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The Pallet Design System© (PDS) is a product
specification tool, an engineering design tool, a professional
marketing tool and an educational tool – all contained in an
easy-to-use software package developed for the wood pallet
industry. Since its introduction in 1984, PDS has developed a
highly respected reputation throughout the material handling
industry.
NWPCA has just released PDS Version 4.1. This is the 31st
version of PDS over its 25-year history. The latest versions
provide greatly expanded pallet design capabilities: pallets
with up to 29 top or bottom deckboards, up to nine stringers or
stringerboards and up to seven blocks per stringerboard can be
designed. Symmetrical or non-symmetrical pallets can be
specified. The new user interface has interactive, real-time,
3-D graphics. This graphical user interface allows you to see
the pallet as you design it. You can click on the graphical
displays of the pallet to change dimensions of any component,
and you can position components by dragging with the mouse. A
new User’s Guide makes finding information and answers to
questions easy, convenient, and quick
Each new version of PDS incorporates the latest data,
engineering and technologies which result from NWPCA’s
continuous program of research and development. Millions of
dollars have been expended on PDS, not only for software
development, but on research toward increased understanding of
the relationships between the design and performance of wood
pallets and the entire unit load.
A Product Specification Tool
PDS leads the User through the complete specification of the
pallet type, size and style. Dimensions and arrangement of all
components are specified. All materials used to construct the
pallet are specified. Any wood species available in North
America, South America and Europe can be selected. Recycled
components can be specified if designing a remanufactured
pallet. Plywood or OSB panels can be selected if designing a
panel deck pallet. Solid wood or composite blocks can be
selected if designing a block-class pallet. All types and sizes
of nails and staples used in pallet construction can be
specified. Manufacturing features such as heat treatment or
fumigation, and painting or stenciling can be indicated.
PDS then creates a
pallet specification sheet, fully-dimensioned
2-D drawings with Top, Bottom, Side and End Views, and
3-D
drawings. The pallet specification sheet clearly and precisely
conveys to the customer the specification for the pallet – the
product being manufactured and sold to the customer to meet his
material handling needs. The fully dimensioned 2-D drawings
clearly show the customer the pallet design and all dimensions,
location, and spacings. Along with the 3-D drawings, they help
visually determine whether the design will fit the intended
material handling system and adequately fit and protect the
intended load. A
pallet production order can be
provided to production staff to insure the pallet is accurately
and correctly constructed.
An Engineering Design Tool
If a structural, durability or physical properties analysis is
desired for the pallet, PDS will lead the user through a series
of questions about the intended conditions of use. Loads to be
placed on the pallet, either uniformly distributed or
concentrated, can be indicated. If desired, particular loads
such as boxes, bags or pails can be selected; interlocked or
column stacking can be indicated; load stabilizers such as
stretch wrap or strapping can be specified. Whether the pallet
will be stored in racks, supported by conveyors or stacked
multiple units high during storage or transport can be
specified. The severity of the pallet handling environment
(rough, average or good) can be characterized.
PDS then conducts a series of engineering analyses to predict
the performance of the pallet under the specified loads within
the material handling system. The safe load capacity, deflection
under load and critical pallet components are determined for
each support condition. The resistance to damage and estimates
of repair frequency and pallet service life are determined.
Complete
results of the analyses are reported.
The engineering in PDS enables users to quickly and accurately
determine pallet performance under the intended conditions of
use without time-consuming and expensive testing or trial and
error. Comparisons in performance are easily made between
different pallet designs, wood species or grades, fastener, and
component dimensions. The PDS structural analysis and safe load
estimates reduce concerns over human health and safety, and
reduce or eliminate product damage which can result from
inadequate pallet strength, stiffness or durability.
A Professional Marketing Tool
The PDS pallet specification sheet, drawings, and engineering
analysis allow very impressive and useful presentations to
customers. All PDS materials clearly display the company name,
address and other contact information for both the PDS provider
and the customer. Any special or custom notes you wish to add
can be displayed on the pallet specification sheet.
To make PDS even more effective as a marketing tool,
guides to
the PDS specification and analysis have been created for PDS
users to give to their customers.
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A guide to the PDS Specification Sheet clearly
explains all parts of the pallet specification, and helps convey
the importance of a properly specified and constructed pallet.
After reading this, customers should certainly realize a pallet
is not just a pallet. |
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A
guide to the PDS Structural Analysis clearly
explains all parts of the analysis results, and helps convey the
importance of a properly designed and engineered pallet. |
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A
document entitled Safety Levels in PDS provides an
easy to understand explanation to a complicated question. It is
intended to satisfy the needs of both the merely curious
purchasing agent or the serious and highly trained packaging
engineer. |
PDS enables pallet professionals to assist in selecting the most
cost effective and efficient pallet design and construction to
meet their customer’s needs, whether the goal is the lowest
initial price or (in the case of closed loop or return systems)
lowest cost per use.
An Educational Tool
The previous guides to PDS intended to be given to customers are
useful educational tools. But the built-in (or electronic)
User’s Guide in PDS, which continues to be developed and
improved with each new version, is a wealth of information. The
User’s Guide not only explains how to use the PDS software, it
contains extensive information on pallet design, construction,
and performance. Any part of the User’s Guide can be printed for
reference or to provide customers who have a question about some
aspect of PDS or wood pallets.
A
PDS Newsletter intended to keep Users informed about new
versions, improvements and changes to PDS, is published
electronically and also provided to PDS Users as a hardcopy.
The Bottom Line
PDS enables wood pallet manufacturers to assist their customers
in:
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significantly reducing costs |
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significantly reducing product damage |
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significantly increasing safety throughout the material
handling system |
PDS has been meeting these objectives since its first release in
1984. And PDS is getting better and better at this process, due
to NWPCA’s continuous investments in software improvements and
in research and development. It’s a good thing, since customers
continue to look for greater and greater reductions in their
material handling costs.
Pallet manufacturers produce the key component to successful
unit load material handling – the pallet – the interface between
the equipment, forces and impacts of the material handling
environment and the customer’s valuable, sometimes fragile,
unitized product. And PDS is the key tool in designing this key
component. Increasingly, pallet manufacturers are finding they
can’t do business without it.
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