Pallet Specification 61500

e. Reverse Logistics: Organizations involved in lease returns, salvage operations, and so on. These organizations may be branches of the large manufacturers or vended operations controlled by them. They may be involved in the end-of-life management of the pallet, reuse, or recycling and so on.

Our preference is the full 4-way entry, non-reversible, 9 block style. The uni-directional style with the open side on the short side of the pallet; or, the 3 bottom decks are same length as longest pallet dimension. This style has the greatest versatility with regard to access for mechanical equipment worldwide. Full perimeter base style is also acceptable but this restricts access for some types of mechanized lift equipment (especially in Europe). However, full perimeter base styles are generally more stable in warehouse stacking situations and protect cartons slightly better than uni-directional styles and are therefore also acceptable. It is the intent of this group to migrate toward the block style (vs. stringer style) in the interest of true 4-way entry and versatility with regard to handling convenience. Add Illustrations...

Pallets should be designed to ensure maximum flexibility with regard to mechanical equipment used for lifting and moving the load. Fork lifts, motorized pallet jacks, and manual pallet jacks should all be able to lift and move the load. We believe the following limits will ensure success in that regard.

When one of the preferred general use pallets cannot be used because of the unusual size or shape of the product then a custom pallet is required. However, the same principles apply with regard to construction quality, access dimensions and so on. A key point regarding pallets for top heavy items (defined as anything exceeding a height to width ratio of xxx or overbalance tilt angle of xxx) is that the fork access positions only be available in the most stable lifting position. The design should force the fork lift operator to widen the position of the forks and the forks should be surrounded on all sides to prevent tipover incidents. This may preclude any fork access the short side.

It is preferred that pallets be designed to ensure reusability. The pallet should be capable of surviving at least one complete cycle through the supply chain, not merely one trip to your customer. It is the intention of this committee that pallets be designed in such a manner that scrap pallets are minimized and that the vast majority of pallets are standard such that they can be reused with confidence. Arrangements for the return and reuse of standard and custom pallets should be made where economical and all partners to this effort should be willing to cooperate on a reverse logistics process where appropriate.

Weight: The minimum weight within the performance criteria established is the goal. 23kg (50 lbs.) is a target maximum weight.

Use of palletless shipping platforms must be approved in advance by the customer. It is the opinion of this committee that such alternatives are desirable and that as an industry we should try to influence greater use of these alternatives. However, we need greater acceptance of them by the carrier networks (air, ocean, and surface) which requires considerable investment in handling equipment. This is viewed as second phase of this cooperative effort after settling on the pallet standardization issue.

Any pallet which otherwise meets the general objectives and the minimum requirements listed in this section will be considered acceptable for use within the industry. We do not intend to exclude any materials or inhibit creative invention. These tests will ensure that the pallets used within the industry are rugged and capable of withstanding multiple trips without damage to the products carried on them or resulting in safety concerns. Independent laboratories are available to conduct these tests at the expense of the pallet manufacturer. Only pallets meeting the test standards and certified are to be used where compliance with this voluntary specification is required by your customer.

Pallets intended for use as general pallets within the industry which meet the test standard will be marked accordingly (ref. Chemical Industry method CP1, CP2, etc.). Should a similar approach should be used for certified custom pallets or only those used for general purposes?

Furthermore, the construction or manufacturing processes shall not include the use of CFC’s, HCFC’s, or halogenated flame retardants, or intentionally introduced heavy metals (mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium, or cadmium). Furthermore that the total composition would not include in excess of 100ppm (0.01%) of incidental amounts of these heavy metals, which may be introduced due to recycled content.

