The European Pallet Association (EPAL) organised the 1st Hungarian Pallet Symposium. EPAL director Martin Leibrandt opened the conference in Budapest Marriot Hotel, emphasising the importance of the fact that pallets marked with the EPAL-EUR logo since 1 August 2013 can be exchanged all over the world. He also gave a brief overview of the history of EUR pallets that reduce loading time by 90 percent.

Currently 1,450 pallet manufacturers and repairers are partners in EPAL and 19 country associations are members. This June the association founded its international EPAL ACADEMY. Second speaker György Karmazin, vice president of the Hungarian Association of Logistics, Purchasing and Inventory Management (MLBKT) told that about 3.2 billion pallets are used in European markets a year. In Hungary 3 million pallets are manufactured every year, half of which is purchased by the FMCG sector. His estimation is that pallet demand could grow by 10-15 percent per year. Mr Karmazin pointed out that the average depreciation rate of pallets is 5 percent per return trip. EPAL’s Jens Lübbersmeyer and Thomas Beenen spoke about pallet quality. Mr Lübbersmeyer introduced the strict criteria that apply when making EPAL pallets: 9 blocks, 11 boards and 78 nails must be used. The trademarked pallets must also undergo heat treatment when ready. Thomas Beenen stressed that only authorised manufacturers and repairers get the EPAL licence and the association cooperates with national and international authorities in fighting counterfeiting. National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) head of department Gyula Almási told that registered pallets are protected by law and counterfeiters face up to 10 years in prison or more than HUF100 million in fines. Joachim Buerhop, business unit manager of EPAL’s quality assurance partner Bureau Veritas, talked about their monthly unannounced inspections at licence using manufacturers and repairers. Last year they conducted 23,500 examinations worldwide