When Hinton Lumber Products first partnered with Euroblock seven years ago, the goal was to improve consistency and production efficiency in their block pallet operation. “Our business relationship started with Euroblock seven years ago. Euroblock is considered the pioneer of the composite block manufacturing process with over 30 years of experience,” stated Hinton Howell, company COO. “We used solid wood blocks before and still use some solid wood blocks today. Composite blocks are an engineered product, therefore more accurate in sizing, which performs better in highly automated equipment.”
There’s a risk when you rely on solid-saw, commodity-grade blocks. Howell noted, “If you’re using blocks that weren’t designed with pallet production in mind, you’re going to see it in your line performance – downtime, rework, rejects. We work with Euroblock and a few other select suppliers who understand that. They build with our needs in mind, and it makes all the difference.”
That engineered consistency makes a big difference in production for high-throughput block pallet manufacturers such as Hinton Lumber. “The quality of Euroblock is always constant, which is a challenge with timber blocks,” he added. “We run Cape equipment, and we see a considerable increase in production with Euroblock’s product.”
Euroblock is a joint venture of Pfeifer Holz GmbH (Pfeifer Holz Group) and Presswood International B.V, with manufacturing locations in Germany and the Netherlands. It is the largest supplier of composite blocks for pallet manufacturing in Europe and is positioning itself to serve the growing interest in block pallet production in North America.
According to Euroblock, when producing with solid wood blocks, you struggle with knots and cracks, and you have to react fast to keep up with production. But composite blocks can be 100% fully automated.
Why Choose Euroblock?
Hinton Lumber has tested a wide variety of blocks and really likes the quality focus offered by Euroblock. Some of the other suppliers in the sector have focused on the sustainability of the product versus consistency. Howell explained, “A lot of composite block suppliers are coming from the municipal waste or fiber recovery world. They’re not fully invested in the pallet industry, and it shows. The products they produce might check a sustainability box, but they often miss the mark in terms of quality, consistency and adaptability.”
Howell added, “Euroblock is different. They understand pallets. They’ve invested in the success of our industry—not just in making a product, but in helping us improve automation, drive innovation, and keep pushing for better.”
A Proven Solution in Europe
“In Europe, about 80% of CHEP pallets are produced with composite blocks,” said Markus Kreutmayr, sales director at Euroblock. “Not only ours; there are other block manufacturers, but composite is the standard.”
That level of adoption didn’t happen overnight. “The same situation we had many years ago in Europe,” Kreutmayr recalled. “Almost nobody was producing a block pallet with composite blocks. It took a lot of conversation with pallet manufacturers to convince them.”
He believes the same potential exists in North America, where block pallets still represent a smaller portion of the market. “It’s quite often just a niche product with a few thousand per year. But we see that changing,” Kreutmayr said. “The market trend in North America will bring more block pallets in the future, most likely required by pallet users.”
Euroblock’s composite block offers multiple benefits: increased durability, consistent sizing, and higher production efficiency. But the company knows that the key to growth isn’t just about the product – it’s about listening.
With four production sites, Euroblock has built a logistics operation that serves 49 countries, including across North America.
Consulting and Customer Focus
“One thing we always try to do is understand our customer’s pain points,” said Benjamin Klink, who also supports Euroblock’s international customer base and is area sales manager for North America. “It might be that they can’t find the right solid wood blocks, or they need to improve output on automated lines. In both cases, we can help.”
Hinton Lumber has found the customer focus and attention to specific needs a big plus for working with Euroblock. More than just a supplier, Euroblock has been a strategic partner. Howell commented, “Euroblock has tuned in to what our equipment needs, what our customers expect, and where the market is going. That level of engagement brings more value to our company than any generic vendor ever could.”
Euroblock team members regularly visit customer sites to assess operations and provide recommendations for solutions. While composite blocks enjoy a lengthy list of benefits, the real value proposition can be unique to the customer. “It’s not easy to give a generic elevator pitch,” Klink said. “The best approach is to understand what each customer needs, then show how our blocks can solve problems and improve performance.”
That includes measuring actual results. “Some of our customers tell us they can improve their production output by 20-25% just by using our blocks instead of solid wood,” Klink added.
