Worldwide production of the EPAL wooden load carrier advanced to 66.3 million pallets in its first full year under the “EPAL in oval” brand.
The European Pallet Association e. V. (EPAL) has registered production of 66.3 million EPAL euro pallets in 2014, marking a 3 percent gain from the previous year. Over the same period, the EPAL pallet repair total was up slightly, from 22.3 million in 2013 to 22.4 million in 2014.
2014 denoted the first complete calendar year in which EPAL granted licenses for the production of Euro pallets marked exclusively with the “EPAL in oval” brand, after production of one-brand pallets started on in August 2013. The independent global inspection company, Bureau Veritas, has been assuring the consistent quality of EPAL Euro pallets since 1st January 2013. The high quality standards and ready availability of EPAL Euro pallets in the open pallet pool make them the indispensable load carrier.
“The increase in production in 2014 clearly illustrates the continued confidence in the EPAL Euro pallet and we are proud of this increase, which is a direct result of the intensive work carried out by the EPAL National Committees,” states Martin Leibrandt, CEO of EPAL.
In addition to very good results in Europe, including excellent growth in Hungary and the Czech Republic, the 50 percent growth in China last year has made it another important development market for EPAL.
EPAL was founded in 1991 as the umbrella association of licensed producers and repairers of EPAL/EUR-pallets and box pallets, with global responsibility for the consistent quality of the EPAL load carriers. For this reason it uses an independent external quality inspection service. The Association been granting exclusive licenses for the production and repair of Euro pallets with the “EPAL in oval” branded marking on four corner blocks since August 2013, and is currently represented in more than thirty countries by fourteen National Committees which have committed themselves to implementing the EPAL objectives on a national basis. As a registered association, EPAL does not pursue any commercial interests and makes all its decisions in the interests of its industry, trade and logistics partners.