Pallet Type	Reusable Intl.	Reusable Intl.
Pallet Footprint Size	1200 x 1000mm	1200 x 800mm
Base Configuration	Full Perimeter	Uni-Directional
Reversible?	No	No
Rackable?	Yes	Yes
Accessibility	Full 4-way Entry
Inertness (related to Infestation Problems)	Required	Required
Top Deck Coverage	60% min.
Bottom Deck Coverage	35% min.
Minimum Vertical Clearance Under Top Deck	95mm under load
Maximum Vertical Clearance Under Top Deck	156mm
Maximum Width of Center Posts or Stringers	160mm (6.3")
Minimum Width between outer Posts/Stringers	720mm (28.3")
Maximum Overall Height	165mm (6.5")
Maximum Gross Weight	22.7kg (50 lbs.)
Fasteners per ASME, MH1, part 3	if fasteners are used	if fasteners are used
Racking Performance (ref. ASTM D1185)	Up to 1000 lbs.
Pallet Deflection when racked under load	Max. 13mm (0.5")
Dynamic Stacking Performance (Vehicle)	2.5m (2 high)
Static Stacking Performance (Warehouse)	5.0m (4 high)
Deck Deflection when stacked under load	Max. 6mm (0.25")
Conveyor Performance (ref. ASTM D1185)	1000 lbs. 6 cartons
Coefficient of Friction: Top Deck with Cartons	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Under Deck with Forks	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Bottom deck on Steel	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Stacked Empty Pallets	0.40 minimum
Durability Tests (per ASTM D1185): -- Maximum diagonal deformation of 1.5%	1000 lb. load
a. Corner Drop	6 drops at 40"	6 drops at 40"
b. Tine Tip Impacts on Block or Stringer Ends	3 impacts at 12"	3 impacts at 12"
c. Tine Heel Impacts on Lead Edges	3 impacts at 48"	3 impacts at 48"

Pallet Type	One - Way Domestic	One - Way Domestic
Pallet Footprint Size	1200 x 1000mm	1200 x 800mm
Base Configuration	Full Perimeter	Uni-Directional
Reversible?	No	No
Rackable?	Yes	Yes
Accessibility	Full 4-way Entry
Inertness (related to Infestation Problems)	Preferred	Preferred
Top Deck Coverage	60% min.
Bottom Deck Coverage	35% min.
Minimum Vertical Clearance Under Top Deck	95mm under load
Maximum Vertical Clearance Under Top Deck	156mm
Maximum Width of Center Posts or Stringers	160mm (6.3")
Minimum Width between outer Posts/Stringers	720mm (28.3")
Maximum Overall Height	165mm (6.5")
Maximum Gross Weight	22.7kg (50 lbs.)
Fasteners per ASME, MH1, part 3	if needed	if needed
Racking Performance (ref. ASTM D1185)	Up to 1000 lbs.
Pallet Deflection when racked under load	Max. 13mm (0.5")
Dynamic Stacking Performance (Vehicle)	2.5m (2 high)
Static Stacking Performance (Warehouse)	5.0m (4 high)
Deck Deflection when stacked under load	Max. 6mm (0.25")
Conveyor Performance (ref. ASTM D1185)	1000 lbs. 6 cartons
Coefficient of Friction: Top Deck with Cartons	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Under Deck with Forks	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Bottom deck on Steel	0.40 minimum
Coefficient of Friction: Stacked Empty Pallets	0.40 minimum
Durability Tests (per ASTM D1185): -- Maximum diagonal deformation of 1.5%	1000 lb. load	1000 lb. load
a. Corner Drop	3 drops at 40"	3 drops at 40"
b. Tine Tip Impacts on Block or Stringer Ends	3 impacts at 6"	3 impacts at 6"
c. Tine Heel Impacts on Lead Edges	3 impacts at 24"	3 impacts at 24"

Following is a revised procedure based on feedback from suppliers, engineers, industry contacts, and other operational support groups. The changes are intended to further improve the process.

	Warehouse Stacking (ASTM D1185): Compression Strength
	Suggested stack limits: 2.5m (100" nom) dynamic environment, 5m (200" nom) static environment
	Bending Tests (ASTM D1185): Warehouse Racking
	Coefficient of Friction (VTU protocol developed for plastic pallets)
	Drop Tests (D1185)
	Fork Tine Heel Impact (ASTM D1185) on deck edges, blocks, posts, and stringers
	Vibration Tests (ASTM D1185)
	Unit Load Fast Track Handling (Va. Tech)
	Handling Access: True 4-way entry for fork trucks and pallet jacks used worldwide
	Environmental Conditions: Standing water, cold, heat, high humidity, etc.

