The European Pallet Association is assuring as a not profit orientated service the quality of re-usable EURO-pallets throughout the world on uniform criteria including exchange. EPAL has the vision to identify each pallet individually as this will help to improve the control of production and repair, will allow a clear authentification, gives the users in the pool a valuable tool to control flow, quality and ownership of the pallets, and will open new possibilities in supply chain management. In order to achieve the vision EPAL has decided to explore the EPC/RFID technology.

There are currently over 500 Million wooden EURO-pallets in circulation. Under the control and license of EPAL, more than 60 million new pallets are produced per year by more than 400 producers in 30 countries and there are over 1.000 repair centers worldwide. The parties interested in quality approved EURO-pallets include producers, dealers, repairers, users, railways as well as transporters.

In order to respond to market requirements and to get a better understanding about the future businessmodel, EPAL has decided to launch an EPC/RFID Pilot Program which is scheduled for July 2008. First results will be published at the EPC Europe Conference in Prague on November 5th 2008, an event which is organized by GS1 in Europe in cooperation with the RFID Journal Live! Europe. The partners participating in the EPAL Pilot Program includes EPAL, GS1 in Europe, Swisscom, Oracle, Labelform and will be realised at Holliger Pallet Logistics in Switzerland. More specifically, the GS1 organisations from Switzerland, Germany and France have supported EPAL with the definition, conception, and the static and dynamic testing of the EPC tags within the EECC lab.

Harry Jacobi, CEO of EPAL pointed out: “The standardised EPAL pallet is a key carrier in the supply chain of all industries. It was a logical step for us to use the GS1 EPCglobal standards for this pilot project. Some manufacturers and retailers have already shown their interest in exploring the benefits of the RFID tagged EURO-pallet.”
Stephane Pique, European Director EPC/RFID of GS1 in Europe added: “This project is very important to us and we are glad that EPAL has approached us to help them in the realisation. All GS1 EPCglobal standards will be involved including Gen2 tags, EPCIS and the ONS in Europe and therefore the project represents an important show case. I am conveniced that the realisation of the full deployment of this project will have a major impact in the supply chain and overall in the RFID industry. More Pilots Programs complementaring to this one are planned to be realised in the coming months.”

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