Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1511664
PalletCentral • November-December 2023 9 PDS: Plastic Pail Analysis on Wooden Pallets O ver the last seven years, the Pallet Design System (PDS) team has been developing tools for holistic unit load optimization. After completing a new pail strength analysis feature, they are set to release the final installment of a comprehensive suite of unit load design tools. e research, led by Kristen DeLack, PDS principal engineer and strategic business advisor, focuses on the environmental impact and cost savings of system-level unit load design, particularly concerning wooden pallets and the most common packaging forms. Pail collapse under varying support conditions can be predicted using advanced finite element analysis techniques within PDS. Over 400 pails of varying sizes and grades were tested, providing valuable data for the industry and verification of proprietary PDS analysis models. e next release of PDS (v6.8), expected in December, offers the ability to evaluate pail performance against pallet design, highlighting the importance of factors like pallet stiffness and component layout in preventing pail damage. Read more on page 32. NWPCA President McClendon Speaks Sustainability at RTA Symposium B rent McClendon, president & CEO, addressed the 105th Annual Symposium and Technical Conference of the Railway Tie Association (RTA) from October 17-19 in Atlanta, Georgia. His presentation dove into the environmental aspects of wooden pallets and their essential role in the supply chain. Following the conference, Brent met with several NWPCA Executive Committee leaders. Special thanks to LeRoi Cochran of Relogistics Services, Jeff Lewis and Zilhad Dzihic of Atlanta Pallets & Services for their time and hospitality. Pallet Foundation Race, Winners Announced T he Fourth Annual Pallet Foundation Virtual Race kicked off on October 15 and ended at midnight on Halloween, October 31. Together, participants covered impressive distances and showcased teamwork, athleticism, and friendly competition within the wood packaging industry. Congratulations to our winners: • Bike: Ed Movic from e Pallet Alliance conquered 406.54 miles. • Run: Samuel Podlipsky of Tarimera el Rayo sprinted ahead with 234.23 miles. In addition, he climbed the highest mountain in Mexico, the Pico de Orizaba. • Walk: Matthew Levey clocked in 110.4 miles for e Pallet Alliance. • Swim: Karen Weil of Hartman Independent made waves with 10.5 miles. We also extend a heartfelt thank you to e Pallet Alliance for matching their team's miles with a generous donation. With their 15-person strong team, they elevated the total funds raised to an outstanding $7,625, with every penny going to support the Pallet Foundation's research projects. Visit www.PalletFoundation.org to learn more about their research and projects.