Pallet manufacturer Woodcats International Limited said it remains focused on maintaining peak production levels to support the movement of goods across all major sectors following Hurricane Melissa.

Peter Douglas, general manager of Woodcats, said pallets play a vital but often overlooked role in the nation’s logistics and export operations.

“People don’t usually think twice about a pallet. But take it away for a day and the country’s supply chain would grind to a halt. Nothing moves without it,” he stated.

With some supply routes disrupted and distribution systems coming under strain since the passage of the category five hurricane two weeks ago, Douglas said his company’s role has become even clearer.

“The availability of reliable pallets and packaging materials has been critical to getting essential goods where they’re needed. Woodcats has remained focused on supporting our clients so they, in turn, can reach the people and communities counting on them,” he added.

The more than two decade old company in maintaining high and steady production levels across new, reconditioned, and repaired pallets, said it stands ready to sufficiently supply key industrial clients such as Seprod, Red Stripe, Wisynco, Lasco, and Caribbean Cement with the pallets needed to keep their operations running smoothly.

In addition to business services, the use of pallets Douglas said has also been instrumental in moving relief supplies across the island. “After Hurricane Beryl, we provided care packages and assisted two families with roof repairs, and this week we’ll once again be in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland delivering 200 care packages and cases of Refresh water to those affected. Our pallets are central to making these deliveries possible, the same way they help keep other businesses and industries across Jamaica moving every day.”

More known for its durable wooden pallets, Woodcats has over the years also grown to become a diversified manufacturing entity that now offers a wide range of complementary products and services. Among other items it now produces are crates, planter boxes, outdoor furniture, custom wood products, and garden mulch — all developed under a zero-waste sustainability model that transforms by-products into new value streams.

“Through careful processing and recycling, every piece of residual wood is repurposed into products such as mulch, sawdust, or shavings, ensuring that nothing goes to waste,” Douglas explained.

In addition to its in-house manufacturing, Woodcats also distributes plastic pallets, slip sheets, and stretch wrap, further expanding its footprint in Jamaica’s logistics and packaging sector.

This integrated product mix allows the company to serve the full spectrum of material-handling and export packaging needs, positioning it as a comprehensive solutions provider for Jamaica’s manufacturing, food processing, and export industries.

“We’ve never boxed ourselves into just pallets… that are our core business, but the business has always had room to evolve. We saw opportunities to convert what used to be waste into value. It’s all part of making sure every piece of wood that comes through our gates serves a purpose. The result is a stronger, more sustainable business that will be an asset to several sectors for generations to come,” Douglas said.

Operating from its pallet warehouse along Marcus Garvey Drive and a sawmill at Slipe Pen Road in Kingston, Woodcats, a subsidiary of Derrimon Trading Group, is further preparing for its next chapter of growth as demand for more sophisticated products increases.

Douglas revealed that plans are already underway to invest in new machinery and automation to boost output and precision. The company, he said, is also exploring solar energy integration to make operations cleaner and more sustainable, while expanding its product range to serve additional industries.

“If the past few weeks have shown us anything, it’s that Jamaica’s manufacturing backbone must stay strong and ready. As a company, we’re therefore focused on expanding into new industries, advancing our technology as se also enhance the value we deliver to Jamaica’s manufacturing and export sectors,” he noted.

DOUGLAS… people don’t usually think twice about a pallet. But take it away for a day and the country’s supply chain would grind to a halt. Nothing moves without it