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 in at 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 up to a total of 540 to 15,390 lbs per truckload, which translates into tremendous fuel and transport savings.
Durability. iGPS pallets are the only in the world 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 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 at Underwriters Laboratories and have received UL 2335 certification. 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 a new pallet, as permitted by Underwriters Laboratories, making its lifespan 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.

What about fire safety?

iGPS pallets have undergone extensive testing at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and have received UL 2335 certification. 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 pallets have received UL 2335 certification. Moreover, a “hybrid” pallet with plastic or wood composite components is considered a “plastic pallet” under NFPA-13 and must receive UL 2335 certification. Again, to the best of our knowledge, no hybrid pallets have received UL 2335 certification.

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’s pricing is fully competitive with the rental of typical multi-use wood pallets. However, iGPS delivers superior value, including lower fuel and transport costs, reduced damage to products and MHE, greater worker safety and lower administrative expenses, thanks to RFID tracking and tracing.

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 its 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, New York and Bentonville, AK.