Toro Pallets exceed GMA Pallet Performance & Cost Specification

Dallas, Texas, USA. September 26, 2007 -- In 1989 a sub committee of the Joint Shipping Container Committee was formed with the task of analyzing the viability of the standard "GMA" pallet.

The initial sponsors for the subcommittee included the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), and the National American Wholesale Grocers Association (NAWGA) now knows as the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA).

Additional sponsors included The Produce Marketing Association (PMA), the American Trucking Association (ATA), the American Meat institute (AMI), and the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) along with Cleveland Consulting Associates and representatives from the following companies Campbell Soup Company, Craig Transportation Company, Del Monte Foods, U.S.A., Fleming companies, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Giant Food, Inc., Heinz U.S.A., Geo. A. Hormel & Company, Kraft General Foods, Land O'Lakes, Lever Brothers, Marsh Supermarkets, Inc., Nabisco Foods Group, The Pillsbury Company, Procter & Gamble Company, Safeway, Inc., Spartan Stores, Inc., The Stop & Shop Companies, Super Food Services, Inc., SUPERVALU, INC., Sweet Life Foods and Wetterau Inc., were included to recommend a new standard.

In 1992 the subcommittee published a document on its research and finding with recommendations for a better GMA pallet.

15 yeast later in 2007, the recommendations of the subcommittee and the associate companies are a reality.

Toro Pallets LLC, a Dallas, TX based company that manufacturers aluminum and hybrid pallets has addressed every issue recommended by the subcommittee and has also exceeded their expectations for modern day logistics and supply chain management.

Grocery Industry - Recommended Pallet Performance Specifications

1 Exact 48-inch x 40-inch dimensions. Square in each direction.
• Toro Pallets are constructed to strict engineering tolerances.

2 True four-way entry. Capable of accommodating existing pallet jacks from all four sides (as opposed to current style with cutouts and stringers).
• Toro pallets are 100% four way pallets.

3 Minimum-width pallet jack openings of 12 inches and minimum height 3 3/4 inch clearance when under load.
• Toro Pallets has a jack opening of 14 – 16 inches. Toro Pallets have a 3 3/4 inch clearance under load for pallet jacks.

4 Width of each center support must be less than six inches to accommodate pallet jacks. Smooth, non-skid, top-bearing surface should have at least 85% coverage.
• Toro Pallets uses identical 3.5 inch blocks for centers and sides. The GMA Pallets are offered in 57%, 74% and 90% coverage that have no indentations or protrusions.

5 Surface should be flat or have no indentations or protrusions that could cause product damage.
• Toro Pallets have a fastener free sand blasted non skid surface, rounded corners on all deckboards and stringers.

6 All bottom entry edges should be chamfered to ½ inch for easy entry and exit.
• Too Pallets have a 3r radius on all product touching surfaces.

7 Overall height of platform should not exceed six inches
• Toro Pallets are designed with a standard 5 inch height.

8 Rackable from both the 48-inch and 40-inch dimensions. Allowable deflection in drive-in and drive-through racks no more than ½ inch.
• Toro Pallets when racked have a deflection of less than ½ inch.

9 Compatible with pallet conveyors, pallet dispensers, skate-wheel pallet-flow racks, and automatic storage and retrieval systems.
• Toro Pallets are 100% compliant and compatible.

10 NO protruding fasteners.
• Toro Pallets have fastener free loading and unloading surfaces.

11 Must be made of material that does not contaminate the product it carries
• Toro Pallets are made of Aluminum and Polypropylene both are food grade materials.

12 Must meet or exceed current pallet resistance to fire.
• Toro Hybrid Pallets are 84% compliant given the Aluminum to plastic ratio of 84:16. Toro All Aluminum Pallets are 100% fire resistant.

13 Must be recyclable. Preferably made from recycled material.
• Toro Pallets are made of 100% recyclable materials, Aluminum and Polypropylene.

14 Desired weight under 50 pounds.
• Toro Pallets with 90% equally spaced top deck / 57% bottom coverage works out to 34.5 pounds.

15 Load capacities of 2,800 pounds. Capable of bearing 2,800-pound loads safely in stacks five loads high.
• Toro Pallets are 100% compliant.

16 Repairs should be economically feasible.
• Toro Pallets are easily repairable onsite though they are covered by a 15-year lifetime guarantee.

17 Weather resistant.
• Toro Pallets are made of inorganic materials that are weather resistant.

18 Moisture resistant.
• Toro Pallets are made of inorganic materials that are moisture resistant.

19 Capable of safely moving product, damage free, through the entire distribution channel with multiple cycles (from manufacturer through distributor to retail)
• Toro Pallets are 100% compliant.

Addressing the predominant issue of cost, “We are the first SME pallet company to offer our pallets on a lease to own basis as cost is the single most important issue that faces a manufacturer“ said Toro Pallets’ President Tiger Aster.

He added “The unique concept of leasing our pallets through our financial partners enables pallet users to allocate their funds to other critical projects while taking full advantage of the benefits our pallets have to offer”

The company is offering its GMA pallets to existing wood pallet
manufacturers and pallet poolers as a ready to assemble kit. These kits can be put together at their factories, collection, repair and distribution centers .

Pallet poolers have the perfect opportunity to prove they are socially and environmentally responsible by reducing parasitic loads in the supply chain that can lead to fuel savings, efficient transportation, reduced product loss due to damage and provide for a greener tomorrow.

Toro Pallets are ultra-light weight and reduce transportation fuel usage by reducing parasitic loads. In accordance to the EPA-Smartway (sm) Transportation Program, reducing 900 lbs from a single truck could add up to fuel savings exceeding $500 and reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.7 Tons a year.

The company’s pallets with their light weight advantage also have fastener free loading surfaces, are free of sharp corners & edges, termite & mold free, temperature stable, fire resistant, maintenance free, AS/AR compliant and come with a 15 year lifetime guarantee.

Built with a plug and play architecture, Toro Pallets can be RFID enabled within seconds, concealing the RFID tag in one of the nine support leg tubes.

Source acknowledgements: Grocery Manufacturers Association & Cleveland Consulting Associates: The Grocery Industry Pallet Committee.

Toro Pallets LLC
7557 Rambler Road, 700
Dallas TX 75231

Tel: 1 (469) 619-3091
www.toropallets.com
info@toropallets.com

Toro Pallets LLC is a manufacturer of Aluminum & Hybrid transportation pallets that are designed to ISO specifications and exceed FDA, USDA, ASTM and ISPM 15 standards for export and reusable pallets.

This release was published on openPR.