Used 43 x 43 plastic pallets
Used 43 x 43 plastic pallets are built around bulk bags, the Super Sacks used for food additives, feed and pharmaceuticals, and are called an Asian standard. We describe each used lot by wear and by what it can carry.
- Footprint
- 43 x 43 in (1100 x 1100 mm)
- Usual use
- Bulk bags, food additives, feed, pharmaceuticals
- Region
- Asian standard
- Deck area
- 12.8 sq ft
Why a bulk bag wants this square
A bulk bag stands on its own base and sags a little under load. The 43 x 43 deck supports the full base, while the 1100 mm square also matches the footprint common across Japan, Korea and China. A buyer who handles bulk bags on this footprint asks for 43 x 43 by name.
- Sagging bags need a deck without gaps at the corners
- Closed or nearly closed decks keep bag corners from catching
- Reversible squares can be flipped, which spreads wear
Feed, additives and pharmaceuticals
These three uses have very different paperwork. Feed and food additives may ask for clean pallets and records of what the pallet carried. Pharmaceutical users may prefer PP, which sterilises better, and want resin and colourant documents. A used pallet seldom has either. The lot description states what is known and what is unknown.
| Use | Ask for | Used lot note |
|---|---|---|
| Feed | Clean decks, no odour | Describe stains and smells in words |
| Food additives | Resin and colourant papers | FDA does not approve pallet models |
| Pharmaceuticals | Sanitisable pallets, papers | PP sometimes preferred |
Used 43 x 43 and the marketplace
A marketplace listing shows used R11 pallets at 43.3 x 43.3 x 5.9 in with a maker's logo, a Grade A tag that is described, and a quantity that needs verifying. Those are real details to expect: a footprint measured to a tenth of an inch, a height, a logo, and a count to check.
| Footprint | Deck area | Compared with GMA |
|---|---|---|
| 43 x 43 (this page) | 12.8 sq ft | 96% of a 48 x 40 |
| 48 x 40 | 13.3 sq ft | 100% of a 48 x 40 |
| 48 x 48 | 16.0 sq ft | 120% of a 48 x 40 |
| 45 x 45 | 14.1 sq ft | 105% of a 48 x 40 |
| 42 x 42 | 12.3 sq ft | 92% of a 48 x 40 |
Bulk bags and fine goods
The 43 x 43 serves bulk bags, food additives, feed and pharmaceuticals. A bulk bag spreads weight across the deck, but its base can be pierced by a rough or damaged edge, so the deck surface matters. Ask whether any deck edge has chipped or lifted and whether the pallet has been washed. For food additives and pharmaceutical goods, ask for the maker's papers on resin and colour, because the grade does not carry them.
Feed, additives and hygiene
Feed and additive makers want a pallet that sheds dust and does not trap grain. Look at the ribs under the deck for packed material, and check that the surface is smooth enough for a bag to slide off without snagging. A pallet that traps residue is a risk for cross-contamination.
Questions to put to any seller
- Where did these pallets work, and what did they carry?
- How were they sorted, and who walked the lot?
- Are any welded, riveted or fitted with replacement parts?
- Can the maker's plate be photographed on several pallets?
- Will the description be sent in writing before payment is discussed?
Planning around the seasons
- Cold months bring brittle resin, so handle gently and avoid sharp drops.
- Warm months soften decks, so shorten stacks and keep loads in shade.
- Harvest, holiday and promotion peaks use pallets faster, so order earlier.
- Wet seasons add weight in the ribs, so allow a drying day before indoor use.
- Plan returns and exports for the weeks when dock space is free.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat, continuous and seated on a table without rocking
- 2Corners: fork-strike gouges are surface scuffs, not through-chips
- 3Runners: whole along their length, no deep gouges
- 4Fork pockets: open on the sides the footprint is used with
- Deck corners hold a bag base without gaps
- Resin: HDPE or PP, noted
- Logo or maker mark noted and checked for ownership
Words used on this page
- Welding repair
- Plastic is hard to glue, so cracked parts are normally welded.
- Runners
- Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.
- HDPE
- High-density polyethylene, resin code 2. The most common resin in plastic pallets; tough and moisture resistant.
- Racking load
- Weight a pallet carries bridging an open span in unsupported racking. Often the lowest rating.
- PP
- Polypropylene. More rigid than HDPE and better with heat and harsh chemicals; used where rack stiffness matters.
What the sources say
- 48 x 48 plastic pallets hold four 55-gallon drums without overhang; 48 x 45 matches North American auto parts bulk containers. nelsoncompany.com
- HDPE is the most common resin in plastic pallets; PP is more rigid and the page recommends it for unsupported racking. nelsoncompany.com
- Only pallets designed for unsupported racking carry a racking rating. nelsoncompany.com
- 43 x 43 in pallets are designed for bulk bags; 45 x 45 in is the CP9 chemical standard. nelsoncompany.com
How a request works
- Pick the footprint, then the grade you can live with.
- Say what the pallets will carry and how many you need.
- Read the written lot description that comes back.
- Agree the lot before anything moves.
The four grades, in a line each
- Like new. A few trips only. Clean, no cracks, no missing parts, deck and runners flat.
- Used and clean. Many trips, scuffs and colour variation, but whole and usable for general-purpose or closed-loop work.
- Repaired. A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped. Some designs use snap-lock parts for repair.
- Mixed lot. Mixed makers, colours and sizes sold by the truckload, sorted by footprint.
Questions people ask
Is 43 x 43 the same as 1100 x 1100?
It is the same footprint, 1100 mm rounded to inches. See the 1100 x 1100 page.
Why is it called an Asian standard?
The dossier names it as an Asian standard; 1100 x 1100 mm is common in Japan, Korea and China.
Can it go on racking?
Only with a rating. Bags are often stored on floors and lifted by crane or forklift, and racking needs a rating on the deck plate.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.