Executive summary Goods that arrive on worn or foreign pallets often have to move onto clean in-house pallets before storage or export. Our system in this video takes a forklift-fed carton load into its frame to change the pallet, supply new pallets and stack used ones. The stacker size follows from the pallet height and the pallets per stack. We set both per project.
Table of Contents
- What the video shows
- How the pallet changing system works
- Waste pallet stack sizing
- Pallets in and pallets out
- Controls and safety
- Selection checklist for an automatic pallet changing system
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the video shows
Our pallet changing system stands on the shop floor, a grey steel frame with thick columns and a top beam. An orange gantry arm sits on the right column, and a blue pallet platform waits at a low position. A load of cartons on a pallet waits at the left station.
An orange forklift drives in, picks up the loaded pallet and carries it into the machine, then backs out. The grey centre door opens to show the rails and lifting units inside, and yellow guide rails extend from the frame.
How the pallet changing system works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Feed | A forklift sets the loaded pallet in the machine |
| Hold | The frame and arm hold the load |
| Change | The old pallet is taken out from under the load |
| Dispense | A new pallet is supplied under the load |
| Stack | Used pallets go onto the waste pallet stack |
Supplying and stacking pallets inside the machine keeps loose pallets off the floor around it.
Waste pallet stack sizing
Illustrative example:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Pallet height (illustrative) | 150 mm |
| Pallets per stack (illustrative) | 15 |
| Stack height, 15 × 150 | 2,250 mm |
| Loads per hour (illustrative) | 30 |
| Stack full after, 15 ÷ 30 × 60 | 30 min |
We size the stack to your forklift reach and to how often someone can clear it.
Pallets in and pallets out
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Incoming pallet types | Sets the hold and removal |
| New pallet type and size | Sets the dispenser |
| Load height and weight | Sets the frame and arm |
| Stack clearing interval | Sets the waste stack size |
Tell us which pallets come in and which must go out, and we set the dispenser and stacker for both. Where floor space is tight, a mobile clamper pallet changer is another option.
Controls and safety
The arm, platform and centre door move under power, and loads are lifted inside the frame. Keep people out of the frame while it runs, and enter only with it stopped and isolated.
The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 sets general requirements for packaging machines.
Selection checklist for an automatic pallet changing system
- Incoming and outgoing pallet types and sizes.
- Load height and weight.
- Loads per hour.
- New pallet stack capacity.
- Waste pallet stack height.
- Forklift access and floor space.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why dispense and stack pallets in the machine? A: So loose pallets stay off the floor and the forklift only moves loads.
Q: How high is the waste pallet stack? A: 2,250 mm for 15 pallets of 150 mm in our example.
Q: How often must the waste stack be cleared? A: Every 30 min at 30 loads per hour with a 15-pallet stack in our example.
Q: Does someone load empty pallets by hand? A: No. The machine dispenses new pallets under the load and stacks the used ones in its frame.
Q: How are loads fed? A: By forklift, into the machine frame.
Q: What should I send for a quote? A: Both pallet types, load size and weight, and loads per hour.
Next step
We plan your pallet changing system in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with pallet types, loads and output to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the dispenser and stacker plan.
- Book a site survey to check forklift access and floor space.
Related reading
- Pallet inverter
- Video: V-shape pallet changer
- Video: dual-clamp 180° pallet changer for glass bottle loads
Sources
- System content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-04
- Stack example: our worked example, illustrative values
- Machine in action: our video on YouTube
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010, EN 415-10:2014
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04
