For businesses in retail, manufacturing, distribution, and other related industries, an efficient pallet program is vital. In fact, efficient pallet management has become a requirement for every large-scale enterprise today. Managing these large scale programs can be a difficult task based on how many locations a company has or how many product SKUs are being…

Wooden pallets are one of the most sustainable forms of packaging available in the market. This claim is backed by numerous research papers and studies ranging from ones published by reputable industry associations to prestigious universities. The reason for the green nature of the wooden pallet is the product’s rate of recycling, durability, and multiple…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, November 2, 2023 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”, “Company”), the nation’s leader in innovative pallet services, is pleased to announce that its long-standing customer, Kem Krest Corporation LLC (“Kem Krest”), recently presented the company with its Supplier Excellence Award. Kamps will be receiving recognition during Kem Krest’s Customer & Supplier Reception, an event…

Kamps, Inc., the nation’s leader in pallet recycling services and pallet sales is pleased to announce the release of our 2022 Environmental Sustainability Report (ESR). This is the second year in a row we have released our ESR. The ESR details our broad environmental impact, from both corporate and operational standpoints. Our ESR is the next…

The Case Study   This case study focuses on a large home improvement retailer and highlights a pallet recycling strategy Kamps implemented to increase cost savings, pallet utilization, and create pallet program transparency. This case study highlights Kamps’ consultative approach to pallet solutions. The analysis and problem-solving process included in this case study is an…

Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps” or “Kamps Pallets”), is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a top green supply chain partner (G75) by Inbound Logistics Magazine, a leading supply chain management and logistics magazine. This is Kamps’ third G75 recognition in a row, a major achievement for the company. The purpose of the G75…

Job Title: Sales Assistant Location: Central/Southeast Regions Employee Classification: Full-Time Full-Time Employee Benefits: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 401K Retirement Plan, Paid Time Off, and Life Insurance Kamps Overview: Kamps is a full-service pallet company meeting the needs of industries coast to coast. Kamps manufactures new pallets, reconditioned pallets, and recycles unrepairable pallets into mulch…

In 2019, we entered a new phase in our strategy to deliver continuously evolving value to our customers on a national scale. In executing this strategy, we achieved many milestones. We grew from 23 asset-based locations to 63 asset-based locations, and reached over 30 on-site operations (TPM). We improved our operating model and added numerous…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, April 12, 2023 – Kamps, Inc., one of the nation’s leading pallet companies, is pleased to announce the opening of a new pallet facility in San Antonio, Texas. The facility will begin operations immediately. Services provided out of the San Antonio facility include wooden pallet recycling and custom pallet manufacturing, two of…

Grand Rapids, MI, March 1, 2023 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps” or the “Company”), one of the nation’s leading pallet organizations, is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of Twin City Pallet, Inc. (“Twin City”), a pallet manufacturer and recycler based in Hastings, Minnesota. Twin City is a full spectrum wood packaging and recycling organization, specializing…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, February 3, 2023 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”), one of the nation’s leading pallet companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Pal-King, Inc. (“Pal-King” or the “Company”) out of Jacksonville, Florida. Pal-King specializes in full-scale pallet recycling services, including pallet repair and remanufactured pallet solutions. Pal-King serves customers across Northern Florida from…

Grand Rapids, MI, January 9, 2023 – Kamps, Inc. (the “Company” or “Kamps”), one of the nation’s leading pallet organizations, is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of the business of John Rock, Inc. (“the Rock”), a multi-entity organization based in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Specializing in the complete value chain management of the pallet manufacturing process,…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, November 3, 2022 – Kamps, Inc. (“Company”), one of the nation’s leading pallet organizations, is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of Realm Companies LLC (“Realm”), a Newton, IA based portfolio company of Great Range Capital. Specializing in the complete lifecycle management of pallets, Realm offers pallet manufacturing, pallet recovery, and sustainable…

Kamps, Inc., one of the nation’s leading pallet companies, is pleased to announce the opening of a new pallet facility in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The facility will begin operations immediately and will specialize in custom pallet manufacturing and wooden pallet recycling, two of the company’s core service offerings. The latest expansion comes on the heels of…

Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”), a leading national pallet company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Bailey as Chief Operating Officer. Bailey’s primary role will be to oversee Kamps’ vast national operations. This includes P&L responsibility and the management of growth and operational strategy across Kamps’ multiple business units. Bailey’s employment with Kamps will commence…

Grand Rapids, MI – September 19, 2022 – Savanna Kuhlow, Senior Customer Service Manager of Kamps’ national division, has been named one of the recipients of the Annual Women in Supply Chain Award. This award is presented by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine and highlights women in leadership making a positive impact on supply…

What are glass and can pallets? Glass and can pallets are designed specifically for the bottling and canning industry, and differ from the Standard GMA Pallet. They are used before and after the filling the process, transporting both empty and filled containers. This presents a unique set of needs that glass and can pallets have…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, September 12, 2022 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”, “Company”), one of the nation’s leading pallet companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Northland Pallet, Inc. (“Northland Pallet”) out of Hugo, Minnesota. Northland Pallet specializes in pallet recycling and pallet manufacturing solutions, serving customers across the state of Minnesota and north-western Wisconsin. Northland…

We are pleased to announce the completion of two strategic acquisitions in the state of Florida. On August 15th, Kamps completed the acquisition of the Jacksonville, FL location from Pallet Express, Inc. (“Pallet Express”). On August 29th, Kamps also acquired All-State Pallets Company LLC (“All State Pallets”), an Orlando-based pallet company. The two acquisitions add…

Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps” or “Kamps Pallets”), is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a top green supply chain partner (G75) by Inbound Logistics Magazine, a leading supply chain management and logistics magazine. This is Kamps’ second G75 recognition in a row. The purpose of the G75 award is to recognize organizations providing…

Kamps, Inc., the nation’s leader in pallet recycling solutions, is pleased to announce the release of our inaugural Environmental Sustainability Report (ESR). The ESR details our broad environmental impact, from both corporate and operational standpoints. Our ESR is the next step in the evolution of our Green Scorecard initiatives, ensuring that we are tracking, reporting,…

Starting April 8th, 2022, companies in the wooden pallet and lumber industry will now be affected by additional regulations set in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Plants within the pallet and lumber industry, must now be ready and prepared to host a heat stress related safety inspection with minimal notice. This new…

The general benefits of wood pallet recycling are: Potential increase to ROI based on pallet value Environmentally sustainable outcomes Optimized warehouse space Improved flow of operations However, in order for your organization to receive the maximum value from these benefits, you need a pallet recycler that goes above and beyond. This is done by building…

Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”), is excited to announce that we have joined the Reusable Packaging Association (“RPA). The Reusable Packaging Association is an international trade organization consisting of member companies who supply, use, and provide services to the reuse of transport packaging products for the distribution of goods in the supply chain. As one of the…

As the national leaders in sustainable pallet recycling solutions, Kamps is happy to announce that we will be exhibiting at the WasteExpo 2022 in Las Vegas, NV. We are excited to connect with organizations across the U.S. and share the benefits of our innovative, customer-centric, pallet recycling programs. Kamps Pallets Overview Topics We Are Excited…

Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”), the nation’s leading pallet solutions provider, is pleased to announce that on February 28, 2022 we acquired Denver-based L&R Pallet Service, Inc. (“L&R Pallet”). L&R Pallet specializes in new and recycled pallet solutions. L&R Pallet also provides full-scale cardboard, plastic, and aluminum recycling services through its EnviroCycle brand. L&R Pallet serves businesses…

Kamps is excited to announce that we have joined the International Food Service Distributors Association (IFDA). We are looking forward to building stronger relationships with current members, along with providing expert analysis and resources on the pallet management component to food service distribution. As the experts in value-added pallet solutions for the industry, Kamps view…

As the premier national pallet recycler, Kamps has a positive and measurable impact on our environment. We are excited to announce that this environmental impact reached landmark levels this past year, with Kamps recycling over 200,000,000 pallets in 2021. We reached this milestone through our carefully constructed pallet reconditioning, remanufacturing, and recycling programs. The impact…

Continuing to grow our footprint across the North-East region, we are excited to announce that on December 27, Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”) acquired Greenway Products & Services, LLC (“Greenway”). Greenway is a full-service pallet recycler and new pallet manufacturer with three asset-based facilities in the Tri-State area. The acquisition of Greenway reinforces our existing footprint in…

We are pleased to announce that on December 22, Kamps acquired Gorgo Group (“Gorgo”). The Gorgo Group is a collection of companies that provide pallet, packaging, and logistics solutions across the North-East. Gorgo has two asset-based locations in Southern New Jersey, and one in Harrisburg, PA. The acquisition of Gorgo expands our footprint in the…

We are excited to announce that Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”) has acquired Tritz Pallet, Inc. (“Tritz”) out of Le Mars, Iowa. Tritz is a wooden pallet recycler and full-service pallet solutions provider with seven asset-based locations across the Great Plains region. The acquisition of Tritz expands Kamps’ physical footprint, and builds upon our core mission of…

Supply Chains are continuously evolving. Large grocery chains, automotive manufacturers, and e-commerce platforms are harnessing their supply chains to improve warehousing, the end customer experience, and environmental sustainability. One of Kamps’ priorities is to be a platform that is continuously improving its capabilities to better support our customer’s evolving needs. A key component of our…

Pallet management falls underneath the category of pallet services. It is a service where a pallet company is responsible for the entire operations and inventory control of your pallet supply. Who Needs a Pallet Management Program? We recommend pallet management for all businesses that use at least two truck-loads of pallets per month. This roughly…

What is a Combo Pallet? A combo pallet is a common industry term used to refer to a pallet that has been built from used and new components following the pallet recycling process. These components can be new stringers and used deckboards, or vice versa. Our systematic process of harvesting used materials and building pallets…

Pallets are the backbone of the supply chain. Without the pallet, a product cannot move through your supply chain or reach its final destination. This importance is highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, where certain products in the grocery and retail sector are facing potential delays due to a shortage of pallets. Just as the availability…

Kamps, one of the nation’s largest pallet recyclers, is pleased to announce that we are official partners of Next Cycle Michigan. Next Cycle Michigan is the first of its kind initiative in Michigan that leverages public and private investment in Michigan’s recycling and waste recovery system so that materials that once were destined for the…

In late June, Kamps finalized the acquisition of Buckeye Diamond Logistics, Inc and its family of companies. These companies include: BDL Supply, H&S Forest Products, Palnet USA, and Easy Heat Wood Pellets. As a result of the acquisition, Kamps is now one of the largest wooden pallet recyclers and manufacturers in the United States. More…

Atlantic Packaging is a leader in packaging equipment, materials, engineering and technical resources since 1946. Along with being a leader in their category, Atlantic Packaging is also committed to reaching their sustainability goals through various recycling initiatives and sustainable packaging programs. One of the most important recycling initiatives Atlantic Packaging implemented was a custom-designed wood…

