Pallets for auto parts and stamping
Motor vehicle-related stamping, plastics and office furniture are the three most prevalent industries in Greater Grand Rapids, and stamping comes first on the list. Its pallets are heavy, dense and picky about size.
- Size
- 48x45, 48x40
- Build
- Block or stringer
- Grade
- New, A, B
- Trades
- Stamping, components
- Towns
- Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker
Why the pallet is different here
A stamped panel, bracket or housing is heavy for its volume. A pallet that carries a thousand pounds of steel does not behave like a pallet of crackers. The deck takes point loads, the stringers take the weight, and a hairline crack that a grocery dock ignores can put a part rack out of true.
The 48x45 is the size listed for the automotive industry, and it ranks seventh in North American pallet production. The 48x45 page has the numbers.
A buyer's short list
| Item | Typical answer |
|---|---|
| Size | 48x45 or 48x40; the customer's sheet decides |
| Build | Block for four-way lift, or stringer |
| Grade | New or Grade A; some lines refuse repaired stock |
| Weight per pallet | A figure worth stating; parts are dense |
| Treatment | Heat treated if the part ships overseas |
Where it clusters
Wyoming holds several large component plants, among them GM Components Holdings (about 1,200 employees), ABC Technologies (about 650) and Benteler (about 580). Read Wyoming and Kentwood for each town.
Pallet flow in a stamping plant
Supply arrives for packing lines, and finished parts leave on pallets that may or may not come back. A plant that ships returnable racks needs few pallets. One that ships loose parts to another supplier needs a steady stream. Cores and broken pallets build up at the end of a press line, and a plant often wants them cleared.
- To buy: new pallets, used Grade A, truckloads
- To sell surplus: pallet buyback
- To clear broken stock: broken pallets
What to send
The size, the build, the weight of a loaded pallet, the grade or new, and a weekly count. Add whether the part leaves the country. The request page takes it all in one message.
Four things that go wrong
| Failure | Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked deck board | A heavy part dropped on a worn board | Ask for Grade A or new for heavy parts |
| Collapsed stringer | Overloaded pallet or an old crack | State the load weight, not just the size |
| Part damage in transit | Loose or snagged parts on a rough deck | Ask for flat decks and flush nails |
| Wrong size delivered | A 48x40 where a 48x45 was needed | Write the size exactly in the request |
Sizing the standing order
A stamping plant usually knows how many parts leave each shift. Divide by the parts per pallet and the figure is pallets per day. Multiply by working days and the weekly count follows. A request that includes that arithmetic gives a seller what they need to plan.
A supplier shipping to an assembly plant may also ship on returnable racks, in which case the pallet count is smaller than the part count suggests.
What to avoid asking for
Do not ask for the 48x45 if the customer's sheet says 48x40. The wrong size jams a line.
Why Greater Grand Rapids matters here
The Right Place reported more than 78,500 manufacturing jobs in 2023 and put motor vehicle-related stamping at the top of the list. The 2025 reports counted 116,528 manufacturing jobs across a wider region. Pallet flow is a small part of that, but it touches every dock.
A supplier that wins a new contract suddenly needs thousands of the customer's pallet size. Placing a standing request early, before the first production run, avoids the scramble.
A buyer's note on returnable packaging
Many automotive programs use returnable racks, bins or plastic pallets. Those do not appear on a wood-pallet request, but they affect it. A plant that moves from one-way wood to returnable steel will suddenly have a pile of wood pallets to clear, and a plant that moves the other way will need many at short notice.
In either case, put the date of the change in the request.
What automotive buyers ask
Automotive suppliers often follow their customer's packaging manual, which may state pallet size, grade and the way parts are stacked. A request should say which manual applies, if any, and give the part dimensions and weights.
Cleanliness matters because stamped parts can rust or scratch. Dry pallets and tidy decks protect finished surfaces.
Handling and weight
Stamped steel is heavy and concentrated. A pallet for it needs strong stringers or blocks and sound fasteners, and often a lower deck board count to cut weight while keeping strength. State the weight per pallet and the way the parts are stacked.
Racking and forklift capacity also matter. Make sure the pallet and the rack agree on the load rating.
Seasonal swings
Automotive production changes with model launches and plant shutdowns, and pallet demand moves with it. Mention an upcoming launch or a shutdown week in the request.
Source: The Right Place, 2023 Manufacturing Report; Wikipedia, "Pallet" and "Wyoming, Michigan" (read 12 November 2026).
Ready to ask? Send us the request.