HOME COMPANY PRODUCTS PURCHASING CONTACTS FAQS Q? WHAT IS A TRADE MARK EPAL A. The EUR pallet label is a tool for handling the characteristics of which have been designed for the first time in the fifties. Suitable to the needs of the market, has spread very quickly. But since all the countries concerned did not apply the same rules in a rigid control in production and repairs, the park of the pallets had a tendency to become diverse. An uneven quality, in fact, did not allow more to ensure the proper exchange across borders, which is why you created the EPAL. E ‘was composed as the European Pallet Association eV (EPAL), a European association (under German law), non-profit organization, founded in 1991 by professionals of the pallet (manufacturers, repairers, dealers) and the heads of railways in three European countries: Germany, France and Switzerland. The system EPAL, by the formation of the first National Committees became operative from 1 January 1995 with the primary purpose of ensuring the quality standard (technical specifications UIC 435/2 and UIC 435/4) of the pallet 800 x 1,200 mm promuovedone the exchange and dissemination. The park pallets EUR EPAL largely contributes to a hassle free handling of freight traffic while applying very strict quality controls. Brand pallets EUR EPAL controlled by it with the initials EPAL guaranteeing the quality of certified EUR EPAL pallets. Q? THE WOOD SHRINKAGE AND ANISOTROPY A. The anisotropy is the property for which a particular material has characteristics that depend on the direction along which are considered. This is then said anisotropic if its physical characteristics (electrical and thermal conductivity, optical properties) or its mechanical behavior (stiffness, strength, toughness) are different in longitudinal and transverse direction. The wood is an anisotropic material as its dimensional changes (shrinkage, especially) vary depending on the direction that you consider: -longitudinal shrinkage <0.1% -transverse shrinkage between 1 and 10% -Radial shrinkage = 5% -tangential shrinkage = 10% The dimensional changes of the wood, are mainly due to moisture, whereas can contain an amount of water greater than 100% of its dry weight and to a lesser extent by temperature. Q? NORMATIVA FITOSANITARIA ISPM 15 – FAO (INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES NO.15) A. On March 18, 2002 in Rome, FAO announced that about 90 countries have approved new guidelines on packaging materials made of wood, which took note of the possible introduction and spread of harmful organisms through the packing materials consist of unprocessed raw wood. According to the FAO, these organisms represent a significant threat to living trees. The guidelines adopted by the Commission, for the health measures (ICPM – Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures) of the International Convention for the Protection Convention (IPPC-International Plant Protection Convention – IPPC) have been formulated to try to harmonize the various national regulations on packaging materials made of wood. This in light of the fact that, for example, the U.S. has recently imposed quarantine measures aimed at preventing the introduction of the “beetle Cerambycidae Asia” via wood packaging materials from China. China introduced its own requirements and documentation of treatment for wood packaging from the U.S. that could host the “PWN”. The European Union has adopted a series of regulations to control “nematodes” contained in the packaging of coniferous wood from both the U.S. and China, and others according to their specific needs. According to FAO, the ultimate goal is not only to the protection of forests against harmful organisms imported, but to allow free world trade since the wood packaging material, in the form of pallets, boxes, crates or material storage, is used in about 70% of all cross-border shipments. To ensure that the packaging material is free from harmful organisms, exporters will be expected to certify, with a universally recognized symbol, the material has been treated. Q? HOW IS THE HEAT TREATMENT (MARKING: HT OR HEAT TREATMENT) A. The wood packaging material is heat treated by following a specific program according to the internal temperature of the wood must reach at least 56 ° C for a minimum duration of 30 minutes on the entire profile of the wood (including its central part). Different energy sources or processes may be eligible to obtain these parameters. For example, drying in the oven, the impregnation pressure chemical, microwaves or other treatments may be considered heat treatments, provided that they meet the requirements described in the standard HT. Q? HOW DOES THE HT BRAND AND HOW IT IS PERFORMED MARKING A. The hot stamping is used to mark generally wood, PVC, ABS, plastic, leather, etc. .. They come in various power expressed in kW that are best suited to the material that is to be printed, you can then prepare the plates with letters and / or logos so you can stamp the word you want. The mark indicating that the wood packaging material has been subjected to approved phytosanitary treatment, includes the required components listed below: – Symbol of the ear – The country code – Code of the producer / supplier company of treatment – Code of the treatment using the appropriate symbol as prescribed in Annex 1 (HT or MB). Q? HOW TO AVOID THE PRESENCE OF MOLD ON WOOD PACKAGING A. Mold can grow on any moist surface in the presence of dim light and warm temperature. The freshly sawn wood (wet) is a material that lends itself to attack by mold even if heat treated (HT) as a result it is recommended to the user companies to complete in the case of commercial necessity, the heat treatment with the drying cycle. We stress that the drying of wood packaging is an added value to the packaging itself (for example, is more stable in terms of size and deformation than fresh), and that to get a wood moisture content of 18 % is necessary to leave the material in the cell drying for 36/72 hours compared to 6/12 hours of the heat treatment ISPM-15. It ‘obvious that the drying process of the packaging has an impact on the final cost of the package (the dried wood but’ does not offer the conditions for an attack by fungi / mold). Q? WHAT IS THE CONAI A. THE CONAI (national packaging) and ‘the private consortium consists of manufacturers and users of packaging with the purpose’ to pursue the objectives of recovery and recycling of packaging materials, Adherence to CONAI and ‘mandatory for companies that produce , sell or use imballaggi.IL environmental contribution CONAI, established for each type of packaging material, represents the form of financing through which the CONAI divided between producers and users the costs of waste collection, recycling and recovery of waste primary packaging (for sale), secondary (packaging multiple grouping units’ sales) and tertiary (transport packaging). Such costs are determined on the basis of the general program for the prevention and management MASSIMO DONATI © 2014 P.I. E C.F. 02546210309• PRIVACY POLICY