Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-135). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-157). Also available via the Internet.

Each year a large number of wooden pallets are disposed of in US landfills, representing a significant portion of total wood usage. The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the numbers of pallets reaching landfills, specifically Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction & Demolition (C&D) landfills. Also, the research was conducted to determine what, if anything, was done with the pallets once they were received by landfills.Mail questionnaires were sent to every state licensed MSW and C&D landfill identified in the US, except Alaska. Alaska was omitted because it is known to have many small landfills each representing a single small village. It was thought that these small landfills could skew the results. The questionnaire mailed to the landfills was based on a questionnaire used in a Virginia Tech study of landfills in 1995. Only minor changes were made to the previously used questionnaire so that the data collected would be comparable to previous results.This study found that, on average, MSW landfills received 138,000 tons of waste and C&D landfills received 36,000 tons of waste in 1998. This amounted to a total of 239 million tons of waste at MSW facilities and 40 million tons of waste at C&D facilities. Average tipping fees at MSW and C&D landfills were $29.31 and $16.84 per ton, respectively. Pallets represented 2.8 percent of waste at MSW facilities and 3.3 percent of waste at C&D facilities. This amounts to 138 million pallets reaching MSW landfills and 40 million pallets reaching C&D landfills in 1998. Of these pallets reaching landfills 22 million were recovered from MSW landfills and 16 million were recovered from C&D landfills. Recovered pallets from both types of landfills were typically ground and used for mulch, animal bedding, compost or boiler fuel. Infrequently, pallets were used as-is. But this was infrequent. When pallet material was sold by MSW and C&D facilities, it received between ten and twenty dollars per ton depending on end use and region of the country. / Master of Science

Wooden pallets are essential part of the supply chain carrying approximately 80% of all products shipped domestically. The production of pallets is also strongly correlated with the U.S. G.D.P and manufacturing G.D.P. This research was conducted to obtain important information on the market and raw material usage trends in the wooden pallet and container industry from 2019 through 2021. These trends have been compared to historical data that has been collected by Virginia tech and U.S. Forest Service pallet surveys from 1991-2016. This study was conducted by sending out physical and online surveys to 2319 companies who produce and broker wooden pallets and crates. The wooden pallet and container industry produced and estimated 919 million new pallets in 2021 which is an estimated 75% increase since 2016. The 48"x40" pallet size continues to be the dominant new pallet size with a 29% market share. The share of softwood lumber used in the industry steadily increased since 2016 and accounted for 81% of the lumber used in pallet production. The industry used 38.6% percent of the total sawn softwood lumber produced and 37.6% of the total sawn hardwood lumber produced in the U.S. The industry also produced 280 million repaired and remanufactured pallets. This is an estimated 16.4% decrease from previous research conducted in 2016. In 2021 approximately 89% of all recovered wooden pallets are converted to repaired or remanufactured pallets. Approximately 22% of respondents stated that they were not affected by the pandemic. A majority of 51% of respondents stated that they exceeded their 2019 sales, with 12% seeing no change in sales in 2020 compared to 2019. / Master of Science / Wooden pallets are the backbone of the supply chain especially because 80 percent of the products produced in the US are transported on wooden pallets. The number of new wooden pallets produced annually also has a strong correlation to the U.S. manufacturing GDP that further highlights the importance of pallets. This study was conducted to obtain key information about the market trends in the wooden pallet industry from 2019-2021. This data was compared to historical trends researched by Virginia Tech and the U. S. Forest service from 1991-2016. This study was conducted by sending out physical and online surveys to 2319 companies who produce and broker wooden pallets and crates. This data is important so that companies can use it to make better descension by looking at the important modern trends in the industry. The wooden pallet industry continued to trend upward from previous surveys conducted. In 2021, total pallet production increased 40% from 2016 increasing to 1.18 billion. As pallet production increased so did material usage. In 2021 the wooden pallet industry used an estimated 17.9 billion board feet of lumber which is a 95% increase from 2016. As for repaired and recycled pallets there were an estimated 280 million produced in 2021. This is a 16.4% decrease from the previous survey conducted. Though with this decrease approximately 89% of all received pallet cores were either repaired or used during the remanufacturing process. This study also delved into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the wooden pallet and container industry. The results of the covid section implied that the industry was stable throughout the pandemic. Approximately 22% of respondents stated that they were not affected by the pandemic. A majority of 51% of respondents stated that they exceeded their 2019 sales, with 12% seeing no change in sales in 2020 compared to 2019.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 1987. / Title from PDF t.p.

