Modular 3D Printed Paper Pallets
Lead Participant:
PALLETECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Abstract
First introduced in the 1930s during the Pacific War to help the US army improve its
efficiency of material handling, pallets can be counted in the billions nowadays. In today’s
digitalised age, very few non-professionals give pallets a second thought. While considered to
be a key invention of the 20th century in materials handling, pallets have remained essentially
unchanged for the last 50 years.
Pallets today have two major issues - their design, and the material used. Because of the space
needed during forklift use, the current design contains a lot of wasted air which cannot be
eliminated even if two pallets are interlocked. This results in high storage requirements and a
lot of lorries carrying unused pallets around. Consequent outcomes are high operational costs
and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation of pallets.
Secondly, most pallets are made out of wood or plastic. Issues with wood include fumigation
and hygiene, while plastic pallets are expensive, oil-based, and require fire retardant coating.
A marginal market position belongs to paper and metal pallets. Leveraging research at the
University of Cambridge, we aim to provide a viable option for pallet users to minimise these
pallet type disadvantages.
We have developed a modular transportation paper pallet which has structural properties
similar to that of pine wood. Unique features of this pallet are its removable legs, which
results in up to 70% storage space savings compared to conventional EUR pallets when not in
use. Our pallet combines the reusability of wooden pallets with the recyclability of paper
pallets. This double benefit creates 70% less CO2 emissions compared to wooden pallets and
can decrease the pallet cost per trip by as much as 40%.
While our calculations show significant savings, we are not 100% sure if market would accept
such an innovation. That is why we hope to undertake a market research leading to an early
commercialisation plan for our pallet.
efficiency of material handling, pallets can be counted in the billions nowadays. In today’s
digitalised age, very few non-professionals give pallets a second thought. While considered to
be a key invention of the 20th century in materials handling, pallets have remained essentially
unchanged for the last 50 years.
Pallets today have two major issues - their design, and the material used. Because of the space
needed during forklift use, the current design contains a lot of wasted air which cannot be
eliminated even if two pallets are interlocked. This results in high storage requirements and a
lot of lorries carrying unused pallets around. Consequent outcomes are high operational costs
and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation of pallets.
Secondly, most pallets are made out of wood or plastic. Issues with wood include fumigation
and hygiene, while plastic pallets are expensive, oil-based, and require fire retardant coating.
A marginal market position belongs to paper and metal pallets. Leveraging research at the
University of Cambridge, we aim to provide a viable option for pallet users to minimise these
pallet type disadvantages.
We have developed a modular transportation paper pallet which has structural properties
similar to that of pine wood. Unique features of this pallet are its removable legs, which
results in up to 70% storage space savings compared to conventional EUR pallets when not in
use. Our pallet combines the reusability of wooden pallets with the recyclability of paper
pallets. This double benefit creates 70% less CO2 emissions compared to wooden pallets and
can decrease the pallet cost per trip by as much as 40%.
While our calculations show significant savings, we are not 100% sure if market would accept
such an innovation. That is why we hope to undertake a market research leading to an early
commercialisation plan for our pallet.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
PALLETECHNOLOGY LIMITED | £33,800 | £ 20,000 |
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Linkesch (Project Manager) |