Used 56 x 44 beverage plastic pallets
Used 56 x 44 plastic pallets are the beverage footprint, made for glass and can loads. One stackable example is rated 2,500 lb dynamic and 30,000 lb static, so the stack is what it is built for.
- Footprint
- 56 x 44 in beverage
- Metric
- 1422 x 1118 mm
- Deck area
- 17.1 sq ft
- Example (STK 285)
- Dynamic 2,500 lb, static 30,000 lb
What 56 x 44 beverage is for
At 56 by 44 inches, which is 1422 by 1118 mm, this pallet is wider than a GMA by eight inches and carries the bottles, cans and cases of a bottler. PHS lists a 56 x 44 beverage pallet, STK 285, at 2,500 lb dynamic and 30,000 lb static. The gap between those two numbers is the design: it is made to sit under tall stacks and not to move heavy loads fast.
Beverage lines run in glass and can models, so a used lot may mix them. A glass pallet carries heavy bottle layers, and a can pallet carries lighter ones. Ask the seller to say which, since a deck with scuffs from glass can look different from one that carried cans.
Where it fits
| Use | Why it fits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Glass bottle layers | High static rating under stacks | Look for bow in the bottom pallets |
| Can pallets | Lighter layers | Check the corners for forklift strikes |
| Distribution | Wider than a GMA | Check the trailer fit |
Deck area against the common footprints
Worked out in inches, 56 x 44 beverage is 1422 by 1118 mm and 17.1 square feet of deck.
| Footprint | Deck area | Compared with GMA |
|---|---|---|
| 56 x 44 beverage (this page) | 17.1 sq ft | 128% 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 |
| 43 x 43 | 12.8 sq ft | 96% of a 48 x 40 |
| 42 x 42 | 12.3 sq ft | 92% of a 48 x 40 |
What to watch in a used lot
A request for this footprint is answered with a written lot description. This site states no price and no stock list.
- Read the static rating, since stacks load the bottom pallet
- Check for bow with a straightedge
- Ask for glass or can use
Beverage floors and stack height
The beverage footprint is chosen for the load: bottles, cans and cartons stacked high on a floor that does not travel far. A pallet rated high for static loads may carry a lower dynamic rating, because the load sits under tall stacks and does not move fast. When you buy used, ask which rating the lot was sold under and check the bottom pallet of each stack for bow, because bow is the first sign of a pallet that has carried too much for too long.
Glass and can models differ in the deck. Ask whether the lot carried glass, cans or both, and whether any bottle breakage left residue in the ribs.
Handling at the dock
The wider long side suits some conveyors and not others. Measure the conveyor opening in inches before you order, and ask whether the lot has the same fork-entry sides on every pallet so nothing needs to be turned at the dock.
Beverage lanes
A beverage plant often runs a dedicated lane for its footprint, with conveyors, wrappers and forklifts all set for it. A used lot for that lane must match everywhere along the line. Check the runner profile and the deck gaps against the lane, because a pallet that fits the footprint may still snag in a gap between rollers. Test a sample before ordering the whole lot.
What to write down about a lot
- Footprint in both units, with the readings you took rather than the label.
- Number of stacks, pallets per stack and any odd stacks left over.
- Makers and model numbers seen on plates or moulded into the ribs.
- Count of repaired, mismatched or cracked pieces, and where each sits.
- Marks, colours and any smell, with a note on who confirmed each.
When something looks wrong
- Stop unloading and photograph the fault before anything moves.
- Count how many pallets show the same fault, to see if it is a lot problem or a one-off.
- Tell the desk or the seller in writing the same day, with the photographs attached.
- Hold the affected stacks apart until you hear back.
- Keep one sample pallet unused, so the maker or an inspector can examine it.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat, no rocking on the floor
- 2Corners: surface gouges only
- 3Runners: whole along their length
- 4Fork pockets: open on the sides the footprint is used with
- Footprint measured: 1422 x 1118 mm
Words used on this page
- Stackable
- Loaded pallets can sit on top of each other, up to the static rating.
- Dynamic load
- Weight a pallet carries while moving on a forklift, pallet jack or conveyor.
- GMA pallet
- The 48 x 40 in North American standard footprint.
- Runners
- Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
What the sources say
- That Nelson model is under 5 in tall, which the page says suits air freight, and works with automation and most roller conveyors. nelsoncompany.com
- Static capacity is the highest of the three ratings; racking is often the lowest; dynamic is always lower than static. nelsoncompany.com
- PHS lists 48 x 40 stackable plastic pallets with dynamic ratings of 2,500 to 5,000 lb and static ratings of 3,000 to 30,000 lb. phsinc.com
- PHS lists a 56 x 44 beverage pallet (STK 285) at 2,500 lb dynamic and 30,000 lb static. phsinc.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
What is a 56 x 44 pallet used for?
Beverages: glass and can loads.
How strong is it?
One example is 2,500 lb dynamic and 30,000 lb static.
Is it a GMA size?
No. The GMA is 48 x 40.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.