Pallets for research and medical
Research and medical sites ship and receive small counts of equipment, often on Euro or odd-size pallets. They are not volume sources but they do need clean wood.
Who is here
The University of Michigan is the largest employer in Washtenaw County, and its medical center sits in Ann Arbor. The EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory is in Ann Arbor, and the Toyota Technical Center is among the county's largest employers. Southeast Michigan also holds a large share of automotive research: the Detroit region captured 55% of US automotive R&D investment in 2022.
What this freight looks like
- Equipment. Test rigs, instruments and prototype parts, often one-off.
- European-made kit. It arrives on Euro 800 x 1200 mm pallets, with an ISPM 15 mark.
- Small counts. A handful at a time, not a trailer.
What it needs from a pallet buyer
Clean, dry stock without stains; stamped wood where the freight is going abroad; and flexibility on pickup, since a research lab does not produce a regular stream. A single pickup on a quiet day is a normal arrangement. Pickup explains how a one-off request works.
The stamp
Wood packaging in international trade carries a mark showing it has been heat-treated or fumigated, under ISPM 15. Heat treatment requires the wood core to reach at least 56 °C for a minimum of 30 minutes. A lab shipping instruments abroad should confirm the mark on any pallet it buys. Reading the stamp.
Where
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti in Washtenaw County, Southfield and Troy for engineering offices.
Questions from labs and hospitals
Do we need a minimum count?
Say how many you have. Gather what you have and send it in one request.
Can pallets from clean rooms be sold?
Pallets from outside the clean area, yes. Describe what they were used for.
Is the stamp important?
For export, yes. For domestic use, it is a bonus.
Surplus offices
Universities and hospitals run central stores that receive for many departments. Ask the stores office; one phone call may cover a dozen buildings.
Handling samples and prototypes
A prototype often arrives with a custom cradle or crate, and the pallet beneath is part of the packing. Ask the sender before discarding anything. Once the prototype is unpacked and the packing is cleared, the pallet underneath is usually an ordinary one that can be listed.
Records
Keep a note of what was removed and when.
Who to ask
Start with the receiving supervisor.