Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1493464
Year In Review 14 PalletCentral • January-February 2023 palletcentral.com T his year was a big one for NWPCA and our members. We saw some of the most exciting changes in the organization's history. From record membership, advancements in the Pallet Design System™ (PDS), and events, to staff and committee achievements in public affairs, communications, and research, NWPCA has a lot to celebrate. is report allows us to share our successes, but it is also a time to plan. So, let's look back at our biggest moments over the past 12 months with an eye to the future! HIGHLIGHTING NWPCA'S BIGGEST MOMENTS IN 2022 Advancing the Industry in Pallet Design NWPCA and the PDS Team have made significant advancements in developing new features and tools to take the power of pallet design to the next level. e latest release of Pallet Design System™ (Dec 2022) is the most important to date. PDS v6.6 completes the work in unit load, addresses the climate-positive role of wooden pallets, and integrates with ERP Systems more robustly. ese three components are critical in how pallet companies run their business in today's environment. e year began with the soft clunking of plastic pails and loud cracks of bolts being pulled through test boards. NWPCA and the Pallet Foundation sponsored Doctoral student Mary Paz Alvarez Valverde and Master's student Joe Keller, who diligently tested hundreds of five-gallon plastic pails and threaded fasteners. Mary worked with Kristen DeLack, PE, PDS structural engineer, to develop how to accurately predict pail failure under real-world loading when supported by wooden pallets. is was an exciting opportunity for Mary to explore finite element modeling techniques, drawing on Kristen's 20 years of experience in the field. Several prominent plastic pail players have already praised the research. is work will undoubtedly advance the industry's understanding of pail performance during uneven loading. We expect to incorporate the ability to assess pail performance into PDS in 2023. Years of research went into alternative fasteners, such as lag screws, carriage bolts, and stiffness of nails. Joe also did a great job sourcing lumber in a challenging market. We owe NWPCA member Hopkins Lumber a truckload of gratitude for Milestones and Looking Ahead.