Robert Holliger, president of EPAL, presented these results at the EUROBLOCK customer forum in Freising. In 2013, licence holders produced a total of 63.7 million EPAL pallets and repaired 21.6 million EPAL wooden cargo carriers.
"The high production figures are testimony to the success of the EPAL/EPAL pallet and demonstrate just how well the One Brand cargo carriers are being received by the users," says Martin Leibrandt, CEO of EPAL. EPAL/EPAL pallets are exchangeable without limitation within the open pool and fulfil the internationally uniform quality standards.
"The number of licence holders is experiencing strong growth in countries in which EPAL was previously less active. In the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary in particular, we are witnessing a high demand for our licences," explains Martin Leibrandt.
Since the August 1, 2013 a total of 14 new licences have been awarded in these countries, which are to remain a focus of EPAL. "EPAL is set to continue pursuing this development. We wish to grow further and offer the users a comprehensive network of manufacturer and repair organizations," says Martin Leibrandt.
CEO Martin Leibrandt is clearly highly satisfied with the quality assurance delivered by the independent audit company Bureau Veritas. Since the 1st January 2013 the company has been conducting unannounced checks of EPAL licence holders and thereby guaranteeing the uniform quality standard of the wooden cargo carriers.
"The high quality standards observed during production and repairs - in conjunction with the strict controls - not only guarantee the reliability of EPAL pallets during constant use, they also ensure a long service life for the environmentally friendly cargo carriers from re-growing raw materials," emphasizes Martin Leibrandt.
EPAL (the European Pallet Association) was founded in 1991 to work with the European Railways to maintain a European-wide quality assurance and inspection standard for the EURO pallet.