Howell agreed with what Klink said. He has seen first-hand how the company helps Hinton Lumber keep up with evolving customer specifications driven by higher levels of automation. Howell pointed out, “When we’ve needed to adapt our specs or ramp up production, Euroblock hasn’t just kept up—they’ve stepped up. That’s rare in a supply chain partner, especially when you’re dealing with imported components.”
When it comes to better engineering and blocks solutions, the key drivers are uniformity and reduced downtime. “When producing with solid wood blocks, you struggle with knots and cracks, and you have to react fast to keep up with production,” Klink explained. “Our product is plug and play. It’s 100% automated. One customer making Euro-style pallets went from nine pallets per minute with solid wood to up to 13 pallets per minute with our blocks.”
Consistent Quality and Innovation
Consistency isn’t just marketing; it’s engineered into Euroblock’s process. “In each production line, we have scale and height control systems,” Kreutmayr said. “Each single block is controlled automatically. If anything is outside our specification, it’s kicked out. That’s how we ensure constant good quality.”
Composite blocks also make sense for environmental and supply reasons. Euroblock draws raw materials from its parent companies’ wood fiber resources, giving it direct control over input quality. In addition to virgin fiber, the company now also utilizes recycled fiber from the recently completed wood recycling plant installed at the company’s Uelzen location, operated by Pfeifer, one of Euroblock’s parent companies.
“The new facility in Uelzen marks a significant milestone for us,” said Kreutmayr. “It allows us to further optimize our closed-loop raw material cycle. This means we can now specifically recycle waste wood and integrate it into our production process. For our customers, this translates into an even more sustainable and resource-efficient production of our pressboard blocks.”
The company also sees compliance with the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as a catalyst for further improvements. “It’s pushing us toward digital solutions for traceability and chain of custody,” he added.
The digitization trend extends to Euroblock’s operations. “We are working on digitalization of production lines to react fast in unplanned situations, to avoid damage and improve quality,” said Klink. “We’re also building a B2B online shop for easier purchasing.”
Flexible Supply and Global Reach
With four production sites, Euroblock has built a logistics operation that serves 49 countries, including across North America. “We are delivering to the polar circle and to the deserts of the Middle East,” Klink noted. “We’re delivering composite blocks to the U.S., often using 40-foot containers, which are most efficient for logistics costs.”
That’s an important consideration for U.S. pallet manufacturers evaluating the switch. “It’s a commodity product, so the transportation cost matters,” Kreutmayr stressed. “That’s why we have our own logistics department, to optimize delivery options.”
One key to success is reliability and simplicity. “We offer Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) service, which means the customer doesn’t need to worry about customs or import processes,” Klink added. “They just get a call from the logistics company saying, ‘Can we deliver your blocks tomorrow?’ It’s a full-service approach.”
Customers typically order on a set schedule. “Some order full containers monthly or biweekly,” he continued. “That helps with planning and ensures they always have supply on hand.”
Consistency isn’t just marketing; it’s engineered into Euroblock’s process. Each production line has scale and height control systems. If anything is outside of the Euroblock specification, it’s kicked out. The company also conducts random sample tests to monitor quality.
A Clear Growth Path
As the North American pallet market evolves, demand for automation-ready solutions are anticipated to grow. And for many pallet manufacturers, composite blocks are becoming part of that equation.
“Many companies in the U.S. already import other components, like nails,” Klink said. “Importing blocks is not such a big leap, especially if it improves production.”
What about customers who have previously tried composite blocks but were not sufficiently impressed? “Many of those doubts come from a single bad experience or incorrect usage,” he said. “It’s our job to show how the product really performs. And once people try it, they often come back.”
Euroblock also supports a degree of customization. While block length and width are standardized due to equipment design, height is flexible. “We can produce from 53 mm up to 120 mm,” Kreutmayr explained. “If the volume is there, we can do custom heights.”
That adaptability, combined with Euroblock’s scale and customer-focused mindset, positions the company well as block pallet demand grows.
From a U.S. perspective, Howell waxes positively on the product and his company’s relationship with Euroblock. “The quality and consistency of Euroblock’s product has helped us significantly,” he said. “We’ve seen better equipment performance and improved production. It’s been a very productive relationship.”
As more U.S. pallet manufacturers look to boost throughput and reduce operational headaches as the market turns to block pallets, Euroblock’s message to block pallet manufacturers is clear: composite blocks can boost productivity and help you tell an even better sustainability story.