As society continues to reopen, the pallet market is continuing to experience a shortage in the supply of wooden pallets and longer lead-times. As your pallet experts, Kamps has outlined three key initiatives your business can implement to help mitigate the effects of the current pallet market and similar conditions in the future.   Jump…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, June 24, 2021 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps” or “Kamps Pallets”), is pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of 75 companies (G75) recognized as leaders in supply chain sustainability and environmentally friendly operations by Inbound Logistics Magazine, a leading supply chain management and logistics magazine. Recognized for our ability…

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, June 7, 2021 – Kamps, Inc. (“Kamps”), one of the nation’s largest pallet recyclers, is pleased to announce that on June 2, 2021 it signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Buckeye Diamond Logistics, Inc. ( “BDL” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries.  The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and…

We are excited to announce that Kamps has acquired Total Pallet Solutions (“TPS”) out of Alvarado, Texas. TPS operates two locations in Central Texas and services the Fort Worth, Dallas, Waco, and Alvarado markets. Our acquisition of TPS builds upon our core mission of providing standardized, best-in-class, pallet solutions on a national scale. Headquartered in…

In the age of large e-commerce platforms and globally connected supply chains, Third-Party Logistics (3PL) organizations have seen a large increase in demand. In fact, As of 2014, 80% of all Fortune 500 companies use some form of 3PL service. 3PL companies allow businesses to accomplish more with less, and offer tools and infrastructure that…

At Kamps Pallets, pallet recycling and environmental stewardship is our priority. In 2020, Kamps Pallets recycled over 70,000,000 pallets. These efforts saved over 3.5 million trees, 1.4 million tons of landfill waste, and 1.9 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. While we look forward to another record-breaking pallet recycling year in 2021, for Earth Day…

We are excited to announce that our Kamps pallet family is growing once again. Earlier this week, Kamps Inc. acquired Pallet Industries out of Florida. The acquisition was finalized on March 17th. This acquisition builds upon our core mission of providing standardized, best-in-class, pallet solutions on a national scale. The state of Florida plays a…

If you are involved in the process of buying wood pallets for your organization, you may have come across either pallet inventory challenges or pallet price fluctuations in the past 6 months or so. In this article we outline the potential causes for both inventory challenges and pricing fluctuations in the pallet market. We will…

Whether it is your first time looking to buy wood pallets or you are a pallet procurement professional working for a large national company, it is important to know the most important factors of pallet buying before making a decision. As the industry-leading experts in pallets, we have wood pallets for sale of all sizes…

Our top three priorities at Kamps Pallets are pallet recycling, environmental sustainability, and customer service. Our Kamps Green Scorecard is the combination of all of these priorities. It tracks and measures the direct impact Kamps and our customers have on the environment through our pallet recycling services. The three indicators of environmental impact in our…

Pallet Repair and Return (R&R) programs carry many benefits for organizations that use large volume of pallets for their shipping operations. Not only are repair and return programs one of the most environmentally friendly pallet recycling programs available, they also offer great cost-saving benefits. Below we have identified the top 4 benefits our customers can…

As the premier pallet recycling company in the United States, Kamps Pallets has made it a priority to make a positive environmental impact on our planet year in and year out. We achieve this mission through carefully constructed pallet reconditioning, remanufacturing, and recycling programs. The impacts of these programs are tracked in our Green Scorecard and…

Kamps Pallets is proud to announce that our website has been selected as one of the Top Five Pallet Company Websites by Pallet Enterprise. Pallet Enterprise is a leading pallet and sawmill trade magazine in the United States – for almost 40 years. The awards are a great way to recognize top performers in website…

Whether you are buying wood pallets or selling wood pallets – any successful pallet program must have superior data management and reporting. At Kamps, we place a large importance on both the management of data we share with our customers and internal KPIs that we collect. In an effort to further improve the experience of…

Last week, the NWPCA in conjunction with the Pallet Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service’s research wing (U.S. Forest Product Lab) released the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Wood Pallets manufactured in the U.S. The EPD for Wood Pallets is a breakthrough moment in our industry as it quantifies the environmental impact of the wooden…

Whether your business is large and has over 50 distribution centers nationwide, or only has one location, partnering with a national pallet supplier, such as Kamps Pallets, for your wood pallet programs provides benefits that can exponentially improve your supply chain and operations. With over 50 years of experience in pallets, and over a decade…

We are truly living in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 global pandemic has, one way or another, affected every industry and supply chain on our planet.  All indicators are signaling that the retail space will also experience a holiday shopping season like never before. During this year’s holiday season, it is important to remember that having…

Pallet recycling programs are vital to any organization that utilizes pallets for shipping operations. Not only does recycling pallets potentially bring benefits such as additional revenue streams to your organization, it also has a positive impact on our planet. As the experts in pallet recycling for over 45 years, Kamps Pallets has developed several national…

Selling pallets back to a pallet supplier is a common practice among businesses large and small. It has become a strategy that not only creates additional revenue streams, but also has a positive environmental impact on our planet. To learn more about the environmental impact selling or recycling pallets can have on our planet, check…

In the realm of GMA Pallet Repairs, companion stringers play an incredibly important role in a #2 pallet. They allow pallet suppliers and recyclers, like Kamps, to extend the life of a used pallet even further. What is a Companion Stringer   A companion stringer, also often referred to as a plug, is a piece…

Finding a strong supplier that has wood pallets for sale is a line item that should be at the top of every warehouse / purchasing / mro employee’s list. The products your company produces or uses rely on pallets for protection and transportation. Simply put, pallets move the world. While a quick google search can…

