Traditional Wooden Pallets vs. Press Wood Pallets: How to Choose the Best Logistics Solution?

In the field of logistics and warehousing, pallets, as fundamental and crucial transportation carriers, directly affect operational efficiency, packaging costs, and environmental compliance. With the improvement of international environmental protection standards and the increasingly strict requirements for export inspection and quarantine, traditional wooden pallets and new molded pallets have formed a significant market competition situation. This article analyzes multiple perspectives, including raw materials, structure, performance, and application cases, to help you scientifically select the best pallet solutions.

1. What Are Traditional Wooden Pallets and pressed wood pallets?

traditional wooden pallets:
Typically constructed from natural wood such as pine or hardwood, these are cut and assembled with nails. They are simple in design, cost-effective, and remain the most widely used type of pallet.

press wood pallets:
Made from renewable fibers including wood scraps, sawdust, and agricultural waste, press wood pallets are manufactured through a high-temperature, high-pressure molding process. They require no metal fasteners and offer both environmental sustainability and structural uniformity.

2. Key Performance Comparison: Why Choose Press Wood Pallets?

Materials and Environmental Impact

Press wood pallets are made from recycled materials such as waste wood and plant fibers. They are 100% recyclable and biodegradable, with an eco-friendly production process. A major advantage of press wood pallets is that they are exempt from fumigation and international phytosanitary regulations (ISPM-15), making them ideal for export and streamlining customs clearance.
Traditional wooden pallets rely on raw timber, contributing to forest depletion. They must undergo fumigation or heat treatment for export, and their production generates noise and sawdust pollution.

Surface Quality and Hygiene

Press wood pallets are seamlessly molded, resulting in a smooth surface free of splinters or sharp edges. This prevents damage to goods and injury to workers. They also provide excellent resistance to water, moisture, mold, and insects, with minimal deformation even after prolonged water exposure.
Traditional wooden pallets are prone to splintering, require additional processing to ensure safety, and are vulnerable to mold and bacterial growth in humid conditions, compromising hygiene.

Weight and Handling Efficiency

Press wood pallets are designed to be lightweight, often weighing significantly less than wooden pallets of the same Load capacity. This reduces transportation energy consumption and carbon emissions while improving handling efficiency for both manual and automated systems.
Traditional wooden pallets are heavier, increasing freight costs and long-term logistical expenses.

Strength and Load Capacity

Press wood pallets, such as those produced by PalletMach, offer exceptional durability with static load capacities of up to 6 tons and dynamic load capacities exceeding 1.5 tons. Their compression, bending, and impact resistance match or even surpass that of traditional wooden pallets, making them suitable for racking systems and heavy-duty applications.
Traditional wooden pallets perform reliably in routine handling and forklift operations, but they are susceptible to structural weakening in highly humid environments.

Dimensional Consistency and Automation Compatibility:

Press wood pallets are manufactured using precision molds, ensuring highly consistent dimensions. This makes them perfectly suited for automated warehouses, robotic handling, and conveyor systems, enhancing overall logistics efficiency.

Wooden pallets often suffer from size variations and warping due to differences in wood type, moisture content, and construction, limiting their compatibility with automated equipment.

3. Case Study: Hunan Manufacturer Embraces Automation and Sustainability with Press Wood Pallets

A wooden pallet manufacturer in Hunan, leveraging local forestry resources and adopting PalletMach's advanced plant fiber molding technology, successfully transitioned to producing international-standard press wood pallets. As customer demand for export-ready packaging—especially for high-value machinery—grew more rigorous, the company integrated PalletMach's Press Wood Pallet production line.

(raw material)

After a comprehensive evaluation of PalletMach's equipment and service support, the company signed an agreement in March to purchase six single mould wood pallet machines and automated production systems in two phases. By mid-July, the first batch of sawdust-based press wood pallets was successfully produced. These pallets demonstrated compact design, reliable stackability, and passed all quality tests.

(The front of the press wood pallet)

(The back of the press wood pallet)

(press wood pallet stacking)

PalletMach's fully automated production line for press wood pallets operates 24/7, with a daily output of 312 pallets. This ensures high product quality and maximizes production efficiency. The project not only elevated the manufacturer's product standards but also highlighted PalletMach's expertise in molding technology, production line design, and technical support.

4. Conclusion: How to Make the Best Choice?

Choose press wood pallets if your operations involve international shipping, require high hygiene standards (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals), utilize automated warehousing and robotics, or prioritize environmental sustainability and corporate green initiatives.
Choose traditional wooden pallets if your usage is limited to internal warehouse circulation, short-term applications, or low-budget projects with no export requirements (avoiding fumigation).
Whatever your needs, the key is to align your pallet choice with operational demands and long-term goals. press wood pallets from PalletMach are helping businesses build greener, more efficient, and globally compliant supply chains.