EPAL Wooden Pallets vs EUR - Full Reverse on Interchangeability !

Epal  or UIC Pallets

A beautiful innovation

You may not be familiar with the history of the "exchange" palette, so let us share a few words in the introduction.

At the initiative of railway companies (remember the SNCF brand on pallets), a "standardised" wooden pallet in 800 X 1200 format was created in the 1950s.

It was to facilitate both the transport of goods within the country and the handling and storage in companies with the introduction of the first post-war forklift trucks.

A beautiful "supply-chain" innovation for the time, all the more so as this pallet made it possible to exchange freely between economic players.

"I deliver my loaded products on an "exchange" pallet and my customer gives me an equivalent vacuum.

The UIC (International Union of Railways) is responsible for promoting the "Europe pallet" and ensuring compliance with both manufacturing and repair standards. Approvals (licences) are granted and verified by certification body and a contribution paid by manufacturers and repairers for each "Europe" pallet processed.

In 1991, the German association "EPAL" was created by pallet manufacturers to provide support and business expertise for the development of the "EUR" pallet.

Naturally divergent interests

It was obvious that two institutions, with the same interests, could not cohabit over time in a colossal market. This is why EPAL has created its own brand, better known under the logo, affixed to all "exchange" pallets under its licence control.

Until 2013, EPAL and UIC wore their colours together on all "Europe pallets", but since then, each has made its way on its own with similar specifications and "interchangeability".

Why give up interchangeability ?

Some might say that it is simply a question of controlling the entire "exchange" pallet market, estimated at more than 1 billion Euros per year and consequently increasing revenues for EPAL.

Others prefer to think that a single actor would be much more effective in guaranteeing and controlling the entire chain, from manufacturing to repair. Moreover, to improve the quality and durability of both the products and the system compared to what it is today.

What do the supply-chain players think ?

Since the announcement last March on the end of interchangeability, most distributors had taken their measures to limit or even prohibit the receipt of products in "EUR" pallets (in UIC colours).

More problems with the "exchange" pallets!
It's not our job to worry about handling media!
This system is not stable and is becoming less reliable!
We already have problems with the quality of pallets during exchanges, if we have to check their origin now, we are not at the end of disputes with our customers and our suppliers !
What Future?
The growth of the EPAL brand, since the split in 2013, would suggest a natural and almost total takeover of the market over the coming years, all the more so with the support of the largest European manufacturers.

This is perhaps also why EPAL has gone backwards, announcing the maintenance of interchangeability with "Europe pallets" but until 2021... !

Despite its defects, the model exchanges whether via "EPAL" or "EUR" is a model that has lasted for more than 60 years, but until when... ?