Evolving customer demands and scarcity labor pools require pallet manufactures to stay ahead of the curve in order to maintain operational proficiency. Pallet suppliers, like Kamps, work tirelessly to implement innovative initiatives that allow us to stay ahead of this curve and support continuously evolving customer demands. These initiatives, typically, aim to solve some of…

Importance of Tracking Pallet KPIs   Tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the pallet industry is an extremely important component of a partnership between a pallet buyer and supplier. If you are a pallet supplier, tracking KPIs allows you to identify areas of improvement for your company. It can also be used as a way…

While COVID-19 has negatively impacted U.S. businesses exporting products, and global trade as a whole, now is the perfect time for these businesses to strategize and correctly plan for the future. During this planning, the business’s shipping operations (once global trade resumes), should be a priority – and that is where heat-treated pallets take center…

With experience in pallet recycling for over 45 years, we have seen it all at Kamps; and have run into every sort of pallet and recycling challenge imaginable. One of the most common misconceptions is the notion that all pallets are equal. While all pallets do serve a common purpose, when it comes to recycling, the…

Selling your used pallet cores is a great way for a business to generate an extra revenue stream and offset pallet purchase expenses. Especially if your business uses and disposes of standard 48×40, and other popular, pallet sizes. In order to get the most out of your used cores, a relationship with a pallet company…

Standard wood pallet sizes are based on the most common (and popular) pallets in a region. In the United States, the most common pallet size is the 48×40 pallet, often referred to as the GMA Pallet. Followed by the 42×42 and 48×48 pallet. The History of The Standard Pallet The standard 48×40 pallet was first…

  As Kamps Pallets continues to grow as a company, we felt it was important that our website also reflected that growth. That is why, for the past couple of months, we have been hard at work crafting a website that does just that. Our new website is packed with educational content, in-depth looks into…

While we are living in unprecedented times, it does not mean that we cannot still make smart pallet purchasing decisions based on existing best practices. As your designated pallet experts, Kamps is here to give you advice on the adjustments that your business can (and should) make to your pallet program during COVID-19. Communication is…

Our case study regarding a global snack food manufacturer’s recycled pallets strategy highlights the consultative approach we take to pallet management and the importance we place on continuous improvement. At Kamps, we look for ways to improve the overall supply chain of our customers on a consistent basis. Our sales staff are trained experts in…

We are proud to announce that our Kamps pallet family is growing. Earlier this week, Kamps Pallets acquired Green Trip Recycling out of Atlanta, Georgia. This will be our 26th physically owned or operated location nationally, and first location in the state of Georgia. Green Trip Recycling has been in business since 2013. The company…

Recycling is our top priority here at Kamps Pallets; and a large portion of our recycling is performed through our signature pallet repair program. Our pallet repair program is comprehensive, standardized, and spans multiple departments. Below is an in-depth look at all the steps involved to repair a pallet and some key details about our…

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve world-wide, essential businesses are finding themselves in uncharted territory. As an essential business, Kamps carries the responsibility of supporting our customers, while doing all that we can to ensure our employees stay safe and healthy. This week we sat down with our Vice President of Human Resources, Bill,…

While some may use the term “Skid” and “Pallet” interchangeably, the two are completely different products and are intended for different purposes. As your pallet experts, we are here to tell you exactly how and why. Quick Pallet History Skids are the oldest type of pallet. In fact, there is some evidence of the Ancient…

Kamps Pallets is happy to announce that we have finalized the acquisition of D&H Bark, out of Manton, MI. This location will be an addition to Kamps’ Wood Resource Division (WRD) and will our division’s sixth location in Michigan. D&H Bark is a company that has been in business for over 30 years, specializing in…

At Kamps Pallets, we prioritize continuous improvement in all of our programs – especially our Kamps fleet of trucks. Our nationwide fleet plays a direct role in our customers’ satisfaction and maintaining consistent inventory and pallet pick-ups for Kamps. Earlier this year, we made some groundbreaking updates to our fleet that will allow us to further…

Warehouse Layout is important because it can directly impact the efficiency and profitability of your operations. Having over 40 years of experience in the Pallet Industry, Kamps has seen thousands of warehouses and worked with customers big and small. Our methods to improving your warehouse layout is the culmination of these years and what we…

Having the knowledge on how to prevent pallet damage is important. This is because damaged pallets can end up costing your business quite a bit of money over time. This is due to the damage they can cause to your products directly and the increase in cost associated with having to buy new pallets. We…

If your business ships product, or relies on a supply chain, pallets play a large role in your operations. In fact, they directly impact the profitability of your operations. Attaining lower pallet costs, while adding value through your pallet program, are some of the best ways to raise the profitability of your operations. The best…

If you are a business that relies on pallets for your operations, auditing a pallet supplier on a regular basis is key to ensuring you are working with a partner that is dedicated to excellence and integrity just as much as you are. It can be the difference between on-time delivery or delays, a profitable…

Customer Service Week is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. It is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.  How Important is Customer Service? Customer service is an integral part of any successful company, and at Kamps…

Ever wonder what it would be like to live a day in the life of a customer service team lead/social media manager at Kamps Pallets? Savanna gave us the scoop on what a typical day looks like for her in our National Sales Department.   Savanna begins her day checking emails, of which there are usually…

At Kamps we know we know our business is not all about pallets, as important as those are. Our business is about providing our customers what they need when they need it, and only a part of that involves pallets. A pallet company is ultimately another kind of transportation facilitator, and this is why we…

