Pooling has no color

Material flow: Let's start with the term - what do you mean by pooling and how do you define the term?

Pooling is a term that does not only apply to rental pools. The white EPAL Euro pallet pool can be used extremely efficiently and flexibly with the use of service providers. Regardless of which pooling system is used on the market, the use of service providers has a cost-saving effect on the supply chain in many areas.

MFL: What are the advantages?

This can be summarized in four points. Firstly, the reduction of distances for the transportation of empty pallets. Secondly, to ensure that the ever-increasing quality requirements of the shipping industry and trade are met and to compensate for any quality differences between the shipper and recipient. Thirdly, reducing the loss rate to a minimum through track & trace management. And finally, the guaranteed supply in terms of quantity and the required quality.

Christian Kühnhold, Managing Director of PAKi Logistics and member of FHG Paki.

MFL: Where does your company stand?Kühnhold: With its PAKi services,Pooling Partners has more than 40 years of experience as a service provider for the management of exchangeable load carriers in open pools, and with this expertise we take the liberty of supplementing the statements made by industry participants about the handling of Euro pallets and correcting the claims made by rental pool operators about quality.

MFL: In what way?Kühnhold: It's completely different: the pallet quality in the open Euro pallet pool, especially with the use of a specialized service provider, can be adapted to any requirement and easily managed. The quality requirements are particularly high for use in high-bay warehouses and on conveyor systems in industry and trade. We guarantee the right quality not only for such applications. From UIC-used exchangeable quality to new Euro pallets, every individual requirement is agreed with our customers in advance and made available at the right time throughout Europe. This flexibility is automatically provided by the exchangeability of the pallet. Only the open exchange pool available throughout Europe offers all the possibilities of demand-oriented organization. Every user can buy or sell, exchange and/or rent Euro pallets.

MFL: Wouldn't it be best to replace the pallets yourself?

Where it is practicable, the Euro pallets are exchanged directly one by one. If users can return their pallets themselves over short distances or cost-effectively depending on the route and the quality can be handled correctly, pallet exchange on their own is absolutely the most cost-effective solution. No other system can compete with it. However, as the conditions are not always the easiest, there are providers like us who can provide a remedy for such problems. We coordinate the needs of users and make optimum and sustainable use of the advantages of this network. The increase in cost efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions have a Europe-wide effect for all parties involved. We guarantee the right quality, at the right time, in the right place, throughout Europe.

About the person: Christian Kühnhold

As part of a private equity investment, Christian Kühnhold joined PAKi Logistics GmbH in 2005 as Managing Director and co-partner. PAKi was sold to the Dutch Faber Halbertsma Group in 2012. Kühnhold is still Managing Director of Pooling Partners for PAKi Services and part of the group's board. He studied industrial engineering in Darmstadt and, after holding various positions in the field of racking systems for Euro pallets as well as in international purchasing and logistics, he took on responsibility for the international aftermarket at leading first-tier suppliers to the automotive industry.