Fair play when exchanging Euro pallets

This efficient, cost-effective system was well received and spread rapidly throughout all sectors of the Swiss economy. By 1975, more than 7,500 companies had joined the pool. On 1 January 1960, the purely Swiss pallet pool was expanded significantly. Bilateral agreements between the SBB and the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) led to the establishment of the European Pallet Pool (EPP), which was joined by the railway administrations of 18 other countries over the years. The interests were represented in the UIC (Union internationale des chemins de fer) by the working group ‘Palletisation issues’. In addition to the respective railway symbol of the railway companies on the left block, the EUR mark was applied to the right block of the pallet during this period. The EUR mark is protected and the trademark rights are held by the Austrian railway company RCA Rail Cargo Austria.

Despite jointly established standards and regulations (UIC leaflet 435-2/435-4), the European Pallet Pool (EPP) was unable to prevent the proliferation of differences in the quality of pallets manufactured. As a result, the EPAL (European Pallet Association) was founded in Munich in 1991. This European association aims to guarantee a uniform quality of pool pallets in as many European countries and railways as possible. EPAL has been operational since 1 January 1995. The original founding countries, Germany, France and Switzerland, have now been joined by 11 national committees. The licensees monitored by EPAL use the EPAL brand on the left block instead of the railway mark. The following core tasks are pursued:

• Definition of quality requirements in cooperation with international standardisation bodies
• Enforcement of manufacturing and quality regulations, uniform exchange criteria and repair regulations at European level
• Determination of markings and granting of approvals to manufacturers, repairers and manufacturers of fastening elements
• Carrying out the actual quality assurance and thus creating the conditions for Europe-wide exchange
• Representing the interests of its members with regard to quality assurance and trademark protection

Since 1 August 2015, pallets produced by EPAL licensees have been marked with the EPAL logo on all outer blocks. EUR pallets that have a UIC licence are marked with UIC and EUR. Estimates of the number of Euro pallets currently in circulation range from 450 to 500 million. Every year, EPAL and UIC licensees manufacture between 80 and 90 million new standardised and quality-assured Euro pallets worldwide. In the Swiss market alone, there are currently around 15 million Euro pallets in circulation, which are used by an estimated 30,000 companies in Switzerland. The free Euro pallet pool is the dominant system for reusable load carrier management in Switzerland. The system is based on an exchange procedure in which all users of Euro pallets can participate freely, regardless of how the user came into possession of the Euro pallets. The exchange procedure was introduced with the aim of ensuring fast and cost-effective availability of pallets for every participant. Ideally, the exchange takes place on a one-for-one basis, i.e. a full pallet is exchanged for an empty pallet. In practice, however, a one-for-one exchange is not always possible, which is why pallet notes are issued, pallet accounts are kept and these ‘pallet debts’ are settled at a later date. The exchange criteria are regulated internationally by EPAL, but require each participant to take personal responsibility. According to the UIC Code, responsibility for repair or replacement lies with the respective owner of the pallet.

The goal is achieved through:

• Clear guidelines and regulations:
  Uniform process/exchange criteria/goal/purpose/tasks/obligations
• Commitment:
  Signing a declaration as an expression of intent to comply with this recommendation by all participants
• Transparency:
  Availability of information for participants (overview of producers, repair companies, signed declarations, disposal sites, market index, etc.)
• Cost fairness:
  Fair distribution of costs for all participants
   

General regulations
The existing EPAL exchange criteria, as of 2017, form the basis for the exchange. Among other things, the colour (shade) of the Euro pallet is not an exchange criterion. Further quality classifications, as used in some parts of Germany, are not generally provided for in Switzerland. If bilateral quality classifications are made, it is recommended to apply the valid regulations of GS1 Germany and to agree on them specifically. The roles, tasks and responsibilities of all participants in the pool must be clearly defined and fulfilled. The commitment is confirmed by the exchange participants signing a declaration. Further market requirements, in particular industry-specific or individual agreements and customs, should be taken into account and coordinated or made possible without calling the principles into question. Broad and appropriate communication involving the most important players will ensure that the rules are widely known and accepted by all participants.
 

Interchangeable Euro pallets
Euro pallets manufactured and repaired in accordance with the EPAL Technical Regulations, the UIC Code 435-2/435-4, based on EN 13698, with dimensions of 800 × 1200 mm, are exchanged. The manufacturers of Euro pallets must have a production licence from EPAL or UIC and are therefore subject to checks by an independent testing company.