Pallets for plastics and molding
Plastic product manufacturing is one of the three most prevalent industries in Greater Grand Rapids. A molding plant ships light, bulky goods and receives heavy resin.
- Size
- 48x40
- Build
- Stringer
- Grade
- A, B
- Trades
- Molding, extrusion
- Towns
- Kent and Ottawa
Two flows, two pallets
Resin comes in on pallets of bagged pellets or in octabins. Finished parts go out in cartons, gaylords or stacked trays. The two flows put different demands on the deck.
| Flow | Load | Pallet concern |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound resin | Bagged pellets, heavy and slick | Deck stiffness and a flat surface so bags do not slide |
| Outbound parts | Cartons, light and cubic | Cleanliness and a deck that does not snag cartons |
| Returns of scrap | Regrind in bags | A sound deck that can sit on a floor scale |
What helps in a request
- Say the product is plastic goods, not resin, since the loads differ
- Mention whether the load goes into a clean assembly area
- State a weekly count if parts leave daily
- Ask for dry stock if the carton is uncoated
A 48x40 in Grade A or B covers most of this. If the plant cannot accept repaired stock, ask for Grade A or new. For the cost picture, read what pallets are worth.
What leaves the plant
A molding plant gathers pallets from incoming resin faster than it can use them. The surplus is the part worth selling. See pallet buyback for the recurring route and pallet recycling for the pile that cannot be sold.
Static and dust
A pallet that sheds splinters or sawdust sheds it onto cartons of molded parts, and a molded part with a visible speck can be rejected by a customer. Ask for a swept, dust-free deck on any load of finished parts.
Gaylords and octabins
Large cardboard bins, often called gaylords, hold finished parts or regrind and sit on 48x40 pallets. A bin that is not centred on its pallet leans, and the pallet bottom has to be sound. A bin full of pellets can weigh well over a ton.
Loading patterns
A plastics plant that ships cartons on a pallet usually builds a pattern: five cartons per layer, six layers high, and so on. The pattern is designed to interlock. A pallet that is smaller than the pattern expects will leave cartons overhanging, and a pallet that is larger will waste space. Name the pattern's footprint in the request.
A quick request
Need 300 dry 48x40 pallets, Grade A or B, every Monday, with flat decks and flush nails. Dock in Wyoming. That sentence is a complete request, and an example only.
Why plastics shippers care about cleanliness
Plastics and molding plants ship parts that scratch, absorb moisture and attract dust. Many require clean, dry pallets with no loose splinters, and some use plastic liners or caps between the pallet and the carton.
A buyer in this trade should ask for Grade A or B, ask for dry stock and check a sample before a full order. A pallet that sheds wood fibre can contaminate parts.
Source: The Right Place, 2023 Manufacturing Report (read 11 November 2026).
Ready to ask? Send us the request.