What is TI/HI?

Learn about:

• The basics of TI/HI

• How to maximize TI/HI palletizing

• Common palletizing mistakes

TI/HI refers to the stacking pattern of items on a particular pallet platform. The idea is that the TI/HI design will be stable and safe for moving. By stacking boxes efficiently and securely, TI/HI maximizes space and stability on pallets.

What is TI/HI?

The term TI/HI is common in the logistics industry and is the abbreviated name of a few other widely used words, which include:

• Ti-High

• Tie-High

• Ti by Hi

TI refers to the number of boxes that one can store on a particular layer on a pallet. HI refers to the number of layers that boxes can safely be stacked on a single pallet.

Why TI/HI Calculation is Important

A proper TI/HI calculation prevents damage to goods during transportation and storage. By making sure that pallets are loaded to the correct TI/HI ratio, suppliers can reduce the risk of over-hanging product, which can cause damage to the goods and the pallet. A proper TI/HI calculation can also prevent accidents and injuries during loading and unloading, reducing liability risk and improving safety.

How to Maximize TI/HI

There are a few different techniques suppliers can implement to maximize TI/HI. Here are the top tips for building a stable pallet:

Stack Heavy Goods First

As a rule of thumb regarding pallets, suppliers must always remember to place heavier items at the bottom of the stack. Placing objects at the bottom creates a lower center of gravity for the entire pallet and makes it a more sturdy base. It's also beneficial to the product as it decreases the chance of damage to lighter boxes.

Stack Up to the Edge, But Not Over It

Suppliers will want to do their best to stack everything onto the pallet as close to the edge as possible while avoiding boxes hanging over the edge. When the boxes are near the edge of the pallet, they will strap and secure better, making the entire pallet more stable.

Creating an overhang on your pallet can potentially cause damage to your goods or compromise the overall stability of your pallet when full. It can also result in freight re-bills or re-classes if you are not careful.

Pretend to Lay Bricks

When laying bricks, an overlapping pattern works best. This design pattern works well when stacking boxes that are uniform in size. When moving onto the next layer, suppliers should be sure to rotate the boxes. Suppliers should avoid stacking all of the boxes in the same pattern, as this can make it easier for all of the packages to tip over.

Strap Everything Up

Before shrink wrapping the pallet, suppliers will still want to make sure to strap everything down to the pallet as securely as possible. It is best to use heavy-duty bands explicitly made for packing made out of steel, polypropylene, rayon, or polyester. Suppliers should use at minimum two straps on each side of the pallet. Adding cardboard corner boards or slip sheets provides even more added stability during transit.

It's Always Better to Plan Ahead

The best way to improve packing is by considering all stacking options before loading. Suppliers need to look at all of the different packing options they provide and create templates to better plan out the pallet.

Related Reading: Five Tips for Small Business Shipping

What Are Common Pallet Shipping Mistakes?

There are some common mistakes that warehouses can avoid in order to maximize pallet stability.

Picking the Wrong Pallet Size

There is a universal size for pallets, the standard 48" x 40", but that doesn't mean it is the only size available. Pallets can be custom-made to better suit one's packaging needs. Suppliers should keep this in mind if they have specific side products.

Additionally, suppliers don't have to use the standard pallet size for their orders. It might end up costing less to custom order pallets rather than trying to force the packages onto the universal size.

Packing Individual Boxes Improperly

Before thinking about stacking the boxes, suppliers have to look at how the manufacturer or source currently packages the parcels. No matter how secure the pallet is, the boxes' contents still risk shifting around inside their original packaging.

Any excess space left in boxes without proper impact protection can cause damaged goods in the shipping process. Surprisingly, improper packing is a common mistake among shippers.

Suppliers may quickly fix this issue by starting with the right-sized box and ensuring there are shipping protections in place so the item is secure in the box. Once they have placed and secured the package to the pallet, there is much less risk of damage through movement.

Pyramid Stacking

Some shippers believe that smaller boxes should go towards the top of the pallet, making for a pyramid shape that is narrower towards the top. Contrary to popular belief, the pyramid shape of the pallet can compromise the entire stack's integrity.  Suppliers should try to integrate smaller packages into the stack whenever possible to maintain a cubic shape.

Not Using Enough Shrinkwrap

Suppliers would do well to remember that the shrinkwrap will hold all of the boxes together in the stack, causing them to behave as one unit. 

If a supplier is currently wrapping more than a dozen pallets per day, it might be time to consider purchasing a pallet wrapper. While it can be costly, a pallet wrapper will save time and create consistency in wrapping that humans just can't do.

Labeling Incorrectly

Mislabeling pallets, or neglecting to label them at all, is a prevalent mistake.

Suppliers should always ensure that they mark and clearly identify all of the safety and shipment information on the pallet. Every side of the pallet should have a label, so the information is readily available to anyone from any angle. Another thing suppliers should keep in mind is marking whether the pallet is safely stackable, contains fragile goods or hazardous materials, etc. 

In Summary

Understanding TI/HI is an essential part of the logistics industry. It can be beneficial for both safety and financial purposes when it comes to packaging pallets correctly.

While each company will have individual palletizing needs, it's always a good idea to look at the current production to see how to improve upon it. There is still room for growth, and prioritizing safety is always a worthwhile goal. Fortunately, TI/HI ensures safe stacking and proper handling of goods.

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