Pallet Inverter South Africa | PARATUS Pallet Changer
Change CHEP, Euro, and industrial pallets in under 30 seconds; without manual restacking, without product damage, without compliance risk.
Still Manually Restacking Pallets at Your Hygiene Control Points?
South Africa runs on CHEP pallets. They make up around 90% of all pallets in use; but CHEP pallets cannot enter food production areas, cleanrooms, pharmaceutical facilities, or automated warehouses that require 100% pallet integrity.
That means pallet changes are a daily reality for a large proportion of South African operations. And most facilities are still doing it the hard way: manually, slowly, and with unnecessary risk.
Manual restacking is labour-intensive, introduces handling strain injuries, risks product damage, and creates compliance exposure in controlled environments.
If your operation handles CHEP pallets, Euro pallets, or any mixed pallet format; and needs to transfer loads to plastic, aluminium, or hygienic alternatives; there is a faster and safer way.
- High labour costs and slow throughput at pallet change points
- Manual handling injuries and OHS exposure
- Product damage during repacking especially with paper bags and fragile goods
- Compliance risk in food, pharma, automated warehouses, and cleanroom environments
The PARATUS Pallet Changer: A Push, Not a Pack
The PARATUS Pallet Changer, supplied by SCHE, replaces manual restacking with a simple one-operator system. Using a standard forklift, your team transfers an entire palletised load, intact, from one pallet to another in a single smooth motion.
No unpacking. No restacking. No load rotation. No disruption to the goods.
This is a pallet inverter and pallet exchanger system designed specifically for South African operations that need to change pallet types quickly, safely, and repeatedly throughout the working day.
How the PARATUS Pallet Inverter Works
The palletised load remains intact on the original pallet
2. The replacement pallet is positioned alongside, approximately 1 cm lower than the original
3. The forklift operator pushes the load smoothly across onto the new pallet
4. The original pallet is removed and returned to circulation
Typical exchange time: under 30 seconds
Because the load is never tipped or rotated, fragile and unstable goods; including paper bags, cartons, and bottled products, are handled safely throughout the process. One operator. One forklift. Done.
Note: For paper bag products such as flour, sugar, or cement, a carton sheet between the bags and the pallet surface is recommended to prevent abrasion during the sliding transfer.
Designed to Work with CHEP Pallets
South Africa's Most Common Pallet Format
The CHEP pallet is the dominant pallet format in South Africa, accounting for approximately 90% of all pallets in circulation. CHEP pallets are double-sided with timber slats running left to right along the floor, which means they cannot enter hygiene-controlled or cleanroom environments.
For operations that receive goods on CHEP pallets and need to transfer them to plastic, aluminium, or steel alternatives, the PARATUS system provides a reliable, repeatable solution.
The PARATUS COMBI range is specifically configured to handle both Euro pallets and industrial pallet sizes, covering the standard pallet widths used across South African operations: 800mm, 1000mm, and 1200mm. This includes the slightly larger pallet formats common in the brewery, beer, and bottling sectors.
For operations handling mixed pallet formats or where pallet boards may run crosswise or lengthwise the PARATUS Mobile Cargo COMBI PLUS is the recommended configuration. It accommodates pallets in both orientations and is the most universal option in the range.
Which South African Industries Use a Pallet Changer?
Any operation that needs to move goods between pallet types; for hygiene, compliance, quality, or logistics reasons; is a candidate for the PARATUS system.
Food and Beverage Production
Remove CHEP and wooden pallets at hygiene control points before goods enter production or storage areas.
Pharmaceutical and Cleanroom Environments
Transfer to hygienic plastic or aluminium pallets to meet cleanroom handling standards.
Breweries and Bottling Plants
Handle the larger pallet formats common in the brewing sector across all standard orientations.
Automated Warehouses
Replace rejected or damaged pallets that do not meet the 100% integrity requirements of automated handling systems.
Logistics and Distribution Companies
Perform pallet changes on behalf of clients, a growing service requirement across the SA logistics sector.
Import and Export Operations
Change pallet type or size to meet destination country or customer pallet specifications.
CHEP Pallet Users
Any company using CHEP rental pallets that needs to transfer goods to owned or hygienic pallet formats before entering controlled areas.
Cold Storage Operations
Transfer goods to appropriate pallet formats for cold chain environments.
SCHE supplies the PARATUS range to suit different operational requirements, throughput volumes, and facility layouts. All models are designed for use with a standard forklift, no specialist equipment required.
PARATUS Classic
Fixed installation for high-volume, dedicated transfer points. Ideal for operations with a single, consistent pallet change location and high daily throughput.
PARATUS Mobile
Rail-mounted system for flexible deployment across multiple areas. No fixed installation required, reposition it where your operation needs it. Does not require any installation on site.
PARATUS Multi
Designed for higher throughput and continuous operation. Suited to facilities with multiple simultaneous pallet transfer requirements.
PARATUS +Lift
Combines pallet changing with lifting and stacking functionality. The most versatile option in the range for complex handling environments.