Scope	All packing materials made from any amount or any combination of solid wood and/or processed wood components.
Applicability	All IBM operations worldwide, including Other Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) and other vendors performing work for IBM or under contract by IBM. It also includes packing for procured parts from suppliers bound for IBM Manufacturing or Field Service locations worldwide.
Purpose	To ensure minimal delays or rejected shipments associated with compliance to International Phytosanitary regulations designed to combat pest migration.
Objectives	To implement a common marking procedure globally and to identify and use only approved and properly treated materials as required for exports to regulated countries.
Achieved By	Providing clear markings on the regulated articles so that shippers can confidently apply the correct declarations or required certificates.
Marking Procedure	Mark the pallet, skid, crate, or other wooden packaging assembly a minimum of one time on a visible vertical surface, using 19mm minimum characters which are permanent and indelible. This may be done with ink jet printing, heat stamping, paint stencil, or other similar method. Mark the information as specified below. If possible, it is recommended to make the font larger and bolder for the material classification than the other data elements (as shown in the examples below). However, this is not required if it prevents a simple one pass printing application. In all cases, the material classification marking shall be equal or larger in size than the other data elements. Redundant markings on the opposite side of the pallet/crate is recommended but optional. If vertical surfaces provide insufficient space for the markings then scale the characters accordingly or apply them to a top horizontal surface provided that at a minimum the material classification is repeated on a vertical surface. It is also allowed to print the information on multiple lines or break up the information, for instance spread across three separate blocks on a block style pallet.
Material Classification Markings (only one applies to any given item)	A given item shall only carry ONE classification regardless of how many different materials are included in the construction. Follow this list in sequence, the item should carry the marking of the first scenario that matches exactly. Even if the majority of the construction consists of non-SWPM components, the marking shall relate to the solid wood component that exists (if any) and any permanent treatment that was done. "SW" (Softwood): Items marked with this abbreviation contain ANY amount of solid, untreated and unprocessed conifer (aka "softwood", or needle bearing type species of wood) even if combined with treated components. Items with this symbol can technically be exported to non-regulated countries but it is suggested that these not be exported at all (in anticipation of global ban). "HW" (Hardwood): Items marked with this abbreviation contain ANY amount of solid untreated and unprocessed deciduous wood (aka "hardwood", or leaf bearing species of wood) and no conifer even if combined with treated components. Items with this marking technically can be exported to China but we still have had problems with it at certain border crossings. "HT SOFT" (Heat Treated Softwood): Items marked with this abbreviation contain ANY amount of solid, properly heat treated conifer (aka "softwood", or needle bearing type species of wood) which by definition means that it has been heated to a core temperature of at least 56C (133F) for a minimum of 30 minutes and that documentation certifying that has been provided by the treatment facility to the package/pallet manufacturer and can be traced to the production of that specific package, pallet, and so on. This also must not contain any amount of untreated softwood. Note: Only use Kiln dried lumber that meets the temperature and duration requirements above. "HT HARD" (Heat Treated Hardwood): The same heat treatment rules as with conifers (temperature, duration) except when done for deciduous or "leaf bearing" species of wood. "CT SOFT" (Chemical Treated Softwood): For conifers that have been permanently treated with chemicals. Does not include fumigation treatment. Avoid chemically treated softwood since it cannot be recycled or incinerated. "CT HARD" (Chemical Treated Hardwood): For hardwoods that were permanently treated with chemicals. Does not include fumigation treatment. Avoid chemically treated hardwood since it cannot be recycled or incinerated. "NO-SWPM" (No Solid Wood Packing Material): Items marked with this abbreviation may appear to be made of wood and must contain ANY amount of processed wood components but no solid wood whether treated or not of any type. Example: A pallet or crate made with any amount of Oriented Strandboard (OSB), plywood, strawboard, masonite, particle board, or combination of these and meeting the definition of non-solid wood packing materials as defined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and is totally free of solid wood. Note: Plywood is not considered "solid wood" because it has been processed under extreme heat and pressure. "XX" Items marked with the XX abbreviation would be items in which the composition cannot be affirmed such as with refurbished pallets. Existing markings may also be covered up with this as needed. This would be a signal that this particular item may require fumigation or other approved treatment. Additional "X’s" are optional (more than 2 if needed is acceptable). Note: There is no marking for fumigation since this is a temporary treatment. Fumigation, if done must be documented with certificates of fumigation generally issued by the fumigator and endorsed by a Government approved Agency..
