Slip Sheets: the Key to Efficient Packaging
A slip sheet is a thin, flat material made of corrugated paper or plastic that is used in packaging and shipping for the assembly of a unit load.
It has a protruding short panel that can be grasped by the jaws of a special attachment, allowing the load to be pulled back onto the pull-pack platform.
In the context of shipping and logistics, slip sheets are often used as a cost-effective and space-saving alternative to traditional wooden pallets.
They are typically the size of a pallet or the load to go on a pallet.
One or more sides of the slip sheet have a lip which extends from the load to allow grasping by a special push-pull attachment on a modified fork truck.
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The Rise of Slip Sheets
in the Logistics and Shipping world
Slip sheets are becoming a popular alternative to traditional wooden pallets in the logistics and shipping industry.
Here’s why:
Cost-Effective💰
Slip sheets often offer a cost advantage with their lower upfront acquisition costs.
These thin, lightweight sheets of plastic or corrugated materials are generally more affordable than traditional wooden or plastic pallets.
Space-Saving 📦
Using slip sheets instead of wooden pallets allows for 12-15% more products in material handling containers.
This can significantly reduce material handling costs and decrease loading/unloading time by up to 60%.
Lightweight 🪶
Slip sheets weigh 20 times less than wooden pallets, saving on shipping weight.
Customizable🔧
Slip sheets can be customized to fit any size load.
Environmentally Friendly🌍🌱
Slip sheets are particularly environmentally friendly.
Increasing numbers of companies are producing slip sheets from recycled materials, e.g., cardboard or plastic.
Maintenance-Free🔧
Unlike wooden pallets, slip sheets do not require maintenance but can easily be replaced.
However, it’s important to note that slip sheet usage requires special attachments on transportation devices such as a lift truck.
When used alone, pallets provide more structural support than slip sheets.
Overall, the advantages of slip sheets vs. pallets highly overrate the disadvantages associated with the two.
They are indeed a very viable alternative to wooden pallets.