How to Palletize Your Shipments the Right Way

If you own a small business, you’ve probably heard about palletizing. Maybe you’ve even palletized a few shipments before. Palletizing refers to the process of stacking and securing goods onto a pallet for shipment or storage.
It might sound like an easy process, but it’s a tad more complicated than you’d think. Here’s how to palletize your shipments the right way. By following these three simple pieces of advice, you can keep your products safe from damage.
Pack Them Up
Before you can stack boxes on the pallet, you have to package your products in said boxes. Your boxes should be as full as possible; fill any space not taken up by your products with cushioning (packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc.). The less empty space you have, the safer your products will be from damage.
You should also make sure to use enough tape when closing the boxes. Otherwise, your products could fall out during shipment.
Stack in Layers
Now that your boxes are ready to go, it’s time to stack them on the pallet. The next tip for how to palletize your shipments the right way is to make sure you’re stacking your products effectively.
There are two basic ways to stack pallets: you can stagger them or align them evenly. Heavier boxes should go on the bottom, and lighter boxes should go on top. Every couple of rows, add a flat piece of cardboard between layers to add stability and secure any loose boxes. If you’re still worried about loose boxes, you can use cardboard corner beads as an extra precaution.
Done stacking? Take a minute to and inspect your pallet from all angles. Check for misaligned or overhanging boxes. If you find any, correct them. These boxes can ruin the stability of the whole load and cause the pallet to topple.
Use Stretch Wrap
Another way to ensure your boxes are secure is to wrap them with stretch wrap. Wrap a high-quality film around the pallet three or four times. Once you reach the bottom of the boxes, twist the end of the stretch wrap into a cable. Then drive this cable below the pallet’s deck boards.
This process locks the load to the pallet. And because this method doesn’t completely block the bottom of the pallet, forklifts can pick it up without piercing the film. Once your load is secure, strap it to the pallet using a nylon strap. You’re done!
Does that sound like too much work? Palletizing by hand works well for small businesses, but as you ramp up production, hand palletizing can become inconvenient. If your company has grown to the point where you need a better solution, look into purchasing palletizer machines.
These machines handle the bulk of the palletizing process, which can reduce strain on employees and save your business time and money.