issues by users of either one pallet or the other. There is no technical difference between these pallets - only their markings. There has been a political difference in the last couple of years between UIC (The French inventors of the Europallet system and EPAL the more recent German based Europallet quality control body) but this was apparently resolved. A survey shows 88% of dealers/users were happy with either only 12% had issues. The situation has now eased but our members requested a Datasheet which has now been uploaded ref 11L

22 April 2014 - Formaldehyde alert

There is a major change coming in April 2015 when wood composite pallet blocks, wood sheet chipboard or any wood particleboard component of pallets & packaging will be subject to tight emission controls on formaldehyde vapour emanating from these materials. This Europe wide regulation will have a substantial effect on the manufacture of printers pallets and use in pallets of composite corner or spacer blocks. (These controls also affect the flooring, carpet and furniture industries and for all suppliers and installers in the EU will be mandatory)

PalletLink has prepared a Datasheet for members which is now posted on this site, enter '88h' or 'formaldehyde' into the Quick-Search box at top right of any page.

2 March 2014 - Concrete staining by hardwoods

The high loads on pallets when heavy concrete products are shipped to users means there is only one cost effective material for the pallets - wood. Occasionally Eastern European hardwoods are used and can cause staining making the product in some cases unsalable. Softwoods are usually the answer and we have produced a datasheet to provide answers – enter 87e into Quick search

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