Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design tests durability of pallet designs handled using fork tines
The purpose of the test was to evaluate the durability of the block strength of a plastic and a wooden pallet design when impacted using fork tines.
SumoSafe Global, Australia, connected with The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., to conduct an independent study on the durability of its newly released SumoGlove, which are fitted to the tips of a lift truck’s existing forks.
Made from industrial-grade polyurethane, the glove significantly limits the impact of a carelessly driven lift truck’s forks against a load, according to a test conducted by the global and industry-recognized authority and center of excellence for pallet and unit load testing.
The purpose of the test was to evaluate the durability of the block strength of a plastic and a wooden pallet design when impacted using fork tines with and without SumoGlove, as well as evaluate the durability of two packaging designs when impacted using fork tines with and without SumoGlove.
The test determined the following:
- The pallets tested with the fork tines protected with the SumoGlove did not experience any failure.
- The test stopped once the equipment capacity was exceeded.
- It was found that even if the investigated wood pallets were impacted 13 times harder, the pallets never experienced any structural damage when the fork tine was protected with the SumoGlove.
Similar results were found for the plastic pallets. Even after seven times harder impacts, the
plastic pallets did not experience any structural damage when impacted with a fork tine protected with the SumoGlove.
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