New testing on ORBIS plastic pallet shows it can withstand 400 cycles

ORBIS Corporation, an international leader in reusable packaging, announced it has validated its 40×48-inch Odyssey plastic pallet has approximately 36 times the life span of a 40×48-inch whitewood stringer pallet, according to a recent study. Researchers from the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design used the center’s FasTrack life-cycle analysis to compare relative durability. The FasTrack life-cycle analysis simulated rough handling of palletized unit loads, using a multi-step handling sequence. In testing, the Odyssey plastic pallet completed the sequence 400 cycles without failure, while the wood pallet’s average failure was after 11 cycles. “In completing this testing, we wanted to quantify the life and durability of plastic pallets to help companies understand the long-term cost savings associated with reusable plastic pallets,” said Achim Banik, lead engineer for ORBIS. “The FasTrack life-cycle analysis confirms just one of the many advantages plastic pallets have over wood. More companies are transitioning to plastic pallets not only for their durability, but also for their uniform design for seamless integration with automated systems, cleanability and sustainable benefits.