Palletised loading means tile cartons are stacked and strapped on pallets, then loaded into the container by forklift. Loose loading means cartons are stacked directly on the container floor by hand. Pallets make unloading faster and reduce handling, while loose loading saves the weight of the pallets.
The right choice depends on how your goods will be unloaded, what labour costs at destination, and how close you are to the container's weight limit.
How each method works
With pallets, cartons are built into stacks of a set height and weight, strapped and wrapped at the factory, and moved as one unit. At destination, a forklift takes them out in a short time. Each carton is touched only at packing and when the pallet is broken down.
With loose loading, workers carry each carton into the container and stack it in rows. At destination, workers carry each carton out again. Every carton is handled by hand at both ends, and the load relies on tight stacking rather than strapping to stay in place.
The trade-offs
- Weight: pallets and edge boards count against the container's payload limit, so a palletised container carries somewhat less tile than a loose one.
- Unloading time: pallets come out by forklift quickly, while loose cartons take a team much longer and the container may sit at your site for hours.
- Breakage: pallets reduce the number of times each carton is handled, while loose cartons can be dropped or stacked badly during unloading.
- Equipment: pallets need a forklift and a dock or ramp at destination, while loose loading needs only labour.
- Wood rules: wooden pallets must meet your market's wood packaging rules, usually ISPM 15, while loose loading avoids the issue.
- Storage: pallets go straight into racking or a warehouse, while loose cartons must be stacked again.
Weight and payload
Because tiles fill a container by weight, the weight point matters. Our article on the maximum payload for a tile container explains the limits, and the factory's loading plan will show the difference for your sizes.
Which suits your business
Pallets usually suit importers with a warehouse, a forklift and higher labour costs, and buyers of large formats that are hard to carry by hand. They also suit buyers who want to keep shades and batches apart, since each pallet carries one label.
Loose loading can suit markets where labour is easy to find, where the receiver has no forklift, or where every kilogram of payload counts. Some buyers also choose it for small cartons of wall tiles.
If you choose loose loading, insist on tight stacking with no gaps, cartons standing the right way, heavier cartons at the bottom, and dunnage or bracing at the door end.
If you choose pallets
Specify the pallet type, the maximum stack height and weight, the strapping and the edge boards. Wooden pallets must be treated and marked to ISPM 15 for most markets, as explained in ISPM 15 pallets for tiles. Ask for a photo of a built pallet before production.
At arrival, check pallets for crushed corners and broken straps before you unload further. Our guide to checking a tile container on arrival lists what to record.
Next step
We help you choose the loading method for your site and route, and supervise loading against the plan. To work out the best option for your order, book a free sourcing review.