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TRANSCRIPT
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EPALh ll i iThe European Pallet Association
Annual Meeting – 2010Rancho Mirage – California
Pallet Pools
Whatever their size or location, they have one thing in common
Pallet Pools
they have one thing in common.
They own pallets, which they rent out and manage.
The European Pallet Association
The EURO Pallet.
UIC 435-2.
800 x 1200
What is the European Pallet Pool?
It is the largest pool in the world!
At least 450,000,000 pallets and growing.
BY FAR!!!, , p g g
Possibly as many as 600,000,000.
In spite of this:
It ensures pool quality.
But it owns no pallets!
And availability.
Annual production almost 75,000,000 and growing.
Of which EPAL accounts for around 70,000,000.
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French Railways
Bought a batch of pallets for a specific job in the 1950’s, produced by a Swedish company.
History
produced by a Swedish company.
Performed well over a period, and spread round the railways.
Eventually other railways wished to use more, so the specification was back-engineered.
The pallet became the de facto standard for the railways, controlled by the UIC - the Union Internationale des Chemins de fer.
UIC
Run by Railway Organisations, the UIC.
Originally good, consistent quality.
History
g y g y
In some countries got worse over time.
Many railways had more important tasks.
The result?
An independent organisation was needed.
EPAL was born!
Licensed by the UIC to control pallet quality
What is EPAL?
Its primary function is quality control.
It protects the various trademarks.
EPAL is a regulatory body.
EUREPAL
EPAL promotes the EURO pallet.
It unites the various sectors:
Producers, repairers, logistics, railways, traders, pallet-users.
EPAL EUR
Centre block markings allow identification.
President
Annual General Meeting
National CommitteesIndividual Members
Associated MembersRailway Bodies
National Committees
Producers
Repairers
Dealers
Appeals Committee
This bit’s boring!Organisation chart
Board
President9 representatives ofNational Committees
1 Representative of EPP
Working Groups
Technical mattersQuality assuranceCommunications
International affairsInspection and training
Users
Railways
Hauliers
Propositions
Coordination
Preparation for admission
Assistance to Members
Publicity
General Secretariat
Chief Executive OfficerTechnical Expert
Administration AssistantsPublic relations
Quality Control
Inspection companies
More practical
Board of DirectorsDiscuss and decide all aspects of EPAL
Liases with UIC
General Secretariat
Carries out instructions of the Board.
Chief Executive Officer
Decides punishments for defaulting companies.
Arranges contracts with Inspections Companies and suppliers, and legal activities.
Co-ordinates inspections, statistics, testing, charges and all administrative matters.
More practical
National Committees
Operate In larger producing countries:
Discuss, prepare and recommend any technical and quality issues, to present to the Board.
Join working groups of related organisations.
Assist licence applications.
Disseminate information.
Working groups
Protect the trade marks.
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More practical
Inspection Companies
Training to ensure uniform inspections.
Contracted to, but independent of, EPAL.
Report findings to the Secretariat.
Appeals CommitteeReviews punishments set by Board.
Training to ensure uniform inspections.
Assess applicant companies for licence.
Make unannounced visits to producers, repairers, and end-users.
Inspections
Manufacturers
Regular, unannounced inspections.
Severe sanctions for breeches of the regulations.
At least once a month.
EURBRB GB001-5-06
EPAL
Certification staple.
Inspections
Repairers
Regular, unannounced inspections.
The same regime of fines, etc, as manufacturers.
At least once a month.
EURBRB GB001-5-06
EPAL
Repair identification nail.
Inspections
End usersRandom, unannounced inspections.
Varying frequency, as necessary. Often instigated by users.
Wall charts distributed to users, giving salient details and inspection company information.
instigated by users.
EPAL newsletter
Keeping licence
Published in various languages
p g
holders aware of
issues that effect their
important industry
businesses.
Europe.
35 sovereign countries
28 distinct languages
3,2000,000 square miles
750,000,000 population
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Europe
35 sovereign countries
28 distinct languages
3,2000,000 square miles
750,000,000 population
1 country
Mainly English language
3,5000,000 square miles
310,000,000 population
USA Europe.
EPAL Producing Countries
Europe.
EPAL Producing Countries
EPAL National CommitteesEurope.
EPAL Producing Countries
EPAL National Committees
Producers/Repairers
World
www.epal-pallets.org
United States
India
China
Australia
Area Summary.
Produced and repaired in 38 countries.
About 1,550 licensed producers, repairers and traders, p , p- growing at three a week.
Over 7,000 supply points (new and repaired).
About 550,000,000 pallets in circulation.
Readily available in many other countries.
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How does EPAL work as a pool?
Any way the users want it to!!!!!!!
Typically the pallet will simply be passed down the chain, ownership generally resting with the current user.
The recipient accepts a cost, which will gradually de-crease over the life of the pallet.
Alternatively, direct one for one exchange.
Thousands of traders buy and sell pallets..
Legislation.
ISPM 15EPAL firmly supports the IPPC standard.
Originally decided that standard would
However, compulsory now since 01/01/10
www.epal-pallets.org
be compulsory, from 1st July 2005.
ONLY HEAT TREATMENT
The way forward for wooden packaging
Withdrew compulsion because some countries might not be ready in time.
Working with railways is slow.
This is not a criticism!
Change
This is not a criticism!
Their prime function is to protect customers and themselves, in safety and functionality.
Manufacturers and repairers.
A good pool system depends on healthy suppliers.
To this end, EPAL has to be proactive to supply the end user with their needs.
and has introduced new designs.
EPAL has an added dimension.
The future.
• The growing EPAL family
800 x 1200 EURO
1000 x 1200 EUR 3800 x 600 EUR 6
1200 x 1000 EUR 2
The advantages of EPAL for the user.
Assured quality.
Assured value of pallet for resale.
- Or older pallets at reduced price.
Vast quality assured supplier network.- You are always near a source.
Ability to negotiate the best deal.- You can buy new pallets.
Always available in small or large numbers.
What about the manufacturer/repairer.
They can enter at any level that suites them.
They can freely negotiate the best price with their customerscustomers.
They know they will be on a level playing field with their competitors.
The only costs relate to inspection and licensing – no profit to EPAL.
You keep the profit, instead of having it squeezed out of you by the closed pools.
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Cost model.
The advantages of EPAL are not theoretical.
Several independent studies have been undertaken to pcompare the costs of this system with a closed pool.
Showed an open pool system such as EPAL reduces costs by over 30% compared to a commercial closed pool.
Copies of this model are available.
Manufacturer, repairer and trader
Your factory will be inspected
Licence application.
Your factory will be inspected.
Covering facilities and quality systems
Independent local inspectors - SGS
• Website.
www epal-pallets orgwww.epal-pallets.orgGerman French English
To contact me:
EPAL – European Pallet Association
Western Pallet Association – 2010
Thank You
We Look Forward