What Is a Pallet Changer?
A pallet changer is a device used to separate cargo from pallets and replace them with new ones.
When cargo is received on pallets, there is a risk that dirt, dust, and even insects attached to the pallets can contaminate the cargo. It is advisable to replace pallets to prevent such contamination and foreign matter.
Pallet changers are generally used for pallet replacement and come in automatic, semi-automatic, and manual varieties.
Uses of Pallet Changers
When cargo arrives on pallets, the dirt present on the pallets can introduce foreign matter into the goods or bring pests into the premises. This is particularly critical in the fields of medical and food-related logistics.
Additionally, when shipping products, the pallet may not be returned. If you use high-quality and costly pallets in your company and ship them as-is, you may incur financial losses.
This creates a demand for pallet replacement, but manually replacing pallets carrying one-ton loads is extremely challenging.
Various types of pallet changers exist, such as inverted, tilting, and clamping types, depending on the manufacturer.
Principles of Pallet Changers
The structure of pallet changers and the pallet-changing mechanism are as follows:
- Inverted type (rotates 180 degrees to replace pallets)
- Tilting type (tilts 90 to 100 degrees to swap pallets)
- Clamping type (clamps loads on pallets from 2 or 4 sides, lifts and swaps pallets)
- Type using a depalletizer & palletizer
- Uses rotating clamping forks on forklifts to flip and replace pallets
- Installs a weight-reducing device, allowing a person to lift the load and replace the pallet.
As you can see, pallet changers come in various forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all device. The suitability of each type depends on factors like whether it can invert or clamp, which vary depending on the type of load being replaced.
Even for pallets of the same size, equipment specifications differ based on factors like the maximum load weight, available installation space, and other considerations. Thus, various types of equipment exist to match the cargo, available manpower, and budget.