One million EPAL QR Euro pallets produced since the market launch in January 2024

One million EPAL QR Euro pallets produced since the market launch in January 2024

At the beginning of September, the millionth EPAL QR Euro pallet was produced and delivered. This means that the target for 2024 of producing and delivering one million EPAL Euro pallets with QR codes has already been achieved around 8 months after the market launch in January 2024.

The EPAL Euro pallet with an individual QR code on each individual pallet is at the heart of the digitization offensive of the open EPAL pallet pool. The unique QR code of each EPAL Euro Pallet QR allows the location of the pallet and the goods on it to be determined by scanning the QR code (Track & Trace). Scanning the QR code for incoming and outgoing goods also automates pallet inventory management. Linked to a warehouse management system, all important data on pallet inventory, such as the number and location of EPAL pallets, can be booked immediately.

Dirk Hoferer, President of EPAL:

“The introduction of the EPAL Euro pallet QR in January 2024 was a big step for EPAL. Started as a pure digitization project, we had to solve many technical problems with the printing of QR codes in the fully automated production process of EPAL pallets during the development phase. To print individual QR codes on EPAL pallets, which can be printed during the printing process at a speed of .... m/sec was a great challenge. I congratulate all manufacturers of EPAL Euro pallets QR who have implemented this and have already produced one million EPAL Euro pallets QR after just over 8 months. This is also a great success for the entire wood packaging industry, which will face new requirements for pallet and other packaging labeling in the future.”

The rapid success of the EPAL Euro pallet QR is also surprising for EPAL. The digitization of logistics processes has been a central topic in all companies in industry and trade for years. However, implementation in practice is often slow and difficult. Due to the large number of EPAL Euro pallets QR produced, these are now increasingly seen in logistics processes. Many companies contact EPAL and ask how they can use the QR code in their logistics and where the EPAL Euro pallets QR can be ordered.

Michael Brand, Head of Innovation and Logistics at EPAL:

"We are delighted with the great interest in the EPAL Euro pallet QR and are now aiming for a production volume of 1.5 million EPAL QR Euro pallets by the end of the year. This would exceed the target set at market launch by 50%. At the same time, we are working on the next steps in the digitization of the open EPAL pallet pool in the EPAL Innovation Lab. At the beginning of 2025, we would like to introduce the new EPAL PALLET APP, which can be used by all companies for automated inventory recording and, of course, for track and trace of EPAL pallets. The EPAL PALLET APP will of course have a function for scanning QR codes, but can also be used for EPAL pallets without a QR code. Furthermore we are currently examining the marking of all EPAL pallets with QR codes, including the popular EPAL 3 pallets and the EPAL CP pallets."