【Plastic Pallet Rental in Thailand】From Manufacturing and Sales to Exports to Japan and Logistics Management

Technology & Services

SANKO Pallet Rental (Thailand) Co., Ltd. provides plastic pallet rental services in Thailand. In addition to long term rentals throughout the year, we also offer short term rentals that allow customers to add pallets only when needed during peak periods, as well as pallet rentals for exports from Thailand to Japan.

When procuring pallets, the appropriate choice depends on more than simply “how many pallets are needed.” The products to be loaded, operating environment, rental period, required quantity, and transportation method all affect which option is suitable. Drawing on the know how of Sanko Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest specialist manufacturer of logistics materials, we review actual operating conditions before proposing suitable pallet types and procurement methods.

Table of Contents

• Pallet selection is not determined by “purchase or rental” alone
• Rental services coordinated with the Group’s manufacturing base
• Selecting pallets according to the load and operating environment
• From year round use to additional rentals only during peak periods
• How pallet rental works in Thailand
• Rent pallets for use from Thailand to Japan and return them in Japan
• Pallet management with TRAXGO® and RFID
• FAQ

■　Pallet selection is not determined by “purchase or rental” alone

The method of procuring pallets cannot be determined simply by choosing between purchasing and renting.

Some companies use a fixed number of pallets throughout the year, while others need more pallets than usual only during periods when inventory increases, such as before Songkran or at the end of the year. In addition, the required level of hygiene and strength differs depending on the products being loaded, such as food, chemicals, or heavy goods.

For this reason, when selecting pallets, it is important to organize conditions such as “what will be loaded,” “how long they will be used,” “how many are needed,” and “how far they will be transported.”

In addition to selecting pallets according to the intended use and operating environment, we propose procurement methods that match actual operations, including long term rentals, additional rentals only during peak periods, and use for transportation to Japan.

■　Rental services coordinated with the Group’s manufacturing base

The plastic pallets used in our rental service are supplied in coordination with the Group’s manufacturing base in Thailand; Sanko Plastics (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Pallet manufacturing, raw material management, and manufacturing technology are handled by the manufacturing base and the SANKO Group, while we provide rental services and support customers in selecting pallets that match their operating conditions.

When consulting with customers, we review not only size and strength but also the products to be loaded, how the load is applied, the handling method, and the operating environment. Simply preparing the required number of pallets is not enough. Selecting pallets that match actual operating conditions leads to safer and more stable operations.

■　Selecting pallets according to the load and operating environment

The requirements for pallets vary depending on the products being loaded and the operating environment.

In food factories, wood chips generated from wooden pallets may lead to foreign material contamination and can create hygiene management issues. At sites where hygiene management must take HACCP and GMP into consideration, switching to plastic pallets, which are less likely to generate wood debris and are easier to clean, can be an option.

On the other hand, at sites handling chemicals, drums, and other heavy goods, pallet strength and quality are important. Depending on how the load is applied and the strength of the pallet itself, a pallet may be damaged during use, potentially causing drums to overturn or their contents to leak. Chemical leakage may endanger workers, affect surrounding equipment, and potentially lead to serious accidents. It is therefore necessary to confirm that the pallet has sufficient strength for the weight of the load and the intended method of use.

In this way, pallets should not be selected based only on price or size. The characteristics and weight of the products being loaded, handling method, and operating environment should also be reviewed before selecting specifications suitable for the intended use.

■　From year round use to additional rentals only during peak periods

When procuring pallets, “how many will be used” and “how long they will be used” are also important factors. When launching a new factory or logistics center, a large number of pallets may be required at one time. Purchasing all of them at once can result in a large initial cost, while the pallets must also be continuously managed as company owned assets.

When a fixed quantity will be used continuously, long term rental makes it possible to begin operations without purchasing a large number of pallets at once, while treating rental fees as running costs.

On the other hand, there are cases where additional pallets are needed for only two to three months. If pallets are purchased for a peak period, the unused pallets will need to be stored for a long period afterward.

In such cases, the quantity required for normal operations can be secured through long term rental, while additional pallets can be rented only during periods of increased demand, such as before Songkran or at the end of the year.

Adjusting the quantity according to the required period and volume makes it possible to operate with a number of pallets closer to actual usage and avoid unnecessary excess.

■　How pallet rental works in Thailand

In Thailand, we provide a standard rental system using depots.

Customers collect empty pallets from a depot and use them at factories, warehouses, logistics centers, and other locations. Pallets may also be shipped together with products to business partners, and after use, the empty pallets are returned to the depot.

Rental fees are charged according to the actual number of days used. If we arrange delivery or collection, transportation charges apply depending on the conditions of use.

A one way system is also available when products are delivered to a business partner while still loaded on the pallet. Under this system, the rental account is transferred from the shipping side to the receiving side, and the receiving side returns the pallet to the depot after use.

Even on logistics routes where pallets cannot be returned immediately to the shipping point, the return method can be arranged according to the flow of goods.

Rent pallets for use from Thailand to Japan and return them in Japan

For companies exporting products from Thailand to Japan, we provide a rental service in coordination with the SANKO Group and its locations in Japan.

Rental pallets can be collected in Thailand, loaded with products, transported by sea to Japan, and then returned to a depot in Japan after the cargo has been unloaded.

With floor loaded shipments from Thailand to Japan, unloading after arrival in Japan can take time, which may cause containers to remain occupied. When unloading is delayed due to labor shortages, costs such as demurrage, arrangements for additional workers, and transloading work may also arise.

By using pallets from the time of shipment in Thailand and transporting the products on the same pallets all the way to the delivery destination in Japan, unloading and transloading work after arrival in Japan can be reduced, making end to end palletization possible.

It is important to consider not only container loading efficiency, but also the overall logistics process, including cargo handling, transloading, and pallet management on the Japan side.

■　Pallet management with TRAXGO® and RFID

As the number of pallets in use increases or pallets are used across multiple locations, knowing “where each pallet is and how many are there” also becomes important.

We provide TRAXGO®, which enables inventory management in the cloud not only for rental pallets, but also for pallets and logistics equipment owned by customers.

TRAXGO® is our system specialized for managing logistics materials and supports Japanese, English, and Thai. By adding individual asset management to quantity management, more detailed management can be achieved.

One example of individual asset management is the use of RFID, which makes it possible to identify pallets individually and use the information for inventory management, inbound and outbound management, and tracking.

QR codes are also supported, allowing logistics related information such as document details, vehicle numbers, product codes, and photographs recording the condition of products to be linked and managed.

The system can also be used when pallets are operated across multiple locations or when rental items and customer owned logistics equipment need to be managed together.

※For more details, please download the attached materials or contact us via the form below.

■　FAQ

Q1：Can pallets be rented for only two to three months?
A1 : Yes. Additional pallets can be rented only during periods when pallets are temporarily insufficient, such as before Songkran or at the end of the year, and returned after use.

Q2：Can we use long term rental if we need a large number of pallets when launching a new factory or logistics center?
A2 : Yes. Long term rental is available when a large number of pallets will be used continuously. The quantity normally required can be secured through long term rental, with additional pallets rented only during peak periods.

Q3：Can pallets rented in Thailand be used for exports to Japan?
A3 : Yes. In coordination with the SANKO Group and its locations in Japan, pallets collected in Thailand can be exported to Japan together with the products and then returned to a depot in Japan.

Q4：Can pallets be managed individually?
A4 : Yes. RFID can be used to manage pallets individually. By combining it with TRAXGO® and QR codes, information related to pallets and logistics equipment can also be managed centrally.