The word leadership can mean different things to different people, but if there is one thing that all great leaders do, it is to inspire and motivate their teams to work as one towards a goal. Kamps Detroit leadership knows that. One of our own, Eric Lee, Operations Management and Development Specialist, shows us that…

In our ongoing series of highlighting Kamps Pallets’ talented staff, we’d like to introduce Darren who is Assistant Plant Manager at our Niles location. At first glance, one might not see many similarities between working at a pallet company and working at a senior living community. In his time so far as an assistant plant…

Mold on pallets is a very common problem in the wood packaging industry, especially with recycled pallets. This is problematic for our food industry customers, as the food safety requirements for pallets are becoming increasingly strict. Given the range of conditions the pallets at our Kamps plants across the country endure, it is particularly important…

We celebrate World Environment Day every year on June 5th. It gives us the opportunity to take positive environmental action and bring raise awareness on environmental issues around our earth. This year the focus is on air pollution, which affects the well-being of people and economic development throughout the world. During World Environment Day 2019…

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised to receive a note of gratitude or a quick word of appreciation from a boss or coworker? Think for just a moment about how that made you feel. Regardless of what was going on around you or how challenging the situation was before that moment, those simple words lightened…

In our ongoing series of highlighting Kamps Pallets’ talented staff, we’d like to introduce Leah who works as an executive assistant here at Kamps. Those of us who know Leah know that she is quick to help, eager to provide solutions, and incredibly hard working. It is unlikely you will leave her office without a…

Earth Day 2019 is here! Earth Day is a great reminder that it is never too late to take steps to reduce your environmental footprint. Admit it, there are times when we all could put better effort into our personal recycling efforts. Recycling is simple, effective, and something anyone can do to both reduce environmental…

Are you #ForestProud? Did you know the recycling rate for pallets is 95%! Can you believe that? Ninety-five percent of the pallets in circulation in our economy are or will be recycled at the end of their lifecycle. While this may seem like just another random statistic, when you compare it to recycling rates for…

Workplace safety is crucial for both companies and workers. No one wants to get hurt or to see coworkers get injured. To ensure employee safety, we cannot ignore best safety practices. Sometimes a little extra effort when it comes to safety can go a long way to avoiding injury. Here are a few reminders to…

We are very pleased to announce that Mitchell Kamps is the new President of Kamps Pallets. He is a face many in our company will find very familiar. Employees in our offices and plants have had the opportunity to work with and get to know Mitchell throughout the 22 years he has worked for the…

If you need pallets and you’re looking for a pallet provider, you may be wondering where to begin. Lucky for you, we at Kamps have put together a quick guide of information to help you get started! First, if you’re looking to purchase, know what size pallet you need. If you don’t know what size…

Kamps is proud to supply the pallet industry and serve customers across the nation. As we’ve noted before, the pallet is “the single most important object in the global economy.” Our lives would not be the same without pallets! From start to finish, pallets are a crucial part of the way our economy works. Given…

Between working full time, caring for kids, participating in family or social activities, and volunteering, exercise can be the first thing people put off. The day only has so many hours. Unfortunately, many Americans spend the bulk of their work week sitting behind a desk or otherwise being inactive. According to statistics gathered by the…

Grocery stores, distribution centers and manufacturing plants all use pallets to handle food and beverages. To ensure the process of moving products between warehouses and locations is quick and standardized, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has established a set of guidelines for all food industry pallets. These GMA pallet guidelines contain detailed dimensions and specifications,…

Whether we want to accept the fact that another winter season will soon be here, preparations for snow, slush, and wet conditions are already taking place at Kamps Pallets. Kamps has always been committed to safety in our plants and to forklift safety in particular. Although not all of our customers nationwide will be affected…

If you’ve been to Costco or Sam’s Club lately, you know what a pallet looks like and maybe that pallets are used for shipping products all over the world. Aside from that, what is a pallet really? Here is everything you need to know: Top Pallet Questions:  What is a pallet? A pallet is a…

FACT or FICTION? Here are some common ideas about pallets, the pallet market and our company with our straight take on the truth of each. 95% of wooden pallets in the market are being recycled FACT: At Kamps Pallets, we track our efforts to preserve natural resources with our Green Scorecard. Over the last year…

There is no question that social media has grown and evolved over the last ten years and truly consumes our modern day world. Facebook has changed from becoming a place to connect with old friends to catching the latest news, seeing what events are happening around town, or posting a photo of your latest shareable…

Sometimes striving for excellence means showing the same dedication that you have in creating a beautiful garden and bringing it into the Accounts Payable department. When Kandi Braspenninx was a child, her grandmother inspired in her a love of flowers that has stuck around to this day. From roaming her grandmother’s garden to creating beautiful…

6/25/18— Kamps Pallets, a national pallet company headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, announces partnership with Corrloc LLC, a corrugated pallet and packaging company. Dan Gibson, Corrloc co-founder, says, “Corrloc will be widely adopted in the market place due to its cost to strength ratio.  Our customers will no longer have to choose one or the…

Corporate Maintenance – Automating from Scratch Kamps Pallets looks a little bit different than 11 years ago when Frank Swartz started in maintenance at the Grand Rapids, Michigan plant. Kamps has grown significantly in both geographical span and number of employees since Frank started in maintenance. With that growth has come a need for increased…

Do you love meetings? No, of course not. Most people dread meetings and prefer to have fewer or no meetings because when you are in meetings, you are usually not being productive. We can go into why businesses spend so much time in unproductive meetings, but it’s not going to help your business to understand…

