A system and technique has been developed to print graphics on a pallet. In one form, the graphics are printed on one of the decks of the pallet. The graphics in one variation are printed on a deck that is in the form of a flat, contiguous surface via a flatbed printer. The flatbed printer has a printer head that forms a gap that is able to accommodate the deck of the pallet. After printing, the deck is assembled with the rest of the pallet. The graphics can include text and images. In one form, the graphics include a packing template that shows how at least one packing layer should be packed on the pallet.

A system and technique has been developed to print graphics on a pallet. In one form, the graphics are printed on one of the decks of the pallet. The graphics in one variation are printed on a deck that is in the form of a flat, contiguous surface via a flatbed printer. The flatbed printer has a printer head that forms a gap that is able to accommodate the deck of the pallet. After printing, the deck is assembled with the rest of the pallet. The graphics can include text and images. In one form, the graphics include a packing template that shows how at least one packing layer should be packed on the pallet.

A pallet is formed in which one or more components thereof is formed of a composite material. The composite material includes mass particles consisting of a fibrous material derived at least in part from recycled post-consumer materials and a binding material consisting of a thermoplastic material derived at least in part from recycled post-consumer materials. The mass particles and the binding material are mixed such that the binding material is liquified and each mass particle is fully encapsulated by the liquified binding material.

Composite pallets and methods for making and using composite pallets are disclosed. An example composite pallet may include a plurality of base boards. The base boards may include a first resin material and a first fiber material. A plurality of support blocks may be coupled to the base boards. The support blocks may include a second resin material and an impact modifier. A plurality of intermediate boards may be coupled to the support blocks. The intermediate boards may include a third resin material and a second fiber material. One or more top end boards may be coupled to the intermediate boards. The one or more top end boards may include a fourth resin material and a third fiber material. One or more top boards may be disposed adjacent to at least one of the one or more top end boards. The one or more top boards may include a fifth resin material.

A pallet for long-term storage of barrels, comprising a base comprising one or more support element holders and a upper surface comprising one or more depositing areas configured for holding one or more barrels; one or more support inserts which are inserted into support element holders; one or more bars which are inserted into support element holders; one or more openings configured to hold one or more supporting rods which, once inserted in said one or more openings, are mechanically coupled with said one or more bars and transmit vertical load from said one or more depositing areas, through said one or more bars into said one or more supporting rods.

A stringer and plank pallet, system and method includes a plurality of planks made of a composite material or a non-wood material and a thickness and holes defined therein comprising a plurality of post cutouts in each of a first and a second end of the plurality of planks. A plurality of stringers made of the composite or non-wood material are configured to receive the plurality of planks via a plurality of post plugs equivalent to the plank thickness and complementary to the plurality of post cutouts. An assembled outside surface relation of the plurality of stringers to the plurality of planks is self-aligning and flush. A plurality of holes are defined in the planks adjacent a first and a second end of the post cutouts to receive a plurality of fasteners driven into the plurality of stringers.

In one embodiment, a maintainable pallet is provided with interchangeable support structures and sensors for identifying any damage that the interchangeable support structures may experience. The maintainable pallet may include two side supports, two end supports coupled to the two side supports end-to-end to form a rectangle, a central support position between the two side supports, a plurality of top transverse support fastened onto the two side supports to form a top loading surface and the central support with two-part releasable fasteners, and two bottom transverse supports fastened to the ends of the two side supports to form a bottom surface with two-part releasable fasteners. Sensors, in some embodiments, may be embedded in the two side supports to measure, for example, acceleration, location, or other logistic information. When a damaged piece is identified, the maintainable pallet can be disassembled by unfastening the two-part releasable fasteners to remove the damaged piece; and a new interchangeable piece will replace the damaged piece.

A pallet includes a plastic top deck and a bamboo bottom deck. The bamboo bottom deck includes bamboo boards made from bamboo strips layered together. Support blocks are coupled between the bamboo bottom deck and the plastic top deck, with a gap being formed therebetween for receiving a lifting member.

A composite pallet for the transport and long-term storage of barrels, comprising a base element made of plastic with a top side, an under side and support projections; a deck element made of plastic with a top side for storing the barrels; and a depositing area for holding a vertical barrel. The deck element has an under side and support projections resting on the base element support projections, and is supported against the base element; the deck element under side is at a distance from the base element top side. Support inserts made of a material with a creep modulus which is higher over a predefined period than a creep modulus of plastic, and the decrease in which is lower than that of plastic over the specified period, are locked into holders on the deck element under side and on the base element top side.

A modular pallet formed from a plurality of frame members and a plurality of deck members. The deck members extend between the frame members to define an upper deck surface and optionally a lower deck surface of the pallet. A plurality of spaced-apart channels are formed in at least an upper surface of the frame members to receive the deck members. In some embodiments the pallet may be configured as a stringer pallet and in other embodiments the pallet may be configured as a block pallet. In some embodiments the frame members are unitary stringers. In other embodiments the frame members are modular structures each comprising a block pallet subassembly and a deck support panel. The number, size, orientation and spacing of the channels formed in the frame members and the corresponding arrangement of the deck members may vary in different embodiments of the pallet. Once assembled, the frame members and deck members may be integrally connected, such as by heat welding. In some embodiments the pallet is formed from readily recyclable plastic.