Pallets play a very important role in whole distribution systems through the supply chain. Such a fact alone shows the importance of pallets in today’s fast growing global logistics. Due to the increasing number of regulations and policies regarding natural resource conservations and also sustainable development, the issue of pallet utilization, reuse and recycling matters became the core concern in most of the researches performed in this field.As a consequence, the presented report discusses the current problems, requirements and debates around pallets utilization in distribution systems in depth along with the other affecting factors such as Cost, Environment, Materials, Sustainability, Information Technology and so forth. To achieve such goals, the first step is recognizing the mass Industrial production factors and global market requirements for the current and future of pallet utilization in order to achieve the desired efficiency and effectiveness in practice with focus on standardized pallets utilization in specific regions like European Union.The second step is the considering of various pallet types compatibility in different environments with respect to unit load assignments both at present and future. The third step is to challenge the obtained data and observed results and also, to verify them according to the foreseen future requirements, tendencies and demands of pallets and unit loads assignments through the international logistics providers. The last step which is as well the most important part of this thesis report is, to put the information together in order to clarify and specify the encountered difficulties regarding usage of pallets with concentration on cost, environment and ergonomic issues.

Theses (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 1980. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-159). Also available via the Internet.

This study was undertaken to determine the use and quantities of new and recovered wood materials utilized by the United States pallet and container industry in 1999. Wood use trends were identified by comparing the results of this study with that of three previous studies (1992, 1993, and 1995) conducted by Virginia Tech and the United States Forest Service. Also, information was gathered on firm employment, plant operations, and production. A mail survey of 3,507 manufacturers of wood pallets and/or containers in the United States was used to obtain primary data. It was found that the pallet and container industry consumed an estimated 6.54 billion board feet of solid wood in 1999, of which 4.41 billion was hardwood and 2.13 billion was softwood. It was further estimated that 3.7 billion board feet of the hardwood was purchased or processed as lumber and cants, and an additional 707 million board feet as hardwood parts. Approximately 51% of the hardwood consumed was a mixture of hardwood species. Oak accounted for 31% of the hardwood used by the industry. For softwood, an estimated 1.52 billion board feet was consumed in the form of lumber and cants, and another 610 million board feet as parts. Southern Pine (48% of the total softwood volume) and Spruce-Pine-Fir (25%) were the solid softwoods most commonly used by the pallet and container industry. Of the estimated 289 million square feet of wood panels that went into the production of pallets and containers, nearly 208 million square feet of it was softwood plywood, followed by oriented strand board (77 million square feet), and hardwood plywood (5 million square feet). The pallet and container industry produced approximately 429 million new pallets in 1999. Approximately 80% of these pallets were stringer type and 12% were block type. The pallet industry was responsible for the recovery of 299 million pallets in 1999. Furthermore, it was estimated that the pallet industry returned to service nearly 218 million pallets through either repair or recycle. Of the wood use trends identified, the most significant are the large increases in pallet recovery, repair, and recycling during the 1990s. The production of landscape mulch has become the leading use of ground or chipped pallets. A small increase was seen in new pallet production. Increases in new wood use were modest, and primarily limited to softwood parts and oriented strand board. The use of Southern Pine by the pallet and container industry continues to grow relative to other softwood species and in terms of total volume used. / Master of Science