As part of Kamps Pallets’ commitment to environmental sustainability, we turn wood waste that is unsuitable for landscape mulch into biomass used by energy plants. By converting waste to energy we are able to power cities, schools, factories and more. Wood waste that cannot be used as landscape mulch, such as plywood, laminates, particle boards,…

How hauling trash led to a nationwide company Back in 1973, Bernie Kamps had an idea. More importantly, he acted on that idea. At 17 years old, he had already begun his first business – hauling garbage to the local landfill. The spark of an idea flourished in this unlikely place. What if all the…

Getting Your Product from Point A to Point B Safely For manufacturing companies, production is just the first step. Getting that product to its next destination safely and intact is a make or break moment for your manufacturing business. Manufacturers of sensitive goods – like pharmaceuticals, precision parts or even glass – can’t afford an…

Keeping our team in tip-top shape for the daily slalom With the 2018 Winter Olympics just around the corner, all eyes will soon be on the elite athletes of our country. But every day, we’ve got our eyes on the industrial athletes at Kamps. While there are no gold medals for our team members, their…

Various Options Available from Kamps Pallets Maintaining high quality products and competitive prices is a challenge many of our customers can understand. The pallet industry is no different! Particularly over the last few years, we’ve seen a strain on the lumber supply that has resulted in new options for Kamps Pallets and our customers. While…

The cost-savings associated with partnerships instead of vendor relationships With Black Friday in the rear view and Christmas still to come, many people are focused on the price of the products they need. Will it go on sale? Can I get a better deal? What’s the catch? But when it comes to your operations, it’s…

Being Thankful for Challenges That Lead to Innovative Solutions November is a great time to pause and reflect on the year so far. Kamps has experienced tremendous expansion recently – and the growing pains that come along with it. But when we look back on it, we’re thankful for every challenge and each innovative solution…

Are You Making the Most of Your Supply Chain Partnerships? As Ben Gomes-Casseres wrote in his Harvard Business Review article, “Setting up an external partnership as if it were a PO [purchase order], at best, leaves value on the table. At worst, it leads to conflict and value destruction.” That’s exactly why Kamps team members…

How Many Different Pallet Partners Does a Large Enterprise Actually Need? You need to receive an exact quantity of pallets and shipping materials on time– no more, no less. Multiple pallet providers may initially provide the peace of mind that your supply chain will always operate smoothly, but consider this: instead, you could be working…

Simple Machines and Advanced Software to Maximize Efficiency How much could a simple product, like a pallet, have advanced in the last 80 years? At the end of the day, wooden pallets are made of just lumber and nails. But each evolution of the pallet was motivated by improving efficiency for businesses all across the…

Next Generation Wood Product for School, Church and Public Playgrounds For many schools, summer is perfect for property improvement projects, including upgrades such as resurfacing the playground. The federal government sets minimum requirements for playground surfacing material and the CushionWood product from Kamps is certified to meet them. Requirements Above all, new playground surfacing material…

Why Kamps’ Reconditioned Pallets are a Viable Option for Businesses Lumberjacks as they existed in the early 1900s are a memory of days gone past. But modern day lumberjacks live on at Kamps, where we harvest wood, too – used wood pallets, that is. Processing inbound used pallets is an important part of our business….

Q: Will mulch cause a problem for native plants in my flowerbeds? A: Think of what ecosystem the plants came from and what kind of ecosystem you are recreating in your flowerbeds. If it is a northern woodland plant, it would have had a loose soil with lots of debris on top, so bark or…

97% of all accidents are preventable.   The first step in safety is choosing to be safe.  Safety is not only important at work but also at home, in the car or anywhere you might be. At Work Wearing your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Hearing and eye protection, high visibility vest/shirt, gloves, apron, steel or…

Kamps services customers across a broad spectrum of industries, and we are confronted with this question frequently. In most situations reconditioned or remanufactured pallets with recycled components are your best option for strength and value. There are some sacrifices in aesthetics, but for most industries that isn’t a concern. For those customers who are mandated…

Great businesses are built with great teams. Building and maintaining great teamwork is crucial to a highly functional operation. Teamwork is important for better problem solving, greater productivity and better use of resources. Working as a team helps in achieving performance goals and helps people grow. The following points are important when building a winning…

Using wood chips is not only a good gardening habit that provides moisture and nutrients but it benefits the environment because waste wood goes into the garden instead of a local landfill.  Wood mulch is economical, readily available, and it’s easy to apply and remove. Unlike some lightweight organic “mulches,” wood chips are more suitable…

A business in today’s competitive market needs to be able to change and adapt to stay ahead of the competition. One of the key factors is understanding the costs that drive the business and how what we do impacts that cost. In our industry, labor is a significant component of our cost. We recognize the…

Many people are under the impression that wood pallets are not good for the environment. The argument is that wood pallets are detrimental to forests.  This is certainly not the case! As noted in this article posted by Litco International, there is currently an excess of board footage. When a tree is harvested, there are…

NWPCA recently announced on January 26 that wood packaging federations in the Netherlands and Sweden have promised to use the NWPCA’s Pallet Design System (PDS). Kamps uses this very program to create pallets that will fit every customer’s needs. From the press release: “ALEXANDRIA VA, January 26, 2017 – The National Wooden Pallet & Container…

As little kids, we have all answered the question that new acquaintances and visiting relatives love to ask: What do you want to be when you grow up? I have asked dozens of kids this question and I have heard a variety of responses. Susan wants to be a doctor because that is what her…

While we agree that feedback from our customers is important, we all dislike hearing a customer complaint. A customer complaint can be a real gift, if we listen and promptly resolve the issue.  I have recently reread a book titled “A Complaint is a Gift”, and I will share a few highlights with you. When…

Article by Dr. Mary Kay  Have you ever presented a potentially unpopular idea to your team, and the reaction you received across the board was, “this will never work!”?  If you are like most of us you forget your leadership skills and try to convince your team members right away why the change is a…

I know Thanksgiving is now over, but the power of thankfulness and its potential to drastically change your day-to-day life is still in full effect! Check out this article from Kevin Eikenberry on the power of gratitude and the way that it could really change your life. “If I could offer you a magic potion…

A special greeting this Thanksgiving to express to you our sincere appreciation for your great confidence and loyalty. We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.

