”World” pallets not exchangeable in the Euro pallet pool

European Pallet Association e. V. (EPAL)

PRESS RELEASE

”World” pallets not exchangeable in the Euro pallet pool

Trade fair news from FachPack in Nuremberg causes confusion in the pallet market

Düsseldorf, 7th October 2016 – The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) recommends all users of Euro pallets to not exchange EPAL Euro pallets for “World” Euro pallets. The background to this is that at FachPack IVFS GmbH are declaring the exchangeability of “World” pallets in the open Euro pallet pool and are communicating this with information leaflets, trying to convince the logistics market of the alleged exchangeability of “World” pallets.

However, the cornerstone of exchangeability in the EPAL Euro pallet pool has not changed: only pallets of the same type and quality can be exchanged.

EPAL Euro pallets are subject to a strict, internationally uniform, independent quality inspection. Recognisable by the “EPAL in oval” brand and the control staple in the central block.

Falkenhahn AG, who participated in FachPack on a joint stand with GS1 Germany, has previously tried to market “World” pallets that they had produced, as exchange pallets.

The former EPAL licensee, Falkenhahn AG, cannot guarantee independent quality assurance and supervision such as EPAL provides and does not fulfil the requirements which EPAL stipulates for exchangeable Euro pallets. The alleged quality inspection by the inspection company, SGS, does nothing to change the lack of exchangeability of “World” pallets in the open Euro pallet pool.

Only the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), as an internationally operating pallet organisation and owner of the EPAL brand, is able to give recommendations on the exchange of EPAL Euro pallets.

Martin Leibrandt, CEO of EPAL, “EPAL was surprised by the uncoordinated recommended action on the exchangeability of World pallets. We still recommend only exchanging original EPAL Euro pallets.”

About EPAL:

The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) was founded in 1991 as the umbrella association of licensed producers and repairers of EPAL/EUR-pallets and box pallets. EPAL is globally responsible for the consistent quality of the EPAL load carriers and therefore uses an independent external quality inspection service. EPAL has been granting exclusive licenses for the production and repair of Euro pallets with the “EPAL in oval” branded marking on four corner blocks since 1st August 2013. EPAL is currently represented in more than thirty countries by fifteen National Committees which have committed themselves to implementing the EPAL objectives on a national basis. As a registered association, EPAL does not pursue any commercial interests and makes all its decisions in the interests of its industry, trade and logistics partners.

For further press information:European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL)Andrea EngelsT +49 211 98 480 48 90M +49 172 69 325 95andrea.engels@epal-pallets.org