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Many paperboard providers will tell you that anti-slip sheets or non-slip sheets are an “indispensable” part of your customers’ palletizing packaging arsenal. But is this really true? 
Let’s break down the myths versus realities when it comes to anti-slip sheets, and discuss how and when they make sense for your customers.
An anti-slip sheet or non-slip sheet is used to prevent palletized products from slipping during transport. Inserting these sheets between product layers can reduce movement and damage to products that sometimes occurs during shipping and transport.
There are a lot of myths about anti-slip sheets. The biggest myth is that every customer shipping goods on pallets needs anti-slip sheets.
“The majority of the time,” says Chad Kravick, VP of Badger Paperboard, “anti-slip sheets aren’t needed. If a customer really wants it, you can certainly do it, but it will cost more. The expertise of our distributor partners really comes into play here. If the load is properly stretched and banded, you won’t need anti-slip sheets. You can use a rough grade finished pallet sheet instead, which is a lot cheaper.”
Customers who need anti-slip sheets tend to be those who move a lot of lighter loads.
“When you need exceptional stability,” says Kravick, “such as with top heavy loads that need good stability at the bottom, a good base – that’s when I’d recommend anti-slip sheets.”
Anti-slip sheets can also be reused and recycled, so if your customers have light or fragile loads that require extra precautions – or have experienced damage in the past – anti-slip sheets can be a good investment.
Most customers don’t need anti-slip protection if their distribution partner advises them on how to properly secure the load. Instead, customers can use a more cost-effective rough finish substrate.
“Sometimes customer loads do require some form of friction,” says Kravick, “but instead of using a coated and expensive anti-slip sheet, you can use a rough finish pallet sheet, then properly contain the load with stretch, film and banding.”
The outcome is the same: a secure load that doesn’t shift or tumble during transit.
Badger provides both anti-slip and rough finish sheets for palletized loads. If you have a customer who has never tried rough finish in place of anti-slip, ask if they want to see a demonstration or do a trial run with rough finish instead.
“We sell anti-slip sheets mainly to customers who request them,” says Kravick, “because these sheets are specced into their packaging and palletizing. And that’s fine – we have no problem doing that. However, I’d like to offer customers some new ideas and options – maybe get them to test rough finish sheets instead. It’s more cost-effective.”
No matter what you call your packaging needs, Badger has your back. Find out more about bundling your packaging needs with Badger. Request a sample of one of our products, or find out more about our strategically-placed nationwide locations and how we’ve improved lead times for our customers.
