With over 700 wooden pallet manufacturers, service providers, and suppliers in attendance, the NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference is the premier event in the US for the pallet industry. Members meet to strengthen relationships, learn about new technology, and get the latest on the economic conditions that impact the industry. It has been a tough couple of years for wood pallet manufacturers, but there was much enthusiasm and an optimistic outlook for 2025 and beyond.
2025 NWPCA Annual Leadership Conference & Expo in Napa, CA
Cresswood has offered quality grinding solutions to the pallet industry for decades. We have built a reputation for engineering dependable equipment and offering extraordinary service. We believe relationships matter, and take them seriously. Our mission is to help pallet companies lower operational costs, create safer workplaces, and responsibly steward wood waste.
In today’s business environment, if you aren’t getting better you are at risk of becoming obsolete. The pallet industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies, but this has changed significantly over the past five years. Companies are looking to technology to help make production more efficient and make better use of hard-to-come-by labor. Cresswood offers excellent solutions for pallet manufacturers and recyclers to create labor savings by eliminating unnecessary material handling. Our solutions also create safer, cleaner work environments, making employee retention easier.
A Recap of the NWPCA ALC Highlights
Leaders in the pallet industry from all over the country make a point of attending this conference because of the value it creates. The industry is very relationship-oriented, and companies openly share what they have done to become better. Members see this as a fantastic opportunity to learn and strengthen relationships while having a great format for meeting new people in the industry. Cresswood always comes away with requests for projects, some from our existing customers, and some from people we meet for the first time.
Cresswood made meaningful connections with fellow industry leaders, suppliers, and manufacturers, strengthening its role in the sustainable recycling sector. We met a California-based pallet manufacturer, getting paired up with them for the golf event. This led to planning a site visit to learn more about their operation and discover how Cresswood can help them better manage their wood scrap. This is a good example of the value in this conference, it is very informal and friendly, and everyone there is passionate about moving the industry forward.
Cresswood’s Innovations on Display: A Look at the Future of Pallet Recycling
Cresswood’s industrial shredders and grinders embody the theme of the conference—innovation in recycling. Cresswood just introduced a new model, the XR620. This machine is a perfect fit for the pallet industry, and expands on the capabilities of the well-known and respected XR600. With a larger 20” diameter rotor and more powerful drive package, this grinder increases capability by 30% while keeping the same compact footprint. Grinding whole pallets is made more efficient by the larger rotor diameter, meaning more output per hour and kilowatt of energy.
At Cresswood, we offer the integration of an HMI into our control panel, allowing our equipment to be integrated into sophisticated factory management software. This allows the grinder to signal for routine maintenance or out-of-the-ordinary operating conditions. Heat sensors, load monitors, and full integration of upstream and downstream inputs means our equipment is seamless and easy to manage and operate.
Cresswood’s world-class grinders and shredders help businesses optimize their operations, reduce costs, and contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy. The big ROI on the purchase of a grinder is always labor savings. The amount of time spent managing scrap material often comes as an unpleasant surprise to pallet business owners. Cresswood does a great job consulting with pallet leaders to pinpoint the opportunities for cost savings through better material handling. Many pallet companies are also looking for ways to responsibly deal with wood residuals. This is both an opportunity to boost the bottom line, as well as become better stewards of the earth’s natural resources. Our dealer Boulware Equipment LLC specializes in turn-key pallet recycling solutions. They not only help companies set up world-class grinding solutions, but they also do the full mechanical installation of the entire system. With hundreds of chip outlets spanning most of the country, they are also able to line up buyers for the residuals, one of the most important aspects of solving their wood waste challenge.
Cresswood’s Impact on the Pallet Industry
Cresswood’s shredders and grinders offer vital solutions to pallet manufacturers, enabling them to recycle old pallets and wood scraps into valuable byproducts like wood chips, mulch, and biomass fuel. Cresswood’s equipment has been specifically engineered for durability in one of the toughest applications around, pallets. We help turn bulky and difficult-to-manage waste into a fine chip, while also removing all of the nails from the residuals. This product is perfect for boiler fuel, animal bedding, and mulch.
By creating dependable and efficient grinding solutions, Cresswood has played a vital part in taking thousands of tons of wood waste out of landfills. By transforming that waste into valuable by-products, we give pallet businesses the ability to generate additional income while saving on tipping costs.
We appreciate everyone who visited Cresswood’s booth and engaged in conversations about the future of pallet recycling. We hope you continue exploring how Cresswood’s products can optimize your recycling processes. Cresswood is dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable solutions for the pallet industry. Contact us today for a personalized consultation.
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