Jettainer is developing an innovative lightweight pallet that weighs just 70 kilogrammes. Compared to a traditional PMC aluminium pallet, the new lightweight version developed by Jettainer is a full 32 kilos lighter. It is made of a composite material that is being used in the aviation sector for the very first time. 

The weight savings of more than 30 per cent make it possible to significantly reduce the fuel consumption of aircraft. In the past, manufacturers only managed to make pallets lighter by user thinner aluminium bases. As a result, they had to be specially reinforced when transporting fairly heavy items. All traditional aluminium bases shared this drawback in the past. The particularly tough and stable material used for the new kind of pallet, which is manufactured with a sandwich design, is suitable for most cases without the need to use heavy-duty bases to stabilise the load. This ensures that the total weight is once again significantly lower. 

Jettainer is exclusively working with several partners in the development of the new lightweight pallet. The initial trial phase has already been completed. A long-term test is taking place in March within the context of selected road feeder services – initially in trucks with a roller bed – in order to obtain as realistic load results as possible.

“Our innovative products are being comprehensively tested in real conditions so that we can even use our customers’ feedback during the development phase,” says Carsten Hernig, managing director of Jettainer GmbH.

Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is due to take place in mid-2015.