They're recyclable, environmentally safe, economical and returnable
WHEN PETER Kelly ran his own construction company in the early 1980s he got sick and tired of being let down by badly-made and inefficient wooden pallets used to transport building materials.
They split, they cracked and they fell apart spilling cement, bricks and other items. Goods got damaged and man hours were lost as workers were diverted to clean up the mess.
The pallets were also not very user-friendly with nails and wire sticking out, and they more often than not ended up on someone's braai or fireplace.
They've even been spotted housing squatters, up trees and in people's back gardens as Wendy Homes or sheds.
So what did he do? Kelly decided to quit the building game, move from Sea Point's middle class Atlantic coastline to Cape Town's undiscovered northern suburbs, and make proper pallets for a living.
Today, with partner and technical director Les Berko, he runs the only manufacturer of plastic pallets in South Africa.
Vac 2001 Manufacturing (named after 'vacuum forming' the process for making plastic pallets) began in October, 1996 in a dodgy Cape Flats suburb.
Business gradually built up until they cracked the lucrative export market.
Vac 2001's recyclable, environmentally safe, economical and returnable plastic pallets are used by Australians, New Zealanders, food exporters worldwide and he has distribution depots in Johannesburg, Durban and Namibia.
Vac also exports to Mozambique, Botswana and Angola.
Marketing director Kelly says: We won't criticise wooden pallets because they have their uses and some people prefer them. But some European markets, for example, won't allow wood for transporting items such as food because of the health risk.
So what's plastic got that pine doesn't? It's lighter for a start. That means substantial savings in fuel, manual labour and freight charges, says Kelly. One man can pick up two Vac pallets but two wooden ones need a forklift.
Safety is another improvement. No splinters, nails or broken welds to scratch or hurt workers and clients, he explains.
They'll last from three to ten years, are nestable, don't need repairs and are of course recyclable.
Special fire-retardant pallets are made on request, and even the regular ones are impervious to most chemicals. Plastic pallets do not absorb toxins or blood from meat or dairy products which satisfies the health inspectors.
They also beat pine pallets with easy-cleaning, extreme hot and cold storage and it does not gain weight when wet or damp.
They are made from durable high-density, high molecular polyethylene which is high impact
and thermal resistant. Designed by computers, the pallets significantly reduce compensation claims by eliminating most injuries, and save warehouse storage space as they can be stacked outside.
They can even be produced in company colours with the name imprinted on them or for inventory tracking.
Tomorrow's pallet is here today - and it's designed to save you money, says Kelly.
