2. Euro Pallet Largest Pallet Pool in the World Control by the wood packaging industry Strict certification – EPAL & EURO marking and Number Costs 550 Euro’s Processing Fee 5,500 Euro’s Security Deposit – one time membership Required machinery Choose inspection agent – audit costs associated with production –First year each load –Level two after one year – good performance Staple distributed by inspection agency 1200 Euro’s annual user fee World Wide Trade Mark – prosecution process

3. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association INTERPAL 6 – CANADA - 2005 The EURO Pallet. The EURO Pallet. UIC 435-2. 800 x 1200 www.epal-pallets.org

4. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association The choices www.epal-pallets.org

5. Self ownership. Closed pools. Pool pallets. Open pools I want to describe a particular open pool system. And allow you to draw your own conclusions. EPAL Known in Europe as white pallets. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association The choices www.epal-pallets.org

6. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association What is EPAL? www.epal-pallets.org

7. Its primary function is quality. It protects the various trademarks. EPAL promotes the EURO pallet. It unites the various sectors: Producers, repairers, logistics, railways, traders, pallet-users. EPAL EUR Centre block markings allow identification. EUR BRB GB 001-5-06 EPAL EPAL is a regulatory body. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association What is EPAL? www.epal-pallets.org

8. It is the biggest pool in the world! At least 300,000,000 pallets. BY FAR!!! Possibly as many as 500,000,000. In spite of this: It ensures pool quality. But it owns no pallets! And availability. Annual production of over 50,000,000. BY FAR!!! Of which EPAL accounts for over 40,000,000. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association What is EPAL? www.epal-pallets.org

9. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association What is EPAL? www.epal-pallets.org Statistics

10. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Why does EPAL exist? www.epal-pallets.org

11. In the beginning! Run by Railway Organisations. Originally good, consistent quality. In some countries got worse over time. Some railways had more important tasks. The result? An independent organisation was needed. EPAL was born! Licensed by the UIC to control pallet quality EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Why does EPAL exist? www.epal-pallets.org

12. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association How does it operate? www.epal-pallets.org

13. Organisation Chart EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association How does it operate? www.epal-pallets.org Annual General Meeting National Committees Individual Members Associated Members Railway Bodies Board President 7 Representatives Of National Committees 1 Representative of EPP PRESIDENT Working Group Technical Matters Quality Assurance Communications International Affairs Inspection and Training National Committees Producers Dealers Repairers Users Railways Transporters Propositions. Coordination For admission. Assistance to members General Secretariat Chief Executive Officer Supervisor Complaints Committee (The boring bits!)

14. More practical EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association How does it operate? www.epal-pallets.org Board of Direction General Secretariat Carries out instructions of the Board. Discuss and decide all aspects of EPAL Chief Executive Officer Liases with UIC Decides punishments for defaulting companies. Arranges contracts with Inspections Companies and suppliers, and legal activities. Co-ordinates inspections, statistics, testing, charges and all administrative matters.

15. More practical EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association How does it operate? www.epal-pallets.org National Committees Discuss, prepare and recommend any technical and quality issues, to present to the Board. Join working groups of related organisations. Operate In larger producing countries: Assist licence applications. Disseminate information. Working groups Protect the trade marks.

16. More practical EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association How does it operate? www.epal-pallets.org Inspection Companies Report findings to the Secretariat. Appeals Committee Reviews punishments set by Board. Senior supervising inspector. Training to ensure uniform inspections. Assess applicant companies for licence. Make unannounced visits to producers, repairers, and end-users.

17. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org

18. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org Europe.

19. EPAL National Committee EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org Europe.

20. EPAL National Committee EPAL Production Ten Producer/Repairers EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org Europe.

21. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org Europe. World United StatesIndiaChina

22. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Where? www.epal-pallets.org Summarising. Produced and repaired in 28 countries. About 1,500 producers and repairers - growing at three a week. Probably over 5,000 supply points About 400,000,000 pallets in circulation. Available in many other countries.

23. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Legislation. www.epal-pallets.org

24. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Phytosanitary matters. www.epal-pallets.org ISPM 15 EPAL firmly supports the IPPC standard. Originally decided that standard would be compulsory, from 1st July 2005. ONLY HEAT TREATMENT Still fully supports ISPM 15, but as an option for those users that require it. The way forward for wooden packaging Withdrew compulsion because some countries might not be ready in time.

25. ? EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association The future? www.epal-pallets.org

26. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association The future? www.epal-pallets.org The growing EPAL family 1200 x 800 600 x 1000 1000 x 1200 600 x 800 1200 x 10001000 x 1200

27. - Or older pallets at reduced price. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association The advantages www.epal-pallets.org The advantages of EPAL. Assured quality. Assured value of pallet for resale. Vast quality assured supplier network. - You are always near a source. Ability to negotiate the best deal. - You can buy new pallets. Always available in small or large numbers.

28. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Cost comparison www.epal-pallets.org Cost model. The advantages of EPAL are not theoretical. A study has been undertaken in Italy to compare the costs of this open pool system with a closed system. Prepared by our consultant, Andrea Fossa. Showed an open pool system such as EPAL reduces costs by over 30% compared to a commercial closed pool. Copies of this model are available.

29. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Contact Information. www.epal-pallets.org Website. www.epal-pallets.org German French English

30. EPAL EUROPEAN PALLET ASSOCIATION ® European Pallet Association Cost comparison www.epal-pallets.org Interpal 6 – Canada – 2005 EPAL – European Pallet Association We Look Forward