Definition
The portion of a product load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet deck. Excessive overhang creates stability risks, can cause product damage during handling, and may prevent proper racking. Industry best practices recommend no more than one inch of overhang on any side. Overhang also refers to wing pallet designs where the deck boards intentionally extend past the stringers to support specific product dimensions.
Related Terms
Wing Pallet
A pallet where the deck boards extend beyond the stringers or blocks, creating an overhang or "wing" on one or more sides. Wing pallets allow products to overhang the pallet structure without the risk of damage from contact with the stringer edges. They are commonly used for beverage cases and other products that are loaded to the exact deck dimensions. The wing design also facilitates the use of clamp trucks for handling.
Pallet Pattern
The specific arrangement of cases, boxes, or other unit loads on a pallet deck to maximize stability, space utilization, and shipping efficiency. Common patterns include column stacking, interlocking (brick-lay), and pinwheel arrangements. Pallet pattern optimization software calculates the best configuration based on product dimensions, pallet size, weight limits, and trailer dimensions. An efficient pallet pattern minimizes wasted space and reduces shipping costs.
Unit Load
A quantity of goods assembled and secured on a pallet to form a single handling unit for storage and transportation. The unit load concept is fundamental to modern logistics — by consolidating individual items into pallet-sized units, material handling efficiency is dramatically improved. A well-built unit load is stable, within weight limits for the pallet and handling equipment, and configured to maximize trailer or container space utilization.
Racking
The practice of storing loaded pallets on elevated warehouse racking systems (pallet racks). Racking places unique demands on pallet strength because the pallet spans across the rack beams with its load weight concentrated on the supported edges rather than distributed across a flat floor. A pallet's racking capacity is typically its most demanding load rating, and not all pallets are suitable for racking. Rackable pallets must be specifically designed and rated for this application.
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