Which End of Pallet Industry Standard For Lifting Pallets Forklifts

Among many first time users of warehouse handling or pallets there is the question, “which end of pallet industry standard for lifting pallets forklifts”？

This one question is actually going to be more of a decision that needs to be made based on the type of pallet you have. So in order to better address your query, next we will give you the knowledge points of pallets around this question!

Type of pallet

There are many types of pallets, some articles may categorize them by region, others by use, and in this article we will introduce you to the types of structure and material of the pallet around the pallet and handling.

Material of the pallet

There are four common materials of the pallet: wood pallet, plastic pallet, steel pallet and composite pallet. Their differences are mainly based on the use of different needs, for example, you need moisture-proof, waterproof, environmental protection or solid and so on.

The face of different needs to pick the right material pallet can be, but the focus of our article does not lie in this, so do not do too much introduction. But it is worth mentioning that most of our common pallets are wooden pallets and plastic pallets, and wooden pallets are the most widely used.

Types of Pallet Structures

The most common types of pallets are 4-way pallets and 2-way pallets, which have a direct impact on which end of the pallet a forklift should insert.

2-way pallets

Design: Forks can only be inserted into the pallet from two opposite directions, i.e. front to back or side to side.

Advantages: Simple and stable structure, easier to maintain (especially wooden) and cheaper (lower manufacturing costs).

Disadvantages: Less flexible (because it only supports insertion in two opposite directions), not suitable for high-density storage and low efficiency.

Applications: Usually used for floor stacking/light load storage.

4-way pallets

Structural design: Forks can be inserted in all four directions, i.e. front, back, left, right and four directions you can use the forks to insert pallets.

Advantages: High flexibility, improved space utilization, suitable for automated storage and operation with different forklift formats (front fork, side fork, etc.).

Disadvantages: 

Durability may be lower (some brands in order to achieve four-way insertion in the design of the pallet to weaken the load-bearing capacity),

maintenance is more cumbersome (structural design is more complex compared to the 2-way pallets, the maintenance of the difficulty has risen, especially plastics and composite materials, more difficult) 

and the price is more expensive compared to the 2-way pallets (because of the structural design of the more complex manufacturing costs are higher). 

Applications: Suitable for high mobility, high access efficiency warehouses

Which end of pallet industry standard for lifting pallets forklifts？

When we understand the types of pallets, I can just discuss them with you.

The first thing we need to know is that there is usually no hard and fast rule in the pallet industry as to which end of the pallet we must use a forklift insert to lift the pallet.

Secondly, the deciding factor in determining which section of the pallet we insert the forks from is based on the type of construction of the pallet. 

For example, if you are using 2-way pallets, we usually insert the forklift forks in the “width direction” of the pallet, as this allows for better weight distribution and stability, and most 2-way pallets are designed this way. 

If you're using 4-way pallets, there are basically no rules, because all four directions can be carried out to insert forklift racks to lift the pallet.

In the end, you just need to choose the insertion end based on the type of pallet construction you have.

Things to keep in mind when pallet handling

Choosing the right type and size of pallet

The size and capacity of the pallet needs to be picked according to the goods you are carrying, if the size and capacity of the pallet doesn't match your goods there is a risk of a safety incident.

Stacking goods correctly

We also need to pay attention to some safety operations when stacking goods on the pallet. For example, we need to place the goods evenly on the pallet to ensure a stable center of gravity.

When stacking we also need to pay attention to the overall height, which we recommend is not more than 1.5 meters.

Finally, if there are no special circumstances, it is best to use a winding film or strap to fix the goods, so that it will be safer when handling.

Insert and lift the pallet correctly

When inserting the pallet, we need to align the pallet socket parallel to the pallet to avoid friction or impact.

Forks should be fully inserted into the pallet jacks to avoid short insertion, which may cause the pallet to break or tilt when lifting the pallet.

When lifting the pallet, remember to lift the pallet to a safe height and never lift it too high to cause the forklift to tip over.

Path of Transportation

In planning the path of our forklifts, we need to pay attention to the width of the aisle, leaving enough room for the forklift to turn and other operations.

In the operation of forklifts in the warehouse aisle handling palletized goods before, we need to ensure that the handling path has no obstacles to ensure that the ground is flat, no water or debris, to prevent slipping or accidental collision.

Finally, we also need to evacuate the crowd during the operation, not too many people within the scope of the operation, in addition to the rest of the staff can not be present.

Conclusion

There is too much to say on the topic of work safety, so I do not do too much explanation here, interested in specifically going to the relevant content to learn. In the end I think for “which end of pallet industry standard for lifting pallets forklifts” this question you should have the answer, I hope my content can help you.

If you still have more questions/business needs about pallets or storage racking, we also welcome you to contact us!