Combo pallets, between used and new
A Combo is remanufactured from a mix of recycled and new lumber. It is more consistent than a used pallet and cheaper than an all-new build.
What makes a pallet a Combo
Take a used pallet apart, keep the stringers and boards that are still good, add new boards where they are not, and nail it back together. The result is a Combo. Recycled pallets in general are previously used pallets that have been repaired, refurbished or remanufactured for reuse. Combo is the remanufactured end of that range, where the rebuild is thorough enough that the pallet behaves more like a new one.
| Used (Grade A or B) | Combo | New | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber | All previously used | Recycled and new mixed | All new |
| Consistency | Varies from pallet to pallet | More even | Most even |
| Cost | Lowest of the three | Between used and new | Highest of the three |
| Good for | Most outbound freight | A steady run that needs even pallets | A spec you must hold |
The case for a Combo on a Detroit dock
Auto parts plants run on rhythm. Robots, conveyors and racks like a pallet that is the same as the last one. A used stack can be a mixed bag of boards, plugs and plates, which is fine for a trailer and not always fine for a cell. A Combo brings the pallets closer to each other without paying for all-new lumber. If your process sets a pallet down in the same spot a thousand times a shift, ask for Combo.
Repairs that show up in a Combo
A Combo is usually built with the same repair vocabulary as a Grade B. A Plug is a short board, 6 to 24 inches long, nailed beside a cracked stringer. A Companion stringer is a full-length board fixed beside a damaged one. A Combo has more new wood in these places and fewer old plugs. How a pallet gets repaired.
Questions to ask first
- What share of the boards is new? A Combo is a mix, and the mix varies.
- What size and what entry, two-way or four-way?
- Does the stringer layout match the pallet you have been using?
- Do you need the pallets heat treated for export? HT and ISPM 15.
Combo is also a lane on the sort line. Used pallets that cannot be sold as they are can come back as Combo after a rebuild. See pallet grades for how it sits next to Grade A and B.
Questions about combo pallets
Are combo pallets used or new?
Both, in a way. They are remanufactured from a mix of recycled and new lumber.
Are they stronger than Grade B?
They are described as stronger and more consistent than a used pallet, and cheaper than an all-new build.
When should I choose one?
When you want a predictable pallet without a new build's cost, or when used stock is inconsistent.
Consistency is the point
A stack of used pallets varies from board to board. A combo stack has been rebuilt to a pattern, with new lumber in the critical places and recycled lumber elsewhere. A line that reads or lifts pallets automatically benefits from that regularity, as does a shipper who needs every pallet in a load to behave the same.
Asking for the mix
Ask the maker which parts are new and which are recycled. A combo with new stringers and recycled deck boards behaves differently from one with new deck boards and recycled stringers.
When combo beats used
Combo pallets win when you need the same behaviour from every pallet in a load, such as on an automated line. A used stack is cheaper but more variable.
Spec lines
State the size, the share of new lumber and the load.
Where combo is made
Combo pallets are made by recyclers who also stock new lumber. Ask the maker how many cycles the design is rated for.
Make the request
Asking for Combo: say the size and the count, and what the pallet has to carry.