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Kiln-dried and heat treated pallets

Looking for kiln-dried or heat treated pallets? It’s essential to choose the right type for your needs. Understanding the differences between heat-treated and kiln-dried wood can help guide your decision. Millions of items are shipped daily on wooden pallets and damaged wood can lead to costly issues. To comply with ISPM15 regulations, all wood packaging used for export must be heat treated. Here’s what you need to know about each process.

What’s the difference between kiln-dried heat treated pallets?

At Somerlap Pallets, we use two timber treatments for our wooden pallets: kiln-dried and heat treated.

 heat treated pallets

Kiln-dried

This process involves heating wood in a kiln to reduce its moisture content. The wood stays in the kiln for a minimum of 3 days until its moisture level drops below 15%, which makes pallets lighter and less expensive to transport. Kiln drying also minimizes discoloration over time. High moisture levels can lead to twisting, cracking, and shrinking, resulting in potential damage costs. Kiln drying reduces moisture to a manageable range, making the wood more stable and durable.

Heat treated

Our heat treatment process involves heating wood packaging in an onsite kiln for about 3 hours. This is to ensure the core temperature of the wood reaches at least 56°C for 30 minutes to make sure it’s free from pests and diseases, which is especially important for international and national shipments. Untreated timber can harbor pests that can spread globally, so heat treating helps prevent the transfer of these organisms.

 

The benefits of heat treated pallets

Suitable for Export

Heat-treated pallets meet ISPM15 regulations, allowing them to be used for export. These regulations require all wooden packaging to be heat-treated to prevent the spread of pests and diseases across borders. Heat-treated pallets are stamped with an internationally recognized mark verifying they’re pest-free.

Enhanced Durability and Longevity

Heat-treated pallets are more durable than untreated ones, making them safe to use in humid conditions and less prone to damage during transport. The process also strengthens the wood, increasing its resistance to rot, so these pallets can last up to ten years and can be recycled after.

Safer and Cost-Effective Shipping

While kiln drying removes more moisture, heat treatment still significantly reduces the moisture content, making the pallets lighter and more affordable to ship. Heat-treated pallets are also less flammable, reducing fire risks during transit and storage.

Key Facts about heat treated pallets

Heat-treated wood may appear darker due to sap reacting to heat, and these pallets carry a globally recognized stamp that certifies them as pest-free. Once treated to ISPM15 standards, pallets can be reused for global shipping without additional treatment and can last up to ten years, after which they can be recycled into other items.

Need heat treated pallets?

Somerlap Pallets offers a range of high-quality heat-treated wooden pallets, along with new pallets, reconditioned pallets, pallet crates, pallet collars, and other wooden packaging options. Contact us today to discuss your pallet needs!