palletcentral

34 Pallet C e nt ral • July -Aug u st 2 0 25 EFFICIENCY BY MARK BARFORD, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS I n an industry built on grit, instinct, and sweat, efficiency once meant working longer hours, hiring more labor, or pushing machines harder. But that is changing fast. e smartest shops are trading clipboards for cameras, guesswork for real-time data, and long hours for lean, AI-driven operations. At NWPCA and PalletCentral, we're seeing a wave of innovation from service providers who are building intelligence directly into their machinery. From tracking board counts and labor input to measuring downtime and throughput, these systems are turning everyday machines into data-driven tools. In this Buyer's Guide edition, we check in with machinery suppliers to explore how they are embedding intelligence into their systems to streamline production, reduce downtime, and improve efficiencies across the board (no pun intended). Welcome to the era of working smarter, not harder. The Old Way: Manual, Disconnected, And Labor-Heavy Walk into a traditional pallet shop and you'll hear the familiar sounds of hammers and forklifts, and see hand- marked tally sheets. Many operations still rely on manual inspections, handwritten logs, and machines running in isolation. It's a system built on muscle and memory, and it is reaching its limits. Labor shortages, rising material costs, and just-in-time delivery expectations are forcing pallet manufacturers to rethink how they operate. e shift is clear: smarter machines and connected systems that do more—with less. The Rise Of Smart Machinery Modern pallet machinery isn't just faster—it's smarter than ever before. Companies are equipping saws, nailers, and sorters with software-driven controls, AI vision systems, and real-time analytics. e goal is no longer just automation—it's optimization. Take automated nailing systems, for example. Machinery companies are incorporating equipment and software to reduce human oversight and provide consistent, high-throughput production. While machines move faster, efficiency today demands more than speed—it requires intelligence. By combining automation with AI-driven systems, operations shift to true optimization. "Integrating your production machinery with your software systems is an absolute essential in today's modern business environment," says Kevan Grinwis, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at e PalMate Group. "With the penetration of all the various WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER: How Smart Tech Is Rebuilding The Pallet Industry

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