Chemical
The chemical industry is a major driver of innovation and development and a key industry in Europe. It sets particularly high requirements and strict environmental regulations, also for the transport of products.
Ensuring quality security throughout the supply chain is the biggest challenge facing logistics operators. This is extremely important due to the biological, physical and chemical properties of the substances transported or stored.
This applies to both environmentally neutral and hazardous loads, such as plastic granulates, industrial oils, products subject to ADR regulations or products monitored during road freight transport.
Pallets CP standard in transport of heavy loads in chemical industry
CP (chemical pallets) are pallets of the chemical industry, often used in transport and storage of products such as fertilizers, paints, varnishes, chemicals, cleaning products. CP pallets have become popular in international transport in recent years due to the compatibility of block pallet designs with forklift trucks and pallet jacks.
Some chemical pallets have the same dimensions as two of the most commonly used pallet sizes (1200x800 mm and 1200x1000 mm). Chemical pallets have many versions - from CP1 to CP9, each of which has been designed for different types of goods such as:
- packs, cartons, flexible containers (CP1)M
- boxes, fibre-optic drums, canisters (CP2)
- bags, intermediate flexible bulk containers, octabins (CP3)
The most popular chemical pallet is CP 1 with dimensions 1000x1200 mm. What distinguishes it from the Europallet is the fact that, thanks to its larger surface area, it is used for the transport and storage of larger goods for which the Europallet is too small. Although these pallets were developed for the chemical industry, today they are used in many other industries.
Pallets of wood adapted to a specific type of transport
All wooden pallets transported outside the EU go through the heat treatment process and obtain the ISPM15 certificate. This makes it a safe product without all potentially harmful organisms.
The CP3 and CP9 pallet models are optimised for containers intended for international maritime transport. Their dimensions are 1140×1140 cm. CP3 and CP9 pallets are well suited for stacking in the warehouse. Both models are also suitable for octabin. The main difference between the two models is the pallet base. CP3 has 3 lower boards and CP9 has a perimeter bottom.
On the other hand, disposable wooden or openwork plastic pallets are used for air transport. Due to their lower weight they reduce the costs of the transported cargo. Fully efficient and of strong construction they are perfect for one-way transport of products.
Automated packing and operation of pallets in circulation
Without the standard use of chemical wood or EPAL pallets, in recent years the high requirements for the operation of pallets in automated production lines have resulted in increased use of plastic pallets. More and more users of the chemical industry are looking for alternatives that are as effective as CP wooden pallets, but at the same time increase the value of their products.
This is why plastic pallets are gradually becoming an increasingly valued option due to dimensional standardisation and high durability. What are the other advantages of plastic pallets? They are resistant, stable, highly durable and easy to clean and maintain. Although they are more expensive than wooden pallets, they are very often in the closed circuit of the manufacturer's packaging.
Seasonality in the industry and storage security
Regardless of whether raw materials, semi-finished or finished goods are stored in warehouses, the places where chemicals are stored must meet strict safety requirements, as in many cases these goods are dangerous. Warehouses storing these substances should have clearly defined areas, divided for safety and use. This can be achieved by planning the positioning of mobile pallet racks, the so-called Mobilrack systems, which enable flexible storage. Likewise, the Big Bag racks allow for optimal positioning in the warehouse.
Seasonality in the chemical industry is a factor that also has a major impact on how products are stored. This applies to the fertiliser industry producing, for example, agricultural chemicals, or other substances used at a certain time, such as windscreen washer fluids produced for the winter period. When you need additional storage space of containers or pallet boxes, and you are not planning to buy them, it is worth taking advantage of the possibility to rent packaging. In this way you save resources and respond flexibly to your needs.
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