ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2008

3rd Party Mgmt/Logistics

Insights into Pallet Rental & Pallet Management Options - Pallet rental has become a much larger portion of the U.S. logistics landscape. Knowing the right questions to ask can help you determine if rental is a smart move and what companies to cross off your list. (1/1/2008)

First Alliance Starts Freight Brokerage For Pallet, Forest Products Industry - Manage Freight Dollars: First Alliance Logistics Management launches freight network service designed to move pallets, especially LTL shipments, greater distances without increasing costs; learn how this program can reduce your costs despite higher fuel prices. (6/1/2008)

CHEP Reports Solid Growth, Lands Major Tyson Foods Business - CHEP continues growth and strong profitability despite down economy. (7/1/2008)

Landmark CHEP Antitrust Case Takes Big Step Forward - Pallet recyclers sue CHEP for cost shifting and anticompetitive practices. Judge denies motion to dismiss the case. (9/1/2008)

Alternative Materials (Plastic, Corrugated, etc.)

Wood or Plastic Pallets: Which Options Are More Eco Friendly? - Wood or Plastic: Sustainability has become a hot topic, and it can be hard to separate fact from spin; the Enterprise explores some of the arguments behind which material is really “greener.” (11/1/2008)

Green Biz 2.0: NextLife Develops 100% Recycled Pallet for Major Retailer - NextLife Launches 100% Recycled Plastic Pallet: NextLife helps retailers turn their plastic waste into products they either use or sell; it has designed a new plastic pallet made entirely from 100% post-consumer waste. (11/1/2008)

Asset Management

PECO Makes Inroads, Touts Quality - PECO has been quietly growing from a regional pallet rental company to a viable option for major companies; a company executive talks about PECO’s plans for the future. (1/1/2008)

Toro Teams Up With Ongweoweh to Manage Aluminum Pallet Pools - Leader in aluminum pallet market works with Ongweoweh Corp. to track metal pallet assets as a way to green the supply chain. (4/1/2008)

Markets in Transition: Designing Pallet Systems for a Sustainable Future - Increasingly we make either/or decisions, such as either one-way rental or pallet exchange. Instead, we ought to consider ideas that best optimize the given application, such as one-way rental for long haul and pallet exchange for a local program. (11/5/2008)

Lawsuit Looks at Economic Impact of CHEP Pallets - Antitrust lawsuit raises cost shifting and economic concerns associated with CHEP's business model. (12/1/2008)

Associations

RPA Plans Educational Meeting - RPA covers environmental and ecological benefits of reusable programs. (7/1/2008)

MSU to Host Reusables Conference - Conferences examines key issues in reusable packaging systems. (7/1/2008)

Cargo Safety/Packaging Securtiy

Air Cargo Screening Present Pallet Challenges - New air cargco screening procedures set for Feb 2009 present pallet concerns. (12/1/2008)

Case Studies

Pallet Lessons from the USPS - Retrieval problems pushed the U.S. Post Office to reconsider wood pallets. Learn the keys to setting up an effective retrieval and recovery system. (8/4/2008)

Environmental Issues

Markets in Transition: Columnist Shifts to Totally Environmental Focus! - Columnist explores green hype and true environmental benefits of various packaging options. (5/1/2008)

Industry-Retail Grocery

Wal-Mart Changes Rental Pallet Policies - Retailer issues new fees and rules for rental pallets entering its DCs. Will other retailers do the same? (5/1/2008)

Wal-Mart Set to Expand, Change Sustainable Packaging Program - Wal-Mart Stores recently announced that it will expand the use of its Packaging Scorecard and sustainable campaign to international markets over the next two years. (12/1/2008)

International Standards

The High Cost of the Wrong Pallet: Are EUR-pallets the Answer for Shipping to Europe? - If you ship to Europe, many receivers want official EUR-pallets. But they end up get something far less, which can cost everyone more in the long run. (1/1/2008)

New Product Reviews

Worthington Steelpac Automates Production, Launches GMA Style Pallet - Major plastic pallet and container company automates to cut costs, claims its durable designs far outlast wood and plastic designs. (3/14/2008)

Cantelevered Stacker Saves Space - Industrial Resources develops pallet stacker designed for tight spots in your distribution center. (6/1/2008)

Pallet Lumber

Caught Between a Rock and a Hardwood Place - Market analyst explains hardwood market turmoil and its impact on pallet prices. (6/1/2008)

Pallets

Phytosanitary/Pest Treatment

EAB, Invasive Pests Increase Likelihood of National Wood Pallet Treatment Requirement - The U.S. government and the packaging industry consider requiring ISPM-15 compliance for domestic wood pallets. How will this impact your transport packaging decisions? (2/1/2008)

Canada/US Consider Trans-Border Pallet Rules - US and Canadian governments move closer to new trans-border pallet requirements. (7/1/2008)

Governments Seek to End ISPM-15 Exemption; EAB Discoveries Mount - U.S. and Canada propose ending treatment exemption for solid wood packaging as the emerald ash borer spreads into three states this summer. (9/1/2008)

Scientist Discuss Wood Packaging Rule Changes - International plant health officials will likely adopt new rules for wood packaging, including measures to restrict bark. Scientists are developing techniques to evaluate new treatments for ISPM-15 certification. (12/1/2008)

Reverse Logistics

Grocer Users & Pallet Leaders Unite,Industry Leaders Launch Block Pool Initiative - Industry leaders unveil concept for a block pallet pool and seek input from pallet companies and users. (8/4/2008)

Safety/OSHA

RPCC Counters Fire Criticisms with New Study - Study indicates reusable packaging is no more of a fire hazard than corrugated containers. (3/3/2008)

Software

Brambles Buys Logistics Firm - Acquistion to help expand CHEP service offerings, especially supply chain optimization. (3/14/2008)

Sustainability/Ecology

Green Biz 2.0: NextLife Develops 100% Recycled Pallet for Major Retailer - NextLife helps retailers turn their plastic waste into products they either use or sell; it has designed a new plastic pallet made entirely from 100% post-consumer waste. (11/5/2008)

Tracking (RFID, bar codes, etc.)

iGPS Signs First National Rollout Account - iGPS launches first national rollout customer. Rental company pioneers RFID-tagged plastic pallet pool and iDepot concept. (2/1/2008)

Confidex Introduces RFID Tag for Wood Pallets - Tag maker develops a tag for tracking wood pallets. LPR launches advanced RFID tracking network in Europe using this new tag. (4/1/2008)

Lost in Translation - Columnist Rick LeBlanc talks about the importance of packaging retrieval recovery and why it should get more respect from logistics managers. (8/4/2008)

Unit Load

Virginia Tech: Stretch Hood Helps Stabilize Unit Load in Impact Tests, Study Shows - Poor unit load stabilization practices contribute to hundreds of millions of dollars in unsaleable goods annually as well as unfortunate workplace injuries and deaths. (6/1/2008)