Counterfeit Pallet Crackdown
19 Aug 2015
Since its inception in 1991, the European Pallet Association has been an umbrella organisation covering licensed companies which produce and repair EPAL pallets. EPAL provides a worldwide guarantee of excellence and uniformity when it comes to its pallets and, as such, utilises an external service to verify quality. Over 30 countries across the globe have made an undertaking to adhere to strict EPAL quality standards.
Ensuring that all pallets reach the high-performance requirements of EPAL is important to keep a company’s employees safe, as well as the products that they produce. At Associated Pallets, we believe in developing high-quality wooden pallets that meet all modern regulations and safety standards. Our products are designed for both UK and European use, and our vast collection of pallet products makes it easy to avoid counterfeit pallets. We’re sure to have something for you.
The Problem of Fake Pallets
But there is a significant problem of counterfeit EPAL pallets across the world market, where fake pallets have been found to be constructed from substandard materials and therefore do not conform to required standards of strength, load-bearing and safety. These fake pallets often carry a serial number relating to a genuine registered producer but will not have the normal holograph that should go along with this. Counterfeits are often produced in Eastern Europe, and the fraudsters can make huge profits by using cheaper materials and undercutting the prices of legitimate manufacturers.
There have been recent legal changes in the Czech Republic which mean that stronger action can be taken against those who disregard copyright regulations and attempt to flood the market with cheap fakes. This is great news for the European Pallet Association, as they now have far more control over the enforcement of quality standards. Licensed manufacturers of EPAL pallets benefit from this, as they are less under threat from the competition by those who seek to supply cheap and shoddy imitations. The end-user also benefits hugely from these changes, as they can be assured of a good-quality product which is robust and meets all required safety standards. This, in turn, reduces the risk of accidents and injuries caused by a defective product.
These regulations not only help prevent accidents or injuries thanks to the reduction in defective, counterfeit pallets, but they also help introduce healthier competition between high-quality companies. The high standards help customers by providing them with pallets that are ever-increasing in quality, leading to a more reliable pallet market that is ever-growing in efficiency and safety.
Cracking Down on Counterfeits
The EPAL Academy has been extremely proactive in helping to implement and enforce these legal changes for the benefit of all EPAL members. Customs officers were invited to attend a two-day workshop hosted by EPAL, which was intended to assist them in identifying any fake EPAL pallets that they came across in the course of their work. The workshop took place in the Czech Republic in the spring of 2015 and was hailed as a great success. In fact, within two weeks of the first training course taking place, customs officers in the Czech Republic reported identifying nearly 1300 fake Euro pallets.
The EPAL Academy also plans to offer similar workshops to users of Euro pallets, again aimed at helping them to spot any fakes. This should have a knock-on effect of reducing any potential hazards which could adversely affect a company’s products or employees. The matter is certainly been taken much more seriously than in the past; in the last few months, EPAL has been successful in taking cases all the way to the European Court when it has found that its exacting standards of excellence have not been met.
The safety of a company’s employees and products is paramount, which is why at Associated Pallets, we sell high-quality pallets that follow EPAL requirements.
Used Pallet Collection Service
At Associated Pallets, we are proud to provide our excellent used pallet collection service. Should you have any unwanted pallets lying around, then we would love to hear from you! We strive to continue developing our sustainable business practices, and we refurbish all the used pallets we collect to be safe for new users and to ensure that they don’t end up in a landfill.
Associated Pallet Prices
Associated Pallets are a leading supplier of wooden pallets, offering many different types of wooden pallets for sale. If you would like to discuss a requirement, contact us today with our online contact form, or you can give us a call directly at 03301 757766! Our expert team will be able to help answer any questions you may have about our product range. Use our instant quoting tool for a fast and easy quote within minutes.