FAQ: EPAL Euro Pallets

In the paragraphs that follow, we’ll address some of your most pressing inquiries about Euro Pallets and outline all the vital information you need to know before making a stock purchase.

What are Euro Pallets?

Euro-pallet, also known as EPAL-pallet, is the standard European pallet defined by the UIC pallet working group and the UIC 435-2 leaflet. Pallets that meet the standards are eligible for the European Pallet Pool, a system that allows for “pallet for pallet” exchanges.

The standard size for EUR 1 EPAL pallets is 1200 x 800 x 144 mm.

Euro Pallets heat-treated and dried (KD) with humidity level less than "

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Questions and Answers

How do I place my order?

Orders can be placed directly on the online shop or send your quote to our orders department email: info@epaleuropallets.com

(please add quotation number and delivery address if possible)

How can I pay for my order?

The customer can pay for the goods in the following ways:

  • Bank transfer
  • PayPal

The availability of a specific quantity of pallets in the warehouse and the final price can be found out by calling the indicated contact numbers.

How much is the delivery fee?
All products are eligible for free delivery on orders over $1000! Otherwise, a $50.00 delivery charge will be applied.
How to make a pre-order for bulk delivery?

Pallets are delivered in unlimited quantities at any date and time convenient for the customer. In order to place an order, you must contact the company’s manager by calling the contact phone number, specify the total required quantity and type of container. The application can also be sent to the specified e-mail address.

Do you have a hard time making a choice or do you need advice? Specialists will be happy to answer all questions.

How long will my delivery take once I order?
Providing the products are in stock when ordered, delivery will take between 1 and 3 working days (depending on the delivery method you have selected).
How many pallets can be delivered by truck?

Taking into account practical observations and deliveries, we can create the following summary of data:

  • 5t (32-42 cubic meters) – up to 300 euro pallets
  • 10t (35-45 cubic meters) – up to 400 euro pallets
  • 20t (82-96 cubic meters) – up to 750 euro pallets
Will I need a forklift truck to unload pallets?
No, a tail lift truck can be requested to deliver your goods (please specify this on your order).
What is your returns or refund policy?
We offer a return, refund or replacement policy if your order is not as described, lost or damaged. We will need signed paperwork on receipt of goods stating this before any action can be taken.
Are all EPAL pallets heat treated?
Yes, all of our new EPAL pallets are Kiln Dried and Heat Treated to the strict ISPM15 standard, with an iron branding stamp on two sides to ensure hassle-free exporting.
What are the rules for Euro pallets?

Euro pallets are manufactured according to strict quality regulations and are occasionally inspected by independent firms. All pallets should meet certain criteria before being approved.

The absence of an approval logo indicates a counterfeit pallet, which can cause damage to the product transported or handled by it. Transporting products on an unauthentic pallet can lead to the refusal of products by customers or sometimes serious penalties from authorities. Other requirements include:

  • Materials:  11 tables in high-quality wood, 9 solid woodblock, and 78 nails.
  • Euro pallet Dimensions: Length 1200 mm (tolerance limit + 8/-5); Width 800mm (tolerance limit + 8/- 5x mm); Height 144mm (tolerance limit + 10/ – 0x mm).
  • Weight: approximately 25kg.
  • Workload: 1500kg with a constant load on the entire pallet.
  • Width of the board:  Top board should have a width of 22 by 25 mm, while the bottom board should have a width of 22 to 24 mm.
  • Only approved companies should manufacture, mark, and repair Euro pallets.
  • Manufacturing shall take place following UIC Code 435-2 standards and repairs following UIC Code 435-4 standards.
  • Euro pallet should contain the EPAL, EUR, or DB markings. In other cases, the mark of the European railway companies can replace the EPAL.
  • All wooden pallets shall be marked with the ISPM NO-5 standards.
What is the global standard for Euro Pallets?
The pallets are produced in compliance with stringent quality standards (UIC standard 435-2), and they are inspected on a regular basis by a separate company. All pallets that match the EPAL standards are authenticated. A false pallet might harm the items it transports or handles if the check and approval stamps are absent. Transporting on an untrusted pallet may result in clients rejecting the products or possibly harsh penalties imposed by the authorities. EPAL pallets comply with standards in most countries through IPPC treatment.
Are Euro Pallets treated chemically?
These pallets have not been chemically treated. Thermal treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation are the two most common treatment methods. However, some countries, such as Germany, do not allow fumigation treatment.

Euro pallets from EPAL are only heat treated. The hot air circulates around the pallets until a certain core temperature is reached and a sufficient amount of water is removed from the wood. As a result, pallets contain no chemicals or allergens at the end.

What is the stamp on the central pallet block?

You can check where a pallet was produced using the pallet stamps. Please examine the following graphics:

What type of wood is used to make Euro Pallets?
Euro pallets are constructed from a wide variety of materials, including wood, plastic as well as steel.  However, the most common material is wood. Approved types of wood include:

  • Coniferous (fir, pine, spruce)
  • Softwood (alder, birch)
  • Hardwood (ash, acacia, oak, maple, sycamore, European chestnut)

Wood pallets offer a great blend of weight, durability, and cost. Furthermore, there are a lot of pallets recycling infrastructure, which helps to promote the refurbishment and reuse of wood pallets. This are also highly reparable if damaged.

