Galvanizing (steel pallets and fasteners)
Also called: hot-dip galvanizing, HDG, zinc coating, galvanized
Galvanizing is coating steel with zinc to protect it from corrosion. Steel pallets are often hot-dip galvanized after fabrication, and galvanized nails, staples and hinges are used where wood pallets or collars see moisture.
In depth: Steel pallet: welded, galvanized and built for heavy loops
Zinc corrodes in place of the steel under it, so a galvanized part keeps protecting itself even when scratched. There are two main methods.
Methods
| Method | Process | Coating | Typical pallet use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) | Finished part dipped in molten zinc | Thick, covers inside and out | Welded steel pallets, cages, racks |
| Electro-galvanizing | Zinc plated electrically | Thin, smooth | Light parts, fasteners, hinges |
| Mechanical or hot-dip (fasteners) | Nails and staples coated in batches | Varies | Nails for wet service |
In the US, hot-dip galvanizing of fabricated steel products is commonly specified to ASTM A123.
Why it matters
Bare steel pallets rust in outdoor, wet or washdown service, and rust stains products. HDG gives long life without paint, which suits outdoor storage, returnable automotive loops and heat-treat or chemical plants. It adds a batch step, cost and weight, and it can distort thin sheet. Powder coat, paint, stainless steel or aluminum are the alternatives. For wood pallets, galvanized fasteners are an option where pallets stay wet, and EPAL-style wood collars typically use galvanized hinges.
On a spec sheet
For metal pallets: finish (hot-dip galvanized, electro-galvanized, powder coat and color, paint, or none), and whether galvanizing is before or after fabrication. For fasteners: coating type in the fastener description.
Related
- TypesSteel pallet: welded, galvanized and built for heavy loopsA steel pallet is fabricated from carbon or stainless steel sheet, channel and tube, usually welded and hot-dip galvanized or powder coated. It carries heavy loads, lasts for years outdoors and in hot processes, does not burn and is ISPM 15 exempt. Steel pallets weigh roughly 50–150 lb (23–68 kg).
- TypesSteel pallet: welded, galvanized and built for heavy loopsA steel pallet is fabricated from carbon or stainless steel sheet, channel and tube, usually welded and hot-dip galvanized or powder coated. It carries heavy loads, lasts for years outdoors and in hot processes, does not burn and is ISPM 15 exempt. Steel pallets weigh roughly 50–150 lb (23–68 kg).
- TypesPallet collar: hinged wooden frames that turn a pallet into a boxA pallet collar is a frame of four boards joined by metal hinges that sits on a pallet to form an open box. Collars stack to build height and fold flat when empty. The common European collar fits a 1200 × 800 mm pallet, is 200 mm (7.9 in) tall and has 4 or 6 galvanized hinges.
- GlossaryNail (pallet fastener)A nail is the standard fastener for wood pallets, driven through deckboards into stringers or blocks. Pallet nails are specified by shank type (helical, annular or plain), length, wire diameter, head diameter and bending strength.
- ComparisonsMetal vs plastic pallets: steel, aluminum and plastic comparedChoose a metal pallet (steel or aluminum) for very heavy, hot, sharp or long-life loads, fire-sensitive storage, or when you need a custom fabricated size in small quantities. Choose plastic for lighter closed-loop handling, lower price, lower tare weight and standard footprints.
More in Materials
- GlossaryBark (on pallet lumber)Bark is the outer layer of a tree trunk. ISPM 15 requires wood packaging to be made from debarked wood, allowing only small remnants: pieces under 3 cm wide of any length, or wider pieces with a surface area under 50 cm².
- GlossaryCant (pallet lumber)A cant is a log that has been sawn flat on two or four sides. In the pallet industry it usually means the low-grade center of a hardwood log, left after grade lumber is cut from the outside, which is resawn into pallet parts.
- GlossaryComposite block (pallet)A composite block is a pallet block made from wood chips, particles or fibers bonded with resin under heat and pressure. It does not split like solid wood and, as processed wood, is exempt from ISPM 15 on its own.
- GlossaryCorrugated fiberboard (pallets and slip sheets)Corrugated fiberboard is a board made of a fluted paper medium glued between flat paper liners. It is used for boxes, and in pallet work for corrugated paper pallets, slip sheets, tier sheets and pallet runners.
- GlossaryCut stock (pallet components)Cut stock is lumber already sawn to the finished thickness, width and length of pallet parts, such as 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in deckboards, ready for nailing. It is also called pallet stock or shook.
- GlossaryDouglas-fir (pallet lumber)Douglas-fir is a dense, strong softwood from western North America, also grown in Europe. It is species class 11 (Douglas-fir–larch) in the Uniform Standard and PDS, and class 33 in the European species list.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 227 words.