iGPS - About Us

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does iGPS offer?

iGPS is leading a paradigm shift in the pallet-rental business from wood to plastic pallets with radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking capabilities. As the world's first and only large-scale supplier of an all-plastic RFID-tagged pallet pool, iGPS's business model provides manufacturers and retailers with compelling advantages:

What are the advantages of iGPS's pallet vs. wood?

iGPS's plastic pallets are far superior to the best wood alternatives.

Weight. Weighing less than 50 lbs, iGPS pallets are 30% lighter than the typical multi-use wood pallet. This 25-pound weight savings per-pallet makes our pallets easier to handle and saves from 540 to 15,390 lbs per truckload, which translates into tremendous fuel and transport savings.
Durability. iGPS offers the world's only rental pallets that weigh less than 50 lbs, meet both GMA and ISO 8611-3 requirements and easily hold 2,800 lbs (edge rackable). Already in use at Fortune 100 companies nationwide, our pallets have passed every test and challenge they have been subjected to and continue to demonstrate exceptional durability everyday in the supply chain.
Contents protection. Our pallets feature 100% top-deck coverage, providing greater rigidity and contents protection than the typical multi-use wood pallet which has, at most, 87% top deck coverage.
Uniform size, shape and weight. Unlike wood pallets, our pallets are consistent in appearance and performance. With no broken boards or protruding nails, iGPS pallets work superbly in automated environments.
Hygiene. Unlike wood pallets, which readily absorb liquids and can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, iGPS pallets are impervious to liquids and do not present a health risk. They are cleaned with simple detergent and water. In addition, iGPS pallets do not need to undergo heat treatment (which can result in mildew) or fumigation with methyl bromide.
Fire Safety. Our pallets have undergone extensive testing and have received certification under FM Approvals 4996 and UL 2335 (file no. R25482).** This certification means that the fire performance of iGPS pallets is equal or superior to wood, and that they are fully compliant with NFPA 13 fire sprinkler standards.
RFID. Each iGPS pallet is has four identical RFID tags embedded in its frame, enabling shipment tracking in real time.
Environmentally Responsible. iGPS's business model has been created with sustainability as a cornerstone. Our pallets are 100% recyclable. Should a pallet become damaged, it will be ground and remolded into new pallets, making its useful life indefinite.

For additional information, see the Pallet Renters Checklist.

What are the specifications of iGPS pallets?

iGPS pallets are made to exacting specifications by world-class suppliers and either meet or exceed both GMA and ISO 8611-3 standards, the world's benchmarks. They are of uniform dimension (48" x 40"), weigh less than 50 pounds, can handle loads up to 2,800 pounds and are fully edge rackable.

For additional information, see the Pallet Features & Specifications.

Are iGPS' pallets better for the environment than wood pallets?

Yes, and by a wide margin. An independent consulting firm recently conducted the first-ever comparison of the full environmental impact of iGPS' all-plastic pallet vs. the typical multi-use wood pallet rented today. The study covered all aspects of environmental impact, including contribution to global warming, ozone layer depletion and acidification. The study found conclusively that iGPS' all-plastic pallet had dramatically less environmental impact than the pooled multi-use wood pallet—on every dimension measured.

For additional information, see the Life Cycle Analysis .

What about fire safety?

iGPS pallets have undergone extensive testing and have been certified under UL 2335 (file no. R25482) and FM Approvals 4996.** This certification means that iGPS pallets are equal or superior to wood when it comes to fire safety, and are fully compliant with NFPA 13 fire sprinkler standards. In fact, UL testing demonstrated that a pallet made of hardwood has a 20% higher burn index than iGPS's pallet, while a pallet made of Southern Yellow pine has a 60% higher burn index. In contrast to our plastic pallets, wood pallets are naturally flammable and, to the best of our knowledge, no multi-use wood pallet has received UL 2335 or FM Approvals 4996 certification. Moreover, a "hybrid" pallet with plastic or wood composite components is considered a “plastic pallet” under NFPA-13 and must receive UL 2335 and FM Approvals 4996 certification.

Is the fire retardant in iGPS pallets safe?

Yes. Independent laboratory tests have confirmed that there is no transfer of the fire retardant (decabromine) to foods – or even to food packaging – when stored or shipped on iGPS pallets.

How does RFID work?

The ability to tag a pallet with RFID is a major breakthrough in product traceability. Each iGPS pallet contains four redundant Gen 2 RFID tags embedded in its frame. All tags are readable in three ways— via RFID, bar code or alphanumerically. Each pallet carries a unique serial number that is tracked throughout the supply chain, reducing administrative costs and facilitating billing reconciliation. No extra charge is assessed for use of RFID.

How does iGPS pricing compare to renting wooden pallets?

iGPS' pricing is fully competitive with the rental of multi-use wood pallets. However, iGPS customers enjoy the advantages of using a pallet that costs 3-4 times more than wood. Among the benefits are: 30% lighter weight, resulting in lower fuel and transport costs, as well as decreased greenhouse gas emissions; the absence of protruding nails and splinters that can injure workers and damage products and equipment; increased supply chain visibility resulting from RFID; and proven operational savings.

What is the unit cost per pallet?

The cost of an iGPS pallet is significantly greater than the cost of a wood pallet. However, because our pallets are more durable and require less maintenance over their lifespan, we can rent our pallets at a cost fully competitive with those made of wood. Each iGPS pallet will be in service longer and used with greater frequency than a wood pallet, reducing the long-term cost to iGPS and our customers.

What are the benefits of renting pallets versus owning them?

A pooled system allows customers to contract for the exact number of pallets they need, rather than having to stock for peak seasons and keeping idle pallets in storage. Companies that have been using wood pallets – which are difficult to RFID-tag and track – can readily upgrade to iGPS pallets and avoid the expense of purchasing and maintaining a pallet inventory. In addition, the consistent weight and 48" x 40" dimensions of iGPS's plastic pallets will allow customers to plan their shipments to closer tolerances and improve the volume of goods moved per load.

What industries can utilize iGPS's services?

Any industry that ships unitized loads can benefit from our services. Prime examples are the grocery, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics and consumer packaged goods industries.

Where is iGPS headquartered?

iGPS is headquartered in Orlando, FL, and also has offices in Dallas and New York.

** Our pallets received UL 2335 listing (file no. R25482) on July 20th, 2007 and FM Approvals 4996 listing on September 8, 2008 for pallets manufactured thereafter.