What is a phytosanitary certificate?
Wood is a natural material, so it can contain certain types of microorganisms. In order to get rid of unwanted microflora and microbes, the tree is subjected to phytosanitary treatment. Since 2002, a standard has been in force on the territory of the EU that regulates the requirements for containers made of natural materials circulating in international trade.

This standard is called ISPM 15. All pallets used to transport products in international markets must undergo phytosanitary treatment. The sanitary treatment certificate certifies the safe use of pallets and pallets. Sanitary treatment is carried out by applying temperature exposure (HT), drying in special chambers (KD), and treatment with methyl bromide (MB).

Why do pallet corners have rounded edges?
European-style pallets have chamfered edges. The absence of sharp corners facilitates the loading process, simplifies the maneuvering of forklifts, and also enables high-quality packing of cargo, eliminating the risk of damaging the film or adhesive tape.
What does "IPPC" on the EPAL pallet block mean?
The conditional designation “IPPC” is used by representatives of the phytosanitary service of the country where the pallet was processed. The mark is applied after the sanitary treatment procedure is completed.

The agreement on mandatory handling of containers was signed by all organizations involved in the process of international cargo transportation, including Ukraine.

Processing is carried out in a heat chamber at a temperature of +560 C for 30 minutes without a break. Both the outer surface of the tree and its core are exposed to the influence of high temperatures.

Difference between blue and red EPAL pallets?
In terms of construction, the pallets do not differ. They have the same dimensions and fastening system. The difference is up to the owner: the blue pallets belong to CHEP and the red ones to LPR. This means that the companies are the full and sole owners of the pallets, but the customer uses them for a fee on a rental basis.

The EPAL system is an open sharing system. The customer buys the pallet directly from the manufacturer and uses it as he sees fit. EPAL is considered to be the most cost-effective scheme.

What does the marking EUR, EPAL, UIC mean?
European counters with dimensions of 800×1200×145 mm are designated as EUR. The stamp is applied by burning it into the wood and placing it in the oval. The stamp is located on the bearing supports located on the right side of the product. The manufacturer’s marking is applied to the rest of the support legs.

The EPAL mark indicates that the pallet belongs to the European Association of Manufacturers. The transition to uniform standards was made in the mid-1950s. It greatly simplified loading and unloading operations, placement of goods on the cargo platforms of cars and railway wagons.

EPAL pallets are produced by almost 2000 companies in 30 countries of the world. The logo is placed in an oval on the outer blocks, where the release date, owner’s license code and IPPC procedure number are indicated.

The UIC designation belongs to the International Union of Railways. The designation “UIC” is a trademark, the violation of the rules of its use is subject to administrative liability. The production of pallets of this category is regulated by the international standard UIC 435-2. EPAL’s technical regulations were written on its basis. To produce pallets with this mark, the manufacturer must have the appropriate license.

Certified FIN pallets are marked with the “FIN” mark . Their dimensions are 1000 × 1200 × 145 mm. The “FIN” sign is placed in a rectangle by burning it on the right-hand supporting pillars. Information in the form of numbers is placed on the central support legs: date and year of manufacture, manufacturer’s license number, manufacturer’s code, date of sanitary treatment.

Knowing the marking of pallets helps the customer to better navigate in the choice of the type of packaging. Pallets are selected depending on the specifics of the transported cargo, its volume, maximum transportation time. It is not allowed to use unmarked containers in the framework of interstate transport.

Tip: The standard Euro Pallet is one of the most well-known and widely used types of wooden packaging, both in warehouses and for transportation (EUR 1 – 1200 x 800 mm). Euro Pallets must comply with ISPM 15 of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The standard allows our pallets to be used freely in international traffic.

Value Added Pallet Service

We manufacture a wide variety of wooden pallets and crates. All wooden pallet crate boxes are made from high-quality wood in accordance with industry standards. We ensure good quality product at competitive rates to our clients.

DELIVERY DEADLINES

Strict adherence to deadlines.
Delivery time starting from 1 day.

COMPANY HISTORY

We are a reliable company with 12 years of working experience.

FLEXIBLE DISCOUNTS

We offer discount deals on pallets and half-pallet orders.

Shipping Solutions

Pallet delivery & payment terms depend on retail or wholesale

WAREHOUSE RESERVES

Container cases and trays dimensioned for standard pallets

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Production Capacity

We produce a wide range of pallets and load carriers for use in industry and international business. Manufactured on state-of-the-art, robot-assisted production lines, our quality plastic and wooden pallets meet international standards and very stringent hygiene requirements.

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  • over 20000 pallets per day
  • over 4.8 mill. pallets a year
  • One of the largest drying facilities in southern Germany
  • Very high storage capacity
  • IISO-certified since 1995
  • International production standards
  • Decades of experience
  • Large product range
  • Special production line solutions to meet individual requirements
  • Specialist in system pallets
  • Reliable transport logistics
  • Guaranteed timely deliveries