ALDI relies on plastic pallets from Düsseldorf

- Innovation in transport logistics - Pooling system replaces exchange principle - Easy repair and recyclability Essen/Mülheim a.d.R. (28.05.2020) ALDI North and ALDI SOUTH are introducing a plastic Düsseldorf pallet throughout the company. From autumn 2020, both discounters will gradually replace the classic wooden pallet measuring 80 x 60 centimetres with a durable and more economical plastic version. The so-called „Kunststoff Düsseldorfer Palette“ (KDP) is completely recyclable and already consists of around a third recycled material, i.e. recycled plastic, including from the yellow bin. The KDP is produced by Walther Faltsysteme. Flexible all-rounder for everyday logistics in the food retail sector „The plastic pallets are state of the art in terms of technology. A real innovation for optimising supply chains in food retail,“ says Stefan Ruhland, Director Logistics Management at ALDI SOUTH. The pallet offers a static load capacity of up to 1,000 kilos and a dynamic load capacity of 500 kilos and is suitable for all common conveyor systems. A special contour is embedded in the pallet deck, which makes the KDP particularly compatible with the familiar reusable crates used in the fruit and vegetable sector, where it offers particularly high slip resistance and stability. Carrying handles and anti-slip stoppers ensure greater work and transport safety. Pooling system replaces exchange principle Unlike wooden pallets, there is no exchange principle for KDPs. Instead, KDPs are provided to suppliers via a pooling system operated by Polymer Logistics. After each circulation, empty pallets are checked for damage and cleaned by the service provider. This means that the pallets also fulfil higher hygiene standards. A further advantage: integrated RFID chips and barcode labels enable location-based tracking and tracing.