Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
Description
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wood pallets, wooden boxes, and other containers play a critical role in logistics and supply chain efficiency. These facilities transform raw timber into durable, standardized packaging solutions designed to protect goods during transportation and storage. The core business activities involve sourcing lumber, processing it into specific dimensions, and applying heat treatments or chemical preservatives to meet safety standards for international shipping. Workers operate heavy machinery such as planers, edge glues, and presses to cut, join, and fasten wood components before packing and sealing finished units. Typical operators range from small family-owned shops focused on single product lines to large industrial plants serving global retail networks. While some enterprises specialize exclusively in wooden pallets for bulk freight, others produce mixed inventories including crate boxes and custom parts for specific machinery applications. The industry operates within the broader wood product manufacturing sector, utilizing both domestic and imported timber resources. Production scales vary significantly, with minor producers supplying local merchants and major complexes producing millions of units annually for export markets. This sector ensures the availability of affordable, biodegradable packaging options that support sustainable business practices while meeting rigorous industry specifications for strength and longevity.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 321 | Wood Product Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Establishments in the Wood Product Manufacturing subsector manufacture wood products, such as lumber, plywood, veneers, wood containers, wood flooring, wood trusses, manufactured homes (i.e., mobile homes), and prefabricated wood buildings. The production processes of the Wood Product Manufacturing subsector include sawing, planing, shaping, laminating, and assembling wood products starting from logs that are cut into bolts, or lumber that then may be further cut, or shaped by lathes or other shaping tools. The lumber or other transformed wood shapes may also be subsequently planed or smoothed, and assembled into finished products, such as wood containers. The Wood Product Manufacturing subsector includes establishments that make wood products from logs and bolts that are sawed and shaped, and establishments that purchase sawed lumber and make wood products. With the exception of sawmills and wood preservation establishments, the establishments are grouped into industries mainly based on the specific products manufactured. |
| 3219 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wood products (except establishments operating sawmills and wood preservation facilities; and establishments manufacturing veneer, plywood, or engineered wood products). |
| 32192 | Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 321920. |
| 321920 | Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wood pallets, wooden boxes, and other containers play a critical role in logistics and supply chain efficiency. These facilities transform raw timber into durable, standardized packaging solutions designed to protect goods during transportation and storage. The core business activities involve sourcing lumber, processing it into specific dimensions, and applying heat treatments or chemical preservatives to meet safety standards for international shipping. Workers operate heavy machinery such as planers, edge glues, and presses to cut, join, and fasten wood components before packing and sealing finished units. Typical operators range from small family-owned shops focused on single product lines to large industrial plants serving global retail networks. While some enterprises specialize exclusively in wooden pallets for bulk freight, others produce mixed inventories including crate boxes and custom parts for specific machinery applications. The industry operates within the broader wood product manufacturing sector, utilizing both domestic and imported timber resources. Production scales vary significantly, with minor producers supplying local merchants and major complexes producing millions of units annually for export markets. This sector ensures the availability of affordable, biodegradable packaging options that support sustainable business practices while meeting rigorous industry specifications for strength and longevity. |
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Classification References
- 01Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wood burial caskets are classified in U.S. Industry 339995, Burial Casket Manufacturing.
Index Items
Ammunition boxes, wood, manufacturing
Barrel heading and staves manufacturing
Barrels, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Baskets, wood (e.g., round stave, veneer), manufacturing
Berry crates, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Berry cups, veneer and splint, manufacturing
Box cleats, wood, manufacturing
Box shook manufacturing
Boxes, cigar, wood or part wood, manufacturing
Boxes, jewelry, wood or part wood, manufacturing
Boxes, wood, manufacturing
Boxes, wood, plain or fabric covered, nailed or lock corner, manufacturing
Buckets, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Cases, shipping, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Cases, wood packing, nailed or lock corner, manufacturing
Cases, wood shipping, nailed or lock corner, manufacturing
Casks, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Chests for tools, wood, manufacturing
Chicken coops (i.e., crates), wood, wirebound for shipping poultry, manufacturing
Cigar boxes, wood and part wood, manufacturing
Containers, wood, manufacturing
Cooperage manufacturing
Cooperage stock (e.g., heading, hoops, staves) manufacturing
Cooperage stock mills
Coopered tubs manufacturing
Crates (e.g., berry, butter, fruit, vegetable) made of wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Drums, plywood, manufacturing
Drums, shipping, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Egg cases, wood, manufacturing
Firkins and kits, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Flats, wood, greenhouse, manufacturing
Fruit baskets, veneer and splint, manufacturing
Fruit crates, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Heading, barrel (i.e., cooperage stock), wood, manufacturing
Hogsheads, coopered wood, manufacturing
Hoops, sawed or split wood for tight or slack cooperage, manufacturing
Hot tubs, coopered, manufacturing
Kegs, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Packing cases, wood, nailed or lock corner, manufacturing
Packing crates, wood, manufacturing
Pails, coopered wood, manufacturing
Pails, plywood, manufacturing
Pails, wood, manufacturing
Pallet containers, wood or wood and metal combination, manufacturing
Pallet parts, wood, manufacturing
Pallets, wood or wood and metal combination, manufacturing
Round stave baskets (e.g., fruit, vegetable) manufacturing
Shipping cases and drums, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Shipping cases, wood, nailed or lock corner, manufacturing
Shipping crates, wood, manufacturing
Shook, box, manufacturing
Skids and pallets, wood or wood and metal combination, manufacturing
Splint baskets for fruits and vegetables, manufacturing
Staves, barrel, sawed or split, manufacturing
Tanks, wood, coopered, manufacturing
Tobacco hogshead stock, manufacturing
Tobacco hogsheads, manufacturing
Tool chests, wood, manufacturing
Trays, carrier, wood, manufacturing
Vegetable baskets, veneer and splint, manufacturing
Vegetable crates, wood, wirebound, manufacturing
Veneer baskets, for fruits and vegetables, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Automates the high-volume palletization and labeling of wood containers by guiding workers through optimized stacking patterns that maximize load density and minimize manual handling errors.
Provides real-time visibility into inventory levels across warehouses and distribution centers to quickly alert managers when stock of specific container types runs low during peak shipping seasons.
Calculates the most fuel-efficient and time-saving routing for freight carriers transporting heavy wooden pallets, while dynamically adjusting delivery windows based on traffic and road conditions.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 321920.
American Wood Council
National trade association representing the lumber and wood products industry including pallet and container makers.
United States Census Bureau NAICS Detail
Official government statistics page defining manufacturing codes for wood container and pallet production.
Pallet & Truckload Logistics Association
Industry trade group focused on pallet logistics and manufacturing standards and certification.
