Glossary


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166) Compression molded pallet

Plastic material is placed in an open mold, which is then closed.  Pressure is applied as the mold halves come together (usually in a vertical configuration), forcing the plastic material to flow and fill the cavity.

167) Injection molded pallet

Plastic material is introduced in pellet form into a "hopper" positioned at the top of a machine and forcing it along a horizontal chamber or "barrel" of an extruder by means of the rotation of a screw.  The plastic material is heated as it moves through the barrel so when it reaches an open cavity, it is a molten mass ready to assume the configuration of the mold. The mold is closed and pressure is applied to form the pallet.  Once the pallet is cooled and taken from the mold, it can be further processed into secondary operations such as painting, trimming or fastening.

168) Rotational molded pallet

A predetermined amount of powdered, granulated or liquid plastic is introduced into a hollow, shell-like mold.  This is followed by the closing, heating and rotating of the mold in two planes perpendicular to each other in order to distribute and fuse or "sinter" the plastic material to the internal configuration of the mold. Once the plastic mold is fully cured and the part is fully formed, the mold is removed from the eat source, and it undergoes accelerated cooling using either a water mist or cold air.  The pallet is then removed from the mold.

169) Structural foam molded pallet

Structural foam molding is a variation of the injection molded process whereby a compounded plastic material is introduced into an extruder in pellet form, heated to a molten state, and then formed by means of a rotating screw into one or more mold cavities.  The material adopts the configuration of the mold, and once cooled, it is injected as a fully formed pallet. With structural foam molding, a blowing agent is introduced to and mixed thoroughly through the plastic prior to its injection into the mold cavities.  The heating process activates the blowing agent and creates a cellular structure within the molten material. This cellular structure not only saves on raw material requirement, but it produces a part with an elevated strength-to-weight ratio.

170) Thermoformed pallet

Thermoforming takes place when a thick plastic sheet is clamped onto a frame and heated, then this softened, pliable sheet is forced by either pressure or vacuum to adapt to the shape of a pallet tool.  Once the sheet has formed to the configuration of the tool and it has cooled down, it is removed from the frame.  The outer perimeter of the pallet is trimmed off to yield the finished part. Twin-sheet thermoforming is a variation of this process whereby two separate sheets of plastic are heated in two separate sets of tooling and then fused together under pressure to yield a pallet with a hollow section or sections.

171) Fixed-wall pallet container

Container that features an integrated pallet and has fixed side walls.

172) Returnable plastic container

Refers to collapsible, hand-held plastic containers used mostly for produce handling in closed loop packaging systems.

173) Stack and nest container

A combination container that has both stacking and nesting features.  Can be stacked ands nested in 90 degree and 180 degree combination.

174) Four-way fork entry

Openings on all four sides of a pallet or the base of a pallet container, which allow fork truck handling.

175) Fork strap

Strap that links the fork openings on the base of a pallet container.  Fork straps can allow the use of a container on conveyors.

176) Auto-lock clips

Spring-loaded clips on collapsible pallet containers that automatically lock hinged sidewalls and optional doors.

177) Stacking interlock

Refers to the mechanism that locks containers when they are stacked on top of another container.  This feature allows safe and secure shipping load units.

178) Efficient cubing

Refers to the optimal usage of the internal space of truck trailers.

179) Bins

A box, frame, crib or enclosed container used to store or ship goods.

180) Container return ratio

Comparison of the number of collapsed containers that equal the height of one upright container.  The higher the ratio, the higher the savings with return shipments.