A well-run pallet recycling operation depends on more than any single piece of equipment. From the moment pallets arrive at a facility to the point when unusable wood is processed and loaded for transport, each step plays a role in keeping material moving.
That full picture was on display during the Woodpack Global Fall Plant Tours in Chicago on September 22–23, 2026. The event brought together pallet manufacturers, recyclers, equipment suppliers and other industry professionals for a networking reception and visits to Chicago Pallet Service and Harvey Pallets.
Cresswood’s Max Fadin attended the tours and hosted an exhibitor table at the reception. The visits offered a firsthand look at how the two facilities manage pallet production, repair and recycling—and how equipment fits into the flow of each operation.
A Chance to Connect and Learn From the Industry
The networking reception brought an energetic group of industry professionals together to reconnect with colleagues, meet suppliers, and talk about what is happening in their businesses.
At Cresswood’s table, Max spoke with existing customers and companies interested in learning more about shredding equipment. Some were beginning to explore on-site grinding, while others wanted to see how a complete system could fit into their facilities.
The plant tours gave those conversations a valuable next step. Attendees could walk through operating facilities, see equipment in context, and hear directly from the people who use it.
For a company considering an investment in pallet recycling equipment, that firsthand view can make it easier to picture how a system might work in its own space.
Following the Pallet Through the Facility
At both Chicago Pallet Service and Harvey Pallets, the tours followed the flow of material through the operation. Attendees could see where pallets and lumber entered the facility, how pallets were evaluated, and where production, repair, and scrap handling fit into the process.
Max noticed that both facilities had organized, assembly-line-style layouts. Each step had a place in the workflow, making it easier to see how material moved from one part of the operation to the next.
That perspective is especially useful for recyclers who are still placing scrap in dumpsters or considering their first grinder. Rather than looking at a machine on its own, they can begin to ask:
- Where does unusable pallet material accumulate?
- How will scrap reach the grinder?
- What happens to the wood after it is processed?
- How will nails and other metal be separated?
- Where will the finished material be stored or loaded for transport?
These questions help turn an equipment purchase into a plan for the whole operation.
Seeing a Complete Pallet Grinding System at Work
At Chicago Pallet Service, attendees saw how a Cresswood grinder fits into a larger pallet recycling system. The installation gave visitors a visual reference for more than the grinder itself: they could see how material takeaway, magnetic separation, an airlock, and trailer loadout connect as part of the overall process.
For companies evaluating pallet recycling shredders, seeing those components together can help answer practical questions about equipment placement, floor space, and material handling.
A grinder needs to be sized for the material coming into it, but the equipment downstream also needs to handle the processed wood. If one part of the system cannot keep up, it can affect the flow of the entire operation.
During the visit, Chicago Pallet Service shared positive feedback about its Cresswood grinder. According to Max, the team described the machine as dependable and said they appreciate Cresswood’s responsive support and readily available parts when needed.
For Cresswood, that feedback reflects what matters most to the pallet companies we serve: equipment they can rely on and a team they can turn to for support.
Cresswood’s XR600 pallet recycling installation provides another example of how grinding, metal separation, and trailer loading can work together as part of an on-site recycling solution.
Choosing Equipment That Fits the Entire Operation
Every pallet facility has its own combination of material volume, available space, handling practices, and goals. That is why selecting the right grinder starts with understanding the operation around it.
A recycler processing a steady flow of whole pallets may have different needs than a manufacturer handling smaller pieces of production scrap. Likewise, the way finished material leaves the facility can influence the equipment and layout needed downstream.
When planning a system, consider:
- Material: What types and sizes of pallets or wood scrap will be processed?
- Volume: How much material needs to move through the system?
- Infeed: How will employees or equipment deliver scrap to the grinder?
- Discharge and separation: How will processed wood move away from the grinder, and is metal separation needed?
- End use: What size and quality of material does the intended outlet require?
- Space: Where can the equipment, conveyors, and loadout area fit within the facility?
For facilities with a plant layout or CAD drawing, Cresswood can provide equipment information and help evaluate where a grinder may fit. This gives the customer and its project team a starting point for considering the machine’s footprint, discharge, and relationship to other equipment.
Wood Scrap Removal Costs Are Changing the Conversation
Another topic that came up during the event was the cost of removing wood scrap. Max heard from companies that had previously arranged free scrap pickup but were now being charged for the service.
For those operations, the question is becoming more than how to get scrap off the property. It is also about understanding the ongoing cost of collecting, handling, and transporting that material.
On-site grinding may offer an opportunity to reduce the volume of loose scrap and change how frequently material needs to be hauled away. Whether it makes financial sense depends on the facility’s volume, current disposal costs, equipment investment, and local outlets.
A useful starting point is to look at the full picture:
- How often are dumpsters or trailers collected?
- What are the current hauling and disposal charges?
- How much time does the team spend moving and handling scrap?
- Are there local outlets for processed wood or recovered metal?
- What would be required to produce material that meets those outlets’ specifications?
Cresswood’s article on wood waste processing at Starnes Pallet shares another example of a pallet company exploring ways to improve its scrap-handling process.
Finding an Outlet for Processed Wood
Grinding scrap is one part of the plan. Knowing where the processed material will go is just as important.
Depending on local demand and material specifications, processed wood may have potential uses such as mulch, animal bedding, or fuel. Magnetic separation can also allow recyclers to collect ferrous metal for recycling.
Markets and specifications vary, however, and outlets can change over time. Before investing in a system, pallet recyclers should talk with potential buyers or processors about the material they accept, the particle size they need, and their requirements for metal separation.
Those conversations can help determine whether additional processing is needed and ensure the proposed system supports the intended end use.
Building a Better Plan for Pallet Recycling
The Woodpack Global Fall Plant Tours offered a look inside two pallet operations and an opportunity to learn from the people working in the industry every day. For Max, seeing the facilities reinforced the value of stepping back and looking at how material moves through an entire operation.
The right equipment should fit the volume coming in, the space available, and the plan for material going out. When those pieces work together, pallet recyclers are better positioned to manage scrap efficiently and make an informed investment.
Cresswood designs and manufactures wood recycling machines for pallet and wood waste applications and works with customers to understand their material, facility, and system needs.
Considering a pallet recycling shredder for your operation? Complete the contact form below to tell our team about your material, your current process, and what you would like to accomplish. We would be happy to talk through your options.
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