18
Pallet C e nt ral • No vem be r-D e cem be r 2 0 25
PDS
BY JERICA KINGSBURY
T
he world of wood packaging
design is evolving, and
with the launch of PDS
Version 6.11, the changes
are more visible. But
even as we celebrate the
advances in wood pallet engineering
today, there's something new on the
horizon: a dedicated Crate Design
System, currently in development and
to be released mid-2026. Together,
these developments signal a maturation
of wood packaging software, offering
designers ever more powerful tools
across pallets and crates.
In this article, we' ll explore the major
enhancements introduced in PDS 6.11,
consider their broader impact on the
wood packaging industry, and look
ahead to how they connect with the
upcoming Crate Design System. To
bring these developments into focus,
we've included insights from Kristen
DeLack, PE, Principal Engineer and
Strategic Business Advisor.
PDS 6.11: More Than Just An
Incremental Upgrade
At a glance, here's what PDS 6.11
brings:
• Native support for wood screws
(deck screws, lag screws, and
washer-head self-drilling screws)
• Enhanced creep/deflection
modeling for block pallets
What's New In PDS
6.11 — And What's
Coming Next In
Wood Packaging
Design