The professional skills, abilities, and experience of an individual are all critical components of achieving success – however, the attitude of an individual is just as important as all of these other attributes. The ability to execute can be helped or hampered based on our attitude – a positive one will contribute greatly to success…

Our society often bombards us with messages in television commercials and in magazine articles and billboards, telling us to be healthier, get in shape, and lose that last 10 pounds.  However, do they actually tell us the long-term benefits of exercise? In this article found in The Grand Rapids Press entitled “Make Your Heart Work Harder,”…

Kamps has always set ourselves apart from our competition by continually striving for excellence in service. From a transportation point of view, it all starts with core pickup and ends with finished pallet delivery. To make this happen, it takes a significant investment in both dollars and man hours. We service multiple industries that have…

In order to support our continued company growth and customer requirements, Kamps is actively upgrading and developing its IT systems. These investments include upgrading hardware for networks, servers, and storage. On the software side, we are investing in systems to improve our customer experience and internal efficiencies. The Kamps IT team recently completed a major…

Kamps Pallets has been contributing to recycling since 1973.  Our founder and CEO, Bernie Kamps, started Kamps in 1973 by collecting and selling sawdust and wood shavings throughout West Michigan.  He soon realized that pallets in good condition were being thrown into landfills. Bernie started collecting these pallets, repaired any broken pieces and resold them….

Last month, many employees participated in a company wellness program, the New You Challenge. The challenge went on for four weeks. Each day, we had the possibility of earning 6 points. For every item that we achieved, we received a point. Below are the items we were challenged to do: Here are some testimonials from…

Our customers often look to us to provide value added services. One of the services that we handle frequently is the ability to heat treat pallets, lumber, and crates. What is heat treat? Heat treat uses a heat chamber (essentially a large oven) to raise the core temperature of wood products to a certain standard to kill…

We are excited to announce the recent acquisition of Custom Pallet in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Custom Pallet has two locations and 85 employees. The acquisition of Custom Pallet further strengthens Kamps’ position in the southeast. This acquisition allows us to better service our customer base which includes several national accounts doing business throughout the United…

One of our employees recently attended an emerging leader’s event in Grand Rapids hosted by Inforum. The topic of discussion was millennials in the workforce. Nationally, our workforce has a mix of all different generations and personalities. So what are these groups like? Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) have years of experience and have seen social and economic climates…

At Kamps, we take leadership seriously. We want our leaders to be strong and the best of the best. We strive to be a company that leads in innovation and customer service. We encourage our employees to be extraordinary leaders in their families and communities. Jessica DiLullo Herrin, Founder and CEO of Stella & Dot Family Brands,…

At Kamps Pallets, we have created a positive safety climate. We encourage our team members to participate in safety by mentioning safety in daily start-up meetings, having safety committees at each of our locations that include team members as participants, and having a devoted safety team that performs safety walk-through checks. This is a quote from a recent…

A message from NWPCA: We have lived among and nurtured a natural resource available to us from the very beginning. Our very understanding of the world as we know it has been touched by forests, wood and wood products.  Our homes, flooring, furniture and fuel, provide us the warmth of our surroundings. Today, wood’s responsibilities in the supply…

Timely and effective communication to employees is a challenge for most organizations. For Kamps, this is made more complex by a large and growing business with multiple locations in multiple states, production employees with limited or no email access and multiple languages. So how do we improve communication and continue to our vision of “Excellence in Everything We…

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, reminds us that “Great vision without great people is irrelevant.” At Kamps, we live by this truth. Because we believe in our company mission and vision, we know the importance of hiring the best of the best for our growing and dynamic team. Bill Wood, our Vice President of Human Resources,…

With a mild winter we eagerly anticipated an earlier spring to help rev up our colored mulch operations. As you know, it’s taking a bit longer to warm up, but we have been able to color and ship a good amount of product to our customers already in late March and early April. The benefits…

For the past several years, the supply of pallets has been squeezed and many pallet suppliers have not been able to keep up with current demand. So why are pallets in shorter supply? Let’s examine some of the reasons. The economic downturn of 2008 affected the entire economy, and pallet manufacturers were not spared in this respect….

