PBN Manufacturing Awards 2024
MEET THE MAKERS: Atlas Barrel and Pallet Inc.
THE SOUNDS OF BUZZING saw blades and booming hammers echo throughout Atlas Barrel and Pallet Inc.’s production area as dozens of employees do their part to carry out a process of fabricating and recycling three generations in the making.
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One worker picks up a wooden pallet, a flat square structure ubiquitous in every warehouse that allows forklifts to carry as much as 2 tons of goods at a time. He checks for damage and slams it down to expose the broken pieces. The undamaged portions are fused together to create recycled pallets.
Other employees steer forklifts through the company’s sprawling 16-acre site in the Harrisville section of Burrillville, moving pallets here and there through the towering stacks of hundreds of pallets that will be eventually trucked to customers throughout the region and beyond, as many as 520 at a time.
Some may look out at the stacks at Atlas and see wooden boards. But Heather Ross, Atlas president, sees much, much more in the products the company has been manufacturing and recycling for nearly 70 years.
In fact, she says she has an eye for pallets like someone shopping for just the right pair of shoes for certain occasions, be it high heels, sneakers or flipflops.
“When I see pallets, that’s how I see it,” Ross said.
With about 50 employees, Atlas provides customized services, including heat-treated pallets for industries such as food production and pharmaceuticals. These pallets undergo sterilization in kilns, meeting export compliance and minimizing risks of mold or bacteria.
“One of our core values is bringing sustainability to our clients and helping them get to net zero,” Max Ross said, noting they are always looking for ways to extend their products’ lifetime. “It’s a small change a company can make that really has an impact.”
Atlas continues to thrive through long-standing customer relationships. Despite the challenges of running a family business, Heather Ross remains committed to sustainability and treating employees like family, ensuring the company’s legacy remains strong.
“If those employees work hard for me, then I’m going to work hard for them,” Ross said.
