Guide

1. You send an informal request to us for approval as EPAL manufacturer of EUR flat pallets.

2. We send out various documents to you.

3. You are asked to sign the enclosed commitment after studying these documents and to send it back jointly with a copy of your business registration.

You are asked at the same time to transfer a one-off processing fee of € 550 to our account:

EPAL National Committee of Baltic States
Company code: 301450537
AB Swedbank
BIC: HABALT22
IBAN :LT587300010105208607

4. We process your application and instruct the inspection company

SGS Germany
Baukauer Str. 98
44653 Herne
Tel.: +49-2323 – 9265-250 or -277
Fax: +49-2323 – 26026

that they are now required to inspect your company.
To obtain the exact costs for the evaluation visit, please contact SGS directly.

5. You arrange for an appointment with SGS for inspection. At the date of inspection you shall prove that you possess of the following:

a) organised production site
b) various tools (saws etc.)
c) various machinery, if not integrated in an assembly line:
- cross cutting machine for boards (alternatively: purchase cut size)
- cross cutting machine for blocks (alternatively: purchase of composition blocks)
- planer (not mandatory)
- nail machine for assembly
- nail machine for decks
- chamfer equipment for bottom deck boards
- branding facility with branding plates
- corner cutter

ATTENTION:
As an alternative to automated production, manual production may be possible.
Therefore, the following is mandatory:

Accurate construction templates for the production of runners
Accurate construction templates for pallet deck
Accurate construction template for assembly
Accurate templates for the nail pattern
Nail equipment

The following applies basically for both types of production:

d) gauged material
e) nails approved to EPAL approval list
f) one copy of UIC code 435-2 and of the Technical Regulations of EPAL respectively
g) calibrated gauge (min. - max.) for thickness of boards
h) calibrated gauge (min. - max.) for width of boards
i) calibrated gauge (min. – max.) for total length and total width
j) calibrated gauge (min. – max.) for inner dimensions (inner deck boards)
k) calibrated gauge (min. – max.) for inner dimensions (among others centre bottom runner)
l) calibrated gauge (min. – max.) for height of entry
m) stapler (not mandatory, but advisable)
ATTENTION. If no stapler is available SGS Germany will charge extra for the supervision of stapling!

n) wood moisture probe
o) one hundred newly produced EUR flat pallets as construction samples

6. SGS sends its inspection report to us. When the inspection is positive, we send to you the mark licensing agreement with your registration number in duplicate.

7. You sign both copies and send them back to us.

8. We send one countersigned copy as well as your certificate of approval back to you.

9. You may commence the production of EUR-flat pallets immediately upon receipt of the EPAL certificate.

10. You report to SGS the respective number of manufactured EUR flat pallets and call them to inspect your EUR flat pallets. This inspection is subjected to a charge.
When the inspection result is positive, you receive from SGS EPAL-approved quality staples equivalent to the number of pallets submitted in the audit batch.

When the inspection result is negative, it has to be decided if the rejected EUR-flat pallets shall be corrected or if the marking shall be removed.

11. SGS charges graduated inspection fees based of the accredited level of manufacture. To obtain more information on these fees, please contact SGS directly, quoting your own production status (automated/manual).

12. You have the possibility to apply for approval of level 2 (internal control) after six months, provided that you can prove a record of continual production according to the standards and that there are no serious defects being stated in the inspection reports of SGS during this period.

13. The annual membership fee by EPAL National Committee in Baltic States is 1000 EUR.

This permits the lawful use of the protected trademarks. In the first year the fee will be charged proportionately with effect from the date of the licensing.

In all member countries of EPAL the production of EUR flat pallets without EPAL authorisation will be prosecuted.

National Committee of European Pallet Association e.V. in Baltic States

Update: December 2009