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Engineered Pallet Network sets course

April 1, 2003

The Engineered Pallet Network (EPN), a newly formed national consortium of manufacturers specializing in production of engineered wood pallets, has announced

The Engineered Pallet Network (EPN), a newly formed national consortium of manufacturers specializing in production of engineered wood pallets, has announced a joint marketing and technical partnership. The 15 member manufacturers have agreed to a year-long schedule of activities that includes advertising, publicity, and technical training.

EPN recently held a strategy meeting in Chicago IL in conjunction with the ProMat materials handling expo. APA — The Engineered Wood Association will serve as program administrator and provide market development assistance and product training. Among the new developments:

APA will provide Virginia Polytechnic Institute with performance characteristics of additional thicknesses of structural wood panels (3/8", 7/8", 31/32" and 1⅛") as well as the same according to species (or group classifications). These would then be added to the Pallet Design Software (PDS).
An ad campaign, launched in February at the ProMat show, will continue with targeted placements throughout the year. The ads reinforce engineered wood's benefits over plastic pallet: strength, long, repairable life, and lower cost.
A new web site, www.plywoodpallets.com/, links all participating companies and provides information on various pallet configurations including block and stringer class pallets with both plywood and OSB decks. The site also has a pallet value estimator, which compares costs of engineered pallets with the competition.
APA and EPN members will develop standard engineered pallet designs for target markets. PDS sample specifications will be developed and distributed for the exclusive use of member companies.
EPN members will be trained at a joint workshop on PDS panels exclusively. APA will make arrangements with VPI staff for the training to take place later in spring 2003.
APA will help the network develop and distribute a series of fact sheets on topics such as life-cycle analysis, pallet financing options, fire safety, and phytosanitary issues.