Many people are not aware that Kamps buys pallets. We recently launched a campaign to advertise this in the Grand Rapids and Detroit areas. Some used pallets have good value, and Kamps particularly pays top dollar for 48×40 and 48×45 used pallets. We also buy other sizes, and we repurpose the lumber to better maintain…

To most passersby of Kamps’ physical plants, our company might appear to be a small, family operation. While we certainly started out small and continue to emphasize the importance of a family culture, Kamps has experienced significant growth over the past 40 years, and in particular over the past 10 years. With our eyes focused on nationwide expansion,…

We’ve talked before about how the majority of things that are shipped from place to place arrive on a pallet, but what kinds of products are on the pallets ​in the trucks that we see on our roads every day? One of the largest product markets is, unsurprisingly, food. Kamps Pallets began in Grand Rapids​, Michigan forty-­two…

Last time we discussed the importance of Michigan’s lumber to manufacturing, jobs, and Michigan’s economy. We touched a little on shipping and how the lumber that is made into pallets affects international trade. This time we will talk about how crucial shipping, facilitated by those same pallets, is to Michigan and the United States. The…

If you’ve been looking out your window for the past month, you’ll have witnessed the splendor of one of our state’s greatest treasures – our trees. Every fall we’re invited to experience Michigan by traveling up north or taking a drive into the country to visit an apple orchard, but we rarely consider other valuable…

Recently, Pallet Enterprise wrote an article about an Indiana woman named Kat Scott who uses Kamps recycled pallet wood as a medium for her muse. Kamps Pallets played a unique role in this story, and we are proud both of it and our local pallet artist. Kat Scott has found a way to make something…

Understanding the pallet market is our job at Kamps. We keep ourselves continuously updated about things like hardwood availability, ​ world pallet availability​, and the price of nails​ so that we can continue to provide our customers with pallets that are reliable and competitively priced. But sometimes customers have questions about the terms we use for the different…

Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, and we at Kamps often get questioned about our use of wood as a resource. It’s common knowledge that trees are a good thing. They have many benefits for the environment. They reduce carbon dioxide in the air, capturing it and using it to produce a material that has countless practical…

Kamps prides itself on producing a good product ­- our pallets ­- and doing so in an environmentally responsible way. We’ve talked before about ​common myths about forests and lumber, but it’s important to remember that pallet making doesn’t result in deforestation. The trees that pallet lumber comes from are harvested sustainably. What does that…

There has been some concern within the pallet industry about the increased price of nails and what it means for the future of pallets. So we thought we’d examine the problem. What is this business with nails, and why is it important? First of all, pallets are not manufactured in a vacuum. Pallet construction is…

Bernie Kamps, owner and CEO of Kamps, Inc. expresses his joy in what he perceives as “harmony in the pallet industry at Kamps.” On his recent plant visits he recalls enjoying the visits because of our fantastic people and what they accomplish. “The plants are in great shape, with outstanding housekeeping, neat and orderly pallet yards, and…

We at Kamps understand the impact the pallet has on the transportation of goods in today’s global economy. Do you? There are 2 billion pallets in supply in the United States, and 3.2 billion board feet of hardwood is produced every year to maintain this supply. Approximately 80 percent of U.S. commercial goods are shipped on pallets. The…

Heat treat pallets are required for all wood packaging material used in international shipments.  One of the necessary steps for ensuring the safety of not only the product being shipped, but also the environment of the product’s destination, is heat treatment. Wood pallets are made from organic material – trees.  Trees do not grow in…

While the public is only just becoming aware of the dangers facing North American trees from pest infestations such as the Emerald Ash Borer, pallet makers have been waiting to see how this will affect shipping and pallet making for over a decade. ISPM-15, or International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, is “an international…

While the average person probably does not often stop to think about pallets, when he does, he probably thinks that pallets are all the same. Obviously this isn’t true, as anyone in the pallet industry knows. Governments, pallet companies, and universities – to name a few – are constantly conducting research to determine the best…

One of the most important initiatives this year at Kamps is our lumber recycling center (LRC) project.  Making use of lumber recycling centers will be an excellent way for Kamps to produce lumber from recycled pallets, and it will enable Kamps to bring new and existing customers much better pricing compared to all-new lumber pallets….

While many Americans have heard that their food has traveled, on average, 1,500 miles from the farm to their plate, most people have no idea what this really means, nutritionally or logistically. How can meat and produce travel so far and still be fresh and edible? It’s because of pallets, and some other technological innovation:…

Pallets, being essential for the global transport of nearly everything, are very useful items. However, it is important to acknowledge that the careful use and handling of pallets should be a priority for all businesses whose employees work with them because manual pallet handling injuries are very common. Earlier in January the results of a…

Have you ever wondered how long the pallet has been revolutionizing shipping in this country and worldwide? Wonder no more. The pallet and the lift truck are now celebrating 75 years of revolutionary service, and, unlike many other inventions of the 1930’s, they are still recognizable in form and function. In November of 1939, George…

Many jobs within the pallet industry become harder to perform in the cold and inclement weather winter is known for, but forklift operating can be especially challenging. Thus, it is important for management to repeat and re-acquaint staff with safety measures when the cold and snowy weather hits. What are the specific challenges forklift operators…

Companies that rely on products harvested by the lumber industry continually face criticism for perceived bad environmental practices. But do the construction, flooring, and pallet industries contribute to deforestation or the degradation of wooded areas and other ecosystems?   Here are two questions we routinely hear about lumbering and the manufacturing of lumber-based products: Doesn’t…

The simple product that revolutionized shipping and makes much of our modern lifestyle possible – is now more than a pallet for many gardeners, artists, and builders. It’s a starting point for an endless array of ideas and projects. You’ve probably heard of using pallets for backyard or patio gardening. The spaces between the pallet…

Any successful pallet business must keep a careful eye on the bottom line, calculating a per-pallet cost to remain competitive. Kamps is no exception. Our company continues to identify key performance indicators and measure precise costs in economies with rapidly fluctuating prices, including the costs of: Labor Supervision Lumber Fuel Equipment Machine costs Rent and…

Kamps is pleased to announce an expansion of our Indianapolis operations to a second facility this month! With the growth of our customer base, and the addition of some new key accounts, the current Indianapolis facility has been bursting at the seams for the last 12 months. Kamps has a great team in this geographical…