Pallet production as a business

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Producing packaging is a very simple matter. In addition, the organization of the entire technological process will not require serious investments from the entrepreneur. That is why a novice businessman should pay attention to the production of pallets, or pallets. This is a flat-shaped shipping container made of metal, plastic or wood. It is intended for storage, as well as for moving goods using mechanical means.

Pallet production is a very promising business. This is due to the demand for these products in the market, where, due to their high cost, there are no imported analogues. In addition, it attracts start-up entrepreneurs and the relatively small capital that will be needed to purchase equipment for the production of pallets.

Target Audience

Production of pallets as a business is a very promising option. This product will certainly be of interest to those organizations that use storage facilities in the course of their business activities. Among potential customers, there are several main groups, these are:

• manufacturing plants;
• shopping malls and supermarkets;
• logistics companies;
• agro-industrial enterprises.

Planning

At the first stage of the implementation of your idea, you will need to draw up a business plan, which will detail the production of pallets from scratch. This document should take into account the main features of the production of these products. Domestic companies producing pallets, adhering to the recommendations of GOST 9557-87, produce "euro-pallets". These products meet all existing European standards and are very competitive in the market. At the planning stage, it will be necessary to determine how the technological process will be established. In order to produce high-quality pallets, you should give preference to automated lines that will allow you to produce products in accordance with the requirements of GOST.

When planning your future business, you will also need to find out the main distribution channels, while securing agreements with enterprises. An important stage preceding the opening of your own business is the study of potential competitors. Only after that it will be possible to make an offer to your customers that will be the most beneficial for them.

Register

To draw up and sign long-term contracts for the wholesale supply of products, your company must have an official status. In this case, it is impossible to do without registration of an individual entrepreneur, OJSC or LLC. This should also be taken into account when drawing up a businessplan.

Procurement of equipment

Pallet production as a business must start with the purchase of a machine or line. They can be either new or used. And do not immediately abandon the second option. Used pallet machines can be in decent condition and generate good returns for a small investment.

Today, there are many offers on the market for entrepreneurs starting their own business. The price of lines and machines on which the production of wooden pallets will be carried out differs depending on the year of their production and terms of use. Some proposals even date back to 1980. However, if the machine went through all major repairs on time and is in good condition today, then it is advisable to purchase it as equipment for the production of pallets. The price of equipment released in subsequent decades is much higher, which is unprofitable in the early stages of business development.

An entrepreneur must also decide on the scope of his business. The prioritization will depend on this, which will allow you to choose the type of equipment you need.

Technological process

Production of pallets is not particularly difficult. The production of these products will require premises, tools, equipment and raw materials. The main stages of the technological process itself include:

• cutting blanks into boards and bosses;
• board cutting;
• boss trimming;
• direct assembly of the product.

These simple jobs are within the power of every employee who has basic skills in using a circular saw, drill and screwdriver. The assembled pallets are not further processed - they are not primed or painted. Finished products are simply stockpiled, awaiting distribution.

Used raw materials

For the production of pallets, wood is required, the percentage of moisture content in which does not exceed 18-20%. Raw wood is cheaper. It will also be possible to make blanks from it, and then to assemble pallets. Just keep in mind that with this option, drying will be required for the finished product. And this will require a special room and additional financial resources for its heating.

That is why the most profitable is the purchase of raw materials already brought to the required state. In order to somewhat reduce the cost of wood, it makes sense to conclude agreements with the lumber manufacturers themselves, bypassing the services of intermediaries. This will ensure a profitable purchase of raw materials of good quality. The location for the production of pallets in close proximity to the sources of wood will reduce the cost of transportation.

The raw materials for the manufacture of pallets are boards of the second and third grades or bars. Checkers consisting of glued sawdust are also suitable. Boards can be used both semi-edged and unedged. Pallet bars are taken whole, howevertheir cost is twice the option of glued sawdust. All currently existing requirements for lumber are contained in GOST 9557-87.

Necessary for the production of pallets are also nails. They fasten all the prepared parts.

If the production of pallets is established in small quantities, then products can be produced manually without renting a special room, as well as buying equipment. However, with well-established sales in decent volumes, it will be necessary to equip the workshop.

Manual assembly of pallets

This way of producing pallets will require the purchase of a special table. It is equipped with length and width limiters that allow you to set the required pallet size. Before starting work, the table is set horizontally. Cones are laid out in its special grooves, and on them - boards for the bottom and top. Then one or two workers fasten the workpiece with nails on both sides. To do this, use a conventional or pneumatic hammer.

Sawmills often knock down pallets by hand without tables, using production waste. Of course, this option requires little cost, but it is impossible to produce a competitive product. Pallets will be cheap, but of poor quality and in scanty quantities.

Special table allows you to significantly speed up the process. It will not take up much space, but at the same time it will allow you to control the parameters of the product and the correctness of its angles. In addition, the employee is exempted from such operations as measuring and controlling squareness. This allows you to releaseup to two hundred items in one shift.

Semi-automatic line

Using more productive equipment, you can significantly increase the number of products produced. For this, a semi-automatic pallet production line can be purchased.

She releases one and a half pallets in one minute and is served by two operators. It also requires one forklift driver. Such equipment will require a special room, since its length is 6 meters, width - 2 meters, and height - 3 meters. The minimum cost of a semi-automatic line is within five million rubles. Such equipment, manufactured in Europe, is capable of producing large volumes of finished products. In addition, it does not need major repairs for a long time. However, the main obstacle to acquiring such a line may be its price, which starts from ten million rubles.

Automatic equipment

If you have an impressive amount of start-up capital (up to 10 million rubles), you can think about purchasing the most productive line. Automatic machines are capable of producing up to 650 pallets within one minute. The products produced in this way are of high quality. Automatic lines assembled in Europe will be able to operate without maintenance for ten years. They will require five or six operators and two or three forklift drivers to service them.

Production profitability

Business profitability byproduction of pallets will directly depend on the cost of raw materials and the volume of products produced. The more pallets produced during one shift, the faster the investment will pay off.

With proper organization, this business is one of the most profitable. Its payback is on average two to three years, because pallets are in constant demand, and their production takes a little time and labor.

Plastic pallets

Recently, the production of plastic pallets is gaining momentum. This is due to the new conditions dictated by the current interstate economic ties. Plastic pallets are especially popular with both manufacturers and carriers, as they increase the safety of transporting goods over long distances.

Manually, of course, such a product is impossible to produce. A novice entrepreneur will have to purchase special equipment, having previously decided how this product will be produced.

Plastic pallets can be made by injection molding. The products are obtained after high pressure pressing of special raw materials in molds. Another method of manufacturing plastic pallets is rotational. In this case, the plastic powder solidifies in a mold rotating in the oven. There is another way - injection molding.

It is worth saying that the reliability of plastic pallets depends on the methodtheir manufacture. The equipment used also plays a significant role in this. Recently, shower trays (made in Russia) have been very popular. Made to order on special equipment, they can be of various shapes.

That is why the production of shower trays can be considered as an idea for a business. To date, these products, made of acrylic, are very popular in the consumer market. Such pallets are optimal according to many criteria, which won the positive feedback from customers. Acrylic products are low cost, easy to install and easy to use. Attracts buyers and a variety of designs of such products. Given the high consumer demand, you can count on the high profitability of the business, which will soon begin to bring tangible income.