Supplier Designation	Required: To identify the final assembly supplier of the pallet, package, crate and so on in some manner. This may be done in any one of these ways.... 1. A minimum 5 character abbreviation of the supplier’s name... -or- 2. A minimum 3 digit abbreviation followed by 2 numeric digits to distinguish unique manufacturing facilities. -or- 3. The supplier’s logo if this can be easily distinguished. The logo can also be followed with a 2 digit number to identify a specific facility if needed. -or- 4. The full name of the supplier if this can be accommodated in the space available. The name shall be that of the final assembly location which built the pallet or package and shipped it to IBM for use. Take care to ensure that the code chosen does not resemble one of the material classifications.
Country of Manufacture of the Wooden Item	Optional / Restricted: It is expected that this would infrequently if ever be denoted on the wooden item. This is an important change from the original program.. This is because the regulations apply to the source of the shipment, not necessarily the source of the raw lumber or the wooden package assembly. It is also not necessary for shipper declarations or certifications. Therefore, a designation of the country of manufacture of the wooden item may only cause more confusion and delays than it would eliminate. If it becomes important for other reasons to denote the country of manufacture (for instance, reusable items) then these are the rules by which this must be done.... 1. If country of origin of the pallet is included in the wood marking procedure, it must be prefaced with the phrase: "Pallet (or Container) made in xxx", where xxx is the full English name of the country in which the pallet was made; 2. If the country where the pallet was made is not the same country in which the pallet was treated, the following phrases must be shown: "Pallet made in <full English name of the country in which the pallet was made>", "Pallet treated by <supplier name> <supplier ISO code>". Clearly, these restrictions and requirements force us beyond what could be achieved in a single line of text which is the goal of this marking procedure.
Date of Manufacture	Required: Format may be MM-YYYY or YYYY-MM. The specific day is not required. A four digit year is considered important since in some parts of the world the year precedes the month when dates are printed.
Part Number	The 7 digit alphanumeric part number of the package assembly. Required for IBM designed and specified items, optional for supplier items.
Engineering Change Number	Optional: The six digit alphanumeric "EC" number which may distinguish a different design for items with the same part number. This may be important to some locations and it is their prerogative to specify if it if they wish. If the EC level is included, use the prefix "EC" in front of the number to identify it.
Reusable Pool System Symbol	Optional / Restricted: For instance, the familiar "EUR" symbol associated with the European pool system pallets (aka "Euro Pallets") or any other similar program previously established or future program. This marking to be placed as specified by that system. Only pallets meeting the design and construction requirements of the marked pool system are to carry that symbol. Note: Unless the material type is marked on a "Euro Pallet" it should not be exported to a regulated country.
Example Marking of an IBM Stringer Pallet	HT SOFT__6038887__ ONG12__06-2000 (Matl. Classification) (Part No.) (Supplier) (Date) Underscore shown to demonstrate spacing between elements, it is not marked
Example Marking of an IBM Block Style Pallet	HT SOFT ONG12 6038887 06-2000 (Matl. Class and Part No.) (Supplier and Date) First Block Second Block
Example Marking of a Supplier’s Pallet	HT SOFT__ONG12__06-2000 (Matl. Classification) (Supplier) (Date) Underscore shown to demonstrate spacing between elements, it is not marked
Points of Emphasis	1. Do not mark items which are clearly not of wooden origin unless that assembly does have some wooden components somewhere else in the assembly. For instance, if a package consisted of a plastic pallet and a plywood crate on top of it then the appropriate wood classification marking should be placed on a vertical surface of the wooden crate portion, not the plastic base pallet. It is not necessary to mark corrugated or plastic items. 2. There is a concern that the country of manufacture (of the wooden item) may be confused as a Country of Origin declaration of the goods. For this reason, the country name or initials should be avoided unless deemed essential for other reasons. If so, strict policy for denoting this applies (as shown above). 3. Reusable containers, regardless of material composition, must always be marked as follows... Reusable Container Container Made in XXX (where XXX is the full country name in English where the container was made). This is a separate matter not related to the infestation issue but is important regarding duty payments and taxes on exports. 4. Use the "XX" material classification marking if the species, origin, or treatment cannot be affirmed. By default, anything marked this way or unmarked cannot be used for export to a regulated country. 5. If refurbishing a pallet which has already been marked, obliterate, cover up, or remove the original marking and then instruct suppliers to turn this side to the inside so that it will not likely be observed. Any marking appearing on an inside surface is not to be used for inspection or operational purposes. 6. Every wooden assembly would get some type of marking regardless of composition at the time of manufacture.
References	USDA’s APHIS Website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp National Wooden Pallet and Container Association http://www.nwpca.com
Originator	This document originated by IBM’s Worldwide Distribution organization. Bob Sanders (btsander@us.ibm.com), Erich Guenter (eguenter@de.ibm.com)