Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/612297
18 PalletCentral • November-December 2015 palletcentral.com THOUGHT LEADERS down) every year. We're going to need more administrative personnel to ensure we're in compliance on regulatory issues too. Those cost increases are hard to pass on to customers without a fight, but we're going to have to be diligent. —Steve Yelland, JFR Holdings, Inc. Expect Obamacare costs to rise as plan aggravates employers. Health care costs from Obamacare continues to increase overhead. This is our first year with 100% enrollment in our health insurance program. The rates are higher and the plan gets a little worse every year. —Matt Yancey, Dominion Pallet Company, Inc. Occupational health issues are increasing in priority. With OSHA's revised injury reporting requirements triggering 25,000 new investigations, full rollout in 2016 of the GHS hazcom requirements, and an updated NEP on amputation hazards, pallet manufacturing companies should plan for additional inspections by the Agency. Equipment guarding to meet enhanced enforcement may also pose challenges. —Adele L. Abrams, Esq. CMSP, Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC Growing transition from hardwood to softwood pallets. Mold is quickly becoming every buyer's primary concern. Customers that traditionally purchased hardwood pallets will begin to switch to a softwood design. Not only is the material kiln dried and more resistant to mold, but it offers a clean look preferred by pharmaceutical and food related companies. As the housing market still lags, pine prices remain distressed and are very affordable relative to their hardwood counterpart. —Pennsylvania pallet company Customers will continue to look for alternatives to recycled 48X40 GMAs. Due to an increasingly tight market for recycled pallets, expect to see a movement to more combo pallets constructed of new stringers and reclaimed boards. As another price competitive solution we anticipate more buyers will accept thinner deckboards on new 48X40 GMA's instead of the traditional recycled GMA. —Company located in the northeast Out of the old, bring on the new. The used pallet marketplace will continue to suffer through inventory issues and constraints until companies start to buy new again and kick start the cycle of product in the system. PC —Mia Allen, Rose Pallet