UPDATE: 30 Million New EPAL/EPAL Euro Pallets Produced Since August

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Feb 3, 2014) - The European Pallet Association e. V. (EPAL) has recorded production of the 30-millionth Euro pallet with the EPAL logo on four corner blocks. The pallets produced throughout Europe exclusively under the EPAL licence have been coming off the line since the 1st August 2013. Robert Holliger, president of EPAL, presented these results on Saturday 1st February 2014 at the EUROBLOCK customer forum in Freising, organised by EUROBLOCK Verpackungsholz GmbH. In 2013, licence holders produced a total of 63.7 million EPAL pallets and repaired 21.6 million EPAL wooden cargo carriers.

"The high production figures are testimony to the success of the EPAL/EPAL pallet and demonstrate just how well the One Brand cargo carriers are being received by the users" says Martin Leibrandt, Chief Executive Officer of EPAL. EPAL/EPAL pallets are exchangeable without limitation within the open pool and fulfil the internationally uniform quality standards.

"The number of licence holders is experiencing strong growth in countries in which EPAL was previously less active. In the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary in particular, we are witnessing a high demand for our licences" explains Martin Leibrandt. Since the 1st August 2013 a total of 14 new licences have been awarded in these countries, which are to remain a focus of EPAL. "EPAL is set to continue pursuing this development. We wish to grow further and offer the users a comprehensive network of manufacturer and repair organisations" says Martin Leibrandt.

CEO Martin Leibrandt is clearly highly satisfied with the quality assurance delivered by the independent audit company Bureau Veritas. Since the 1st January 2013 the company has been conducting unannounced checks of EPAL licence holders and thereby guaranteeing the uniform quality standard of the wooden cargo carriers. "The high quality standards observed during production and repairs -- in conjunction with the strict controls -- not only guarantee the reliability of EPAL pallets during constant use, they also ensure a long service life for the environmentally friendly cargo carriers from re-growing raw materials" emphasizes Martin Leibrandt.

About EPAL:
EPAL European Pallet Association, founded in 1991, is the umbrella association for the licensed manufacturers and repair organisations of EPAL/EUR pallets and box pallets. Since the 1st August 2013, Euro pallets produced and repaired exclusively under EPAL's licence have borne the "EPAL in oval" brand on all four corner blocks. EPAL is globally responsible for the consistent quality of EPAL cargo carriers and utilises external quality testing for this purpose. EPAL is represented in 14 countries by their own National Committees, who have undertaken to implement the EPAL objectives at national level.