Pallet Block Types Explained: Solid, Finger-Jointed and Composite

Cut from clear softwood (pine, whitewood, spruce) or hardwood depending on rating. Single piece, no joints, full timber section. Highest strength-to-weight ratio, dimensionally stable, the EPAL specification default. Limited by the availability of large clean sections, drives a higher per-block cost on premium grades.

Made from short, clean offcuts end-joined with structural adhesive into longer sections. The finger-joint pattern is visible on the end grain. Mechanical performance approaches solid wood (the joint is rarely the failure point), with significant material recovery gains, making FJ blocks 15-30% cheaper than equivalent solid blocks.

Approved for EPAL Euro pallet manufacture since 2010. The dominant block in modern European and Asian pallet plants.

Made from veneer or chip layers bonded under heat and pressure into a uniform composite. Predictable density, no knots, minimal moisture movement, exceptional consistency. Slightly heavier than solid wood at equal section, with strength engineered into the lay-up.

Used for high-stack-load pallet pools (automotive, electronics, food) and engineered wood block applications where dimensional stability is critical.

Specify: block type (solid / FJ / composite), dimensions (78×78×95, 78×78×100, 78×78×145 are EPAL standards), species (pine, whitewood, spruce, mixed softwood), grade (clear, sound knots only, industrial), moisture content (≤ 22% for HT-stamped output) and quantity. Pallet block plants in Türkiye, Italy, Romania and Brazil are the global production centres; TIC Dubai sources to GCC delivery.