Safelite to Begin Replacing Wood Pallets for Steel
Safelite to Begin Replacing Wood Pallets for Steel
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jan. 17, 2012 – Steel shipping pallets offer a more sustainable alternative for vehicle glass transportation than the commonly used wood or corrugated pallet, and over the next three years, Safelite AutoGlass®, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, will begin to replace 20,000 wood pallets with steel pallets.
There are many benefits of steel pallets, including less damage to the vehicle glass during shipping, which ultimately keeps costs down for customers. Safelite AutoGlass® currently has two distribution centers that ship to its 87 warehouses and 380 shops across the country.
“Steel pallets also have a positive environmental impact,” said Dino Lanno, vice president of Safelite’s supply chain. “Steel pallets last longer than wood or corrugated pallets and can be easily recycled. Wood scrap is often difficult and expensive to discard, and corrugated packing is affected by humidity and rough handling. Wood sometimes enters landfills for disposal. In addition, the patented new steel pallet design adjusts in length and width to hold more varieties of vehicle glass, replacing four difference sizes of wood pallets.”
Overall, Safelite AutoGlass® expects an annual cost savings of $2.78 million by transitioning to steel pallets.
Additional advantages include:
• The adjustable size eliminates the complex inventory control, order management and segregated storage space required by wood pallets.
•The built-in rear cradle cushion and base log cushion eliminates the need to purchase separate components further eliminating waste.
•The increased return load density, increasing the returns per truck, reduces freight costs.
Safelite AutoGlass® first tested steel pallets last year with favorable results, having completed 2,500 miles of field trials with no damage to the vehicle glass or the pallets.
“We’re proud to invest in finding ways that both benefit our customers and the environment,” Lanno said. “Over time, we believe steel will become the most commonly used pallet in the vehicle replacement glass industry thanks to its many benefits.”
About Safelite AutoGlass®
Safelite AutoGlass®, founded in 1947, is the nation’s leading provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, providing mobile service to more than 95 percent of the U.S. population in all 50 states. The Columbus, Ohio-based company employs nearly 10,000 people across the United States and served 4.4 million customers last year. For more information, visit www.safelite.com.