EPAL, the European Pallet Association, introduces 2D codes to power pallet traceability
EPAL currently has over 650 million of its Euro pallets in circulation worldwide, the highest of any operator, performing a major function at the heart of European industrial, retail and logistics supply chains.
Comprising 1,600 licensed production and repair sites, the recently introduced QR code system is EPAL’s biggest innovation overhaul in decades and features a scannable code printed on two sides of the wooden pallet for easier identification.
The most significant advantage of the EPAL pallet QR code system is its ability to provide traceability across the supply chain. The QR codes provide a unique identifier for each pallet, enabling stakeholders to track its journey from origin to destination. The QR code allows for real-time updates on the pallet's location, plus links to a database containing comprehensive information about the pallet, such as its production date, repair history, and ownership details. Moreover, for industries that require adherence to strict regulations, such as pharmaceuticals and food, this advanced traceability capability ensures compliance with standards like HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices).
Improved Supply Chain Efficiency
The digital integration of unique QR codes simplifies several logistical processes, reducing inefficiencies and bottlenecks in the supply chain. Paramount among them is an ability to facilitate faster and more accurate inventory counts by allowing automated scanning. This minimizes manual errors and saves time in warehouses and distribution centers. Another major bonus is an increased ease in tracking pallets in real-time which enables better route planning and load management, allowing savings on transportation costs and improved delivery timelines. The unique embedded QR codes make it easier to identify and locate missing pallets, reducing their losses.
EPAL’s new QR code system can also reduce both administrative costs and improve the longevity of the pallets. Manual paperwork can be reduced via phone scanning of the digital records instead of written ones. The QR code system includes information about the pallet’s repair and maintenance history, helping businesses to maximize the pallet’s lifespan. In addition, by providing detailed records of a pallet's condition and repair history, the QR code system encourages the reuse of pallets, reducing the demand for new ones. Companies can even use the data associated with QR codes to calculate the carbon footprint of their logistics operations, enabling them to identify opportunities for improvement.
The introduction of QRs onto EPAL pallets also boosts pallet pooling arrangements, where businesses share and reuse pallets within a network, by allowing real-time management of pallet availability and return to the owner or pooling network. And since there is also a digital record of when and where a pallet was used, accountability is ensured.
Primed for Industry 4.0 logistics and supply chain needs
EPAL QR codes can be linked to Internet of Things (IoT) devices and ERPs, enabling seamless data sharing across platforms. QR code data can be integrated into blockchain platforms to provide a secure, tamper-proof record of pallet movements and transactions, ideal for more valuable shipments. Data on movements can easily be analyzed using ERP systems to gain insights into supply chain performance and identify inefficiencies for an optimization of operations. EPAL’s QR code system also verifies the veracity of the pallet as an authentic EPAL product, reducing the risk of counterfeit or substandard pallets entering the supply chain.
Like other QR codes, scanning can be done with a smartphone, tablet, or barcode scanner, and the EPAL system's database is accessible through simple apps or web platforms, making it easy for businesses to retrieve and update information. The QR codes are implemented on existing EPAL pallets, so that businesses do not need to invest in entirely new pallet inventories. Our combined hardware and software solutions can easily produce dynamic QRs on the most rugged composites for Euro pallets integrated with ERP and other production systems with our large character Touch Dry• technology especially excelling at marking large and scannable QR codes on wood.
As the EPAL system continues to gain adoption, it has the potential to jump start a company’s supply chain performance in today’s digitalized world and deliver both immediate and long-term benefits.
