To say that mold is a nuisance is an understatement. It proliferates rapidly, attacks ferociously, and is difficult to combat once it surfaces. In the food, pharmaceutical, and pet sectors, it's downright ruinous. Demand for mold-free wood pallets in these industries is intensifying as supply chain managers seek solutions to reduce costly product recalls and revenue loss. Madison County Wood Products, a leading pallet and timber supplier in Fredericktown, Missouri, knows that prevention is the best defense to guarding wood pallets against mold. Here's a look at the processes, techniques, and tips they use to help their wood pallet customers protect their products.
Tip #1 Know The Truth About Heat Treatment
Successful mold mitigation is sometimes a result of what you DON'T do to your wood pallets. Such is the case with heat treatment. Contrary to popular opinion, it DOES NOT prevent mold from growing on wood pallets. Quite the opposite, when conditions are right, it can promote it. Bryan Kesting, a managing partner of Madison County Wood Products, explains to his customers that heat treatment fails mostly because the processing time is too short to be effective. Yes, it will kill larvae and insects burrowed in the wood, but it will not reduce the wood's moisture content enough to thwart mold colonization.
Tip #2 Choose Kiln Drying
Freshly sawn lumber can have greater than 40% moisture content, according to Paul Gaines, a second managing partner of Madison County Wood Products. Since mold spores need moisture to grow, it's logical to focus prevention efforts around drying processes. Kiln drying is an excellent approach because it removes the wood's natural moisture and limits its absorbency. It requires more processing time than heat treatment, but the lengthened duration promotes a better mold-free outcome. Gaines reports that his customers have great success when they use his company’s kiln chamber and get the moisture to 18%.
Tip #3 Consider Chemical Treatment
Pallet customers desiring greater assurance against mold are smart to consider chemical treatment options. While there are many different applications with varying degrees of effectiveness, Madison County Wood Products chooses PQ-80 because it's a fungicide concentrate with food packaging contact approval. They apply it by a dip to wood, and their treatment provides up to three months of protection.
Tip #4 Provide Proper Pallet Storage
Following kiln drying and chemical treatment options, it's prudent to store wood pallets in good airflow areas. Madison County Wood Products offers indoor and outdoor storage options. Their covered outdoor facility has open sides that allow air to circulate freely and naturally dry the wood. The roof provides protection from unfavorable weather conditions. By maintaining proper row spacing, Madison County Wood Products further optimizes the airflow between pallets.
Tip #5 Enlist Expert Advice
Choosing the right mold-prevention strategy for your business should not be complicated. Team Madison County Wood Products has been serving the wood industry with excellence for over 40 years and considers it an honor to support you in your mold fight. Our dedicated wood specialists delight in taking the time to thoroughly explain your options and the actions that you can take to achieve success. Please contact us today to learn more about our quality products, competitive prices, and on-time deliveries.
About the Author:
Bryan Kesting is the VP of Sales for Madison County Wood Products – he’s also a 2nd generation Co-Owner of the family run business. He helps set the company direction and is in continual pursuit of industry changing opportunities. Bryan is proud to serve MCWP’s clients and the entire team from the loggers to the drivers delivering the finished goods. Everything he does supports the company’s drive to be an incredibly vertically operated wood products company by managing acreage, harvesting, logging, milling, and manufacturing while focusing on zero waste through the use of the whole log.
Madison County Wood Products Inc. is a vertically integrated company specializing in land and timber management, logging, sawmilling, and pallet manufacturing. With a focus on environmental impact, we take a zero-waste approach while providing customers with quality products, competitive prices, and on-time deliveries.
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