Presswood pallets are compressed wood-fiber pallets, ISPM-15 exempt for export.
Detailed Definition
Presswood pallets are molded from wood fiber or particles mixed with a resin binder and pressed under heat and pressure into a single piece with no nails. Because they are processed wood, they fall outside the scope of ISPM 15, which applies to raw wood packaging thicker than 6 mm, so they need no heat treatment or IPPC mark. Most designs nest inside one another, which saves space when empty pallets are stored or shipped. They are mainly used for one-way export and air freight.
How presswood pallets differ from lumber pallets
A conventional wood pallet is assembled from sawn boards and stringers or blocks with nails. A presswood pallet is one molded part: a flat deck with hollow feet underneath. There are no fasteners to back out and no loose boards, and the surface is smooth. The trade-off is that a cracked or crushed presswood pallet usually cannot be repaired, and it can lose strength if it stays wet.
Checking a presswood pallet for your load
Ask the supplier for rated static, dynamic and rack capacities for the exact model. Many nestable designs are made for floor and fork handling and are not intended to be racked, so confirm before placing them in pallet rack. Check the footprint against the destination's requirements, since presswood pallets come in both inch and metric sizes. Keep them dry in storage and in transit.
Export documentation
Because processed wood is exempt from ISPM 15, presswood pallets do not carry the IPPC mark. Customs and border staff in some countries may still question unmarked wood packaging, so many shippers keep the manufacturer's statement that the product is processed wood with the shipping documents.
Authoritative Sources
- FAO ISPM-15 Standard (ISPM-15): an FAO-hosted page on international phytosanitary standards; ISPM 15 itself is adopted and published by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), whose secretariat is hosted by FAO.
- Material Handling Institute (MHI): the largest US trade association for material handling, logistics, and supply chain technologies.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a presswood pallet need an ISPM 15 stamp?
No. ISPM 15 covers wood packaging made from raw wood more than 6 mm thick. Processed wood products made using glue, heat and pressure, such as presswood, plywood and particleboard, are outside its scope, so presswood pallets are not heat treated for ISPM 15 and do not carry the IPPC mark. Keep the manufacturer's documentation in case an inspector asks.
Can presswood pallets be reused?
They can be reused if they stay dry and undamaged, and nestable designs are easy to return in bulk. They are mainly built as economical one-way export pallets, though, so they are less tolerant of repeated forklift impacts than a heavy block pallet. Inspect each one for cracks in the feet and deck before reuse, and remove damaged units, since they generally cannot be repaired.