PARATUS Mobile Cargo COMBI PLUS
(recommended for South African operations)
The most universal model in the range. Handles Euro pallets and industrial pallets in both board orientations; crosswise and lengthwise. Recommended as the first unit for operations handling mixed pallet formats or multiple pallet sizes. This is the model SCHE recommends for demo purposes.
Optional accessory: Temporary height adjustment rails are available for operations using pallets of different heights. Robust polyamide rails with industrial magnet pins allow quick adjustment without permanent modification to the unit.
Not sure which model suits your operation? SCHE will assess your facility layout, pallet types, throughput requirements, and compliance needs and recommend the correct configuration.
Pallet Changer vs Manual Restacking vs Traditional Pallet Inverters
vs Manual Restacking:
- Eliminates labour-intensive handling
- Significantly reduces OHS injury exposure
- Converts a multi-person task into a one-operator process
- Speeds up throughput and reduces bottlenecks
- Consistent, repeatable results regardless of operator
vs Traditional Pallet Tippers and Inverters:
- No load rotation; significantly reduced risk of product damage
- Suitable for fragile, unstable, or paper-bagged goods
- Faster and simpler operation with fewer moving parts
- Lower maintenance requirements
- Handles mixed pallet formats in both orientations (COMBI range)
Technical Overview
| Load capacity: | Up to 1,000 kg (custom configurations available) Operation: Forklift-operated; compatible with standard forklifts |
| Pallet types: | CHEP, Euro, wooden, plastic, aluminium, steel |
| Pallet widths: | 800mm, 1000mm, 1200mm |
| Board orientation: | Both crosswise and lengthwise (COMBI PLUS) |
| Installation: | Fixed or rail-mounted mobile; mobile unit requires no on-site installation |
| Construction: | Robust industrial-grade build for continuous daily use |
| Exchange time: | Under 30 seconds per transfer |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pallet inverter?
- A pallet inverter; also called a pallet changer or pallet exchanger; is a system that transfers a palletised load from one pallet type to another without manual restacking or load rotation. The PARATUS system uses a standard forklift to push the load across in a single motion, completing the transfer in under 30 seconds.
Can it handle CHEP pallets?
- Yes. The PARATUS COMBI range is specifically designed to handle CHEP pallets alongside Euro and industrial pallet formats. CHEP pallets are double-sided with timber slats and are the most common pallet type in South Africa making up approximately 90% of pallets in circulation. The PARATUS system transfers loads off CHEP pallets and onto plastic, aluminium, or other hygienic alternatives quickly and reliably.
What pallet sizes does it accommodate?
- The PARATUS system handles standard South African pallet widths of 800mm, 1000mm, and 1200mm; including the larger formats used in the brewing and bottling sectors. The COMBI PLUS model accommodates pallets with boards running in both directions (crosswise and lengthwise).
Is it suitable for paper bags; flour, sugar, cement?
- Yes, with one recommendation. For pallets of paper bags, a carton sheet between the bags and the pallet surface is advised to prevent abrasion during the sliding transfer. If incoming pallets are in poor condition; with protruding nails or damaged boards; this protection layer is particularly important.
Do I need a forklift to operate it?
- Yes. The PARATUS Pallet Changer is designed to work with a standard forklift already on site. No specialist equipment is required.
Is it suitable for fragile or unstable goods?
- Yes. Because the load is never tipped or rotated, the risk of product damage is significantly lower than with traditional pallet inverter or tipping systems. This makes it well suited to fragile, unstable, or irregularly stacked goods.
Does the mobile unit require installation?
- No. The PARATUS Mobile unit is rail-mounted and requires no fixed on-site installation. It can be repositioned across different areas of your facility as needed.
Which model is recommended for a South African operation handling mixed pallet formats?
- The PARATUS Mobile Cargo COMBI PLUS. It is the most universal model in the range; handling Euro and industrial pallets in both board orientations, making it suitable for the mixed pallet environment common across South African food, beverage, logistics, and industrial operations.
What industries use pallet changers in South Africa?
- The most common applications are food and beverage production, pharmaceutical and cleanroom environments, breweries and bottling plants, automated warehouses, logistics and distribution companies, import and export operations, cold storage facilities, and any business using CHEP rental pallets that needs to transfer goods to owned or hygienic pallet formats.
Can we see a demonstration before purchasing?
- Yes. SCHE strongly recommends an on-site demo to assess your specific pallet types, layout, and throughput requirements before committing to a configuration. Contact SCHE to arrange a demonstration at your facility.
Every operation is different. The right pallet changer configuration depends on your facility layout, pallet types, throughput volumes, and compliance requirements; and the best way to establish this is with a live demonstration at your site.
SCHE offers consultative on-site demos and site assessments to identify inefficiencies in your current pallet transfer process, recommend the correct PARATUS configuration, and demonstrate the system on your actual pallets and products.
PARATUS® Pallet Change how it works videos
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