Efficient Wood Chipper Boosts Pallet Manufacturing: A Success Story

How One Pallet Manufacturer Boosted Efficiency by 40% with a Smart Wood Chipper

When Zhang Wei, operations manager at a mid-sized pallet factory in Jiangsu, China, faced rising labor costs and inconsistent production output, he knew something had to change. After researching several options, his team installed a high-efficiency drum-type wood chipper — and the results were immediate.

Before the upgrade, their manual sorting and traditional shredding process required three workers per shift to handle 8–10 tons of wood daily. With the new machine, one operator can now process up to 15 tons per day — a 40% increase in throughput — while reducing labor hours by over 25%. That’s not just a number — it’s real savings on payroll, fewer delays, and more consistent raw material quality for pallet production.

Why This Machine Stands Out

Unlike older models that require frequent downtime for maintenance or part replacements, this drum chipper features:

• Simple design – fewer moving parts mean less wear and tear.
• Quick-change screen system – customizable mesh sizes from 3mm to 20mm let you adjust chip size based on your pallet specs.
• Hydraulic buffer protection – prevents motor overload when handling irregular logs or knots.

In fact, during a 6-month trial period, the factory reported only two minor service interruptions — compared to an average of eight per month before. That’s nearly 75% fewer unplanned stoppages, which directly translates to higher uptime and better delivery reliability for customers.

What makes this case especially compelling is how it aligns with global trends. As European and North American buyers increasingly demand sustainable packaging solutions, manufacturers like Zhang’s are under pressure to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. This chipper helps by minimizing wood loss — up to 95% of usable fiber is retained in the chips, compared to 75–80% in older systems.

From Cost Center to Competitive Edge

This isn’t just about saving money — it’s about turning equipment into a strategic asset. By automating a previously labor-intensive task, Zhang’s team freed up skilled workers to focus on quality control, machine calibration, and customer communication — all critical for winning repeat business.

“We used to lose clients because we couldn’t meet tight deadlines,” says Zhang. “Now, we’re seen as reliable partners — even during peak seasons.”

Whether you're scaling up or optimizing existing lines, upgrading your wood processing step could be the simplest way to gain a competitive edge — without breaking the bank.