A Guide to Understanding Skids and Their Alternate Names
Introduction to Skid Uses and Applications
What is a Skid? - Primary Definitions
- Shipping pallet or platform (logistics industry)
- A flat wooden or plastic base for storing and moving goods
- Landing gear or runners (aviation)
- The structure helicopters use for landing and takeoff
- Slip or slide (automotive context)
- When a vehicle loses traction and moves laterally
- Base frame or mounting platform (industrial equipment)
- A foundation for mounting machinery and equipment
- Sled or runner (traditional usage)
- A platform for moving items across surfaces As mentioned above, skids are also known as pallets in most warehouse operations, though technically pallets have additional bottom boards while skids do not.
Historical Origins of Skids
Way back, “skid” came from the Old Norse “skíð,” which pretty much meant a stick of wood. Back in the day, skids – also called sleds or runners – were the go-to for hauling anything before wheels became the hot new thing. Imagine hauling your haul with logs — that was the drill.
Medieval Times
As people got busier trading and building, skids got an upgrade, laying the groundwork for what we’d call pallets or shipping platforms today. These were essential for hefting around heavy stuff like building materials for those massive castles and cathedrals.
Industrial Revolution: The Game Changer
When machinery entered the chat, skids had to toughen up. They were redesigned to handle more weight and fit into the new world of trains and ships. This era also gave birth to the skid-pallet split, with pallets being the ones with the extra boards underneath – which is why skids are also known as “basic pallets” or “simple platforms” in modern logistics.
Skids Hit the Road and Sky
Come the 20th century, “skid” started hanging out in the automotive and aviation circles. It became the go-to term for when cars lose their grip (also called slipping or sliding) or for the simpler, rugged landing gear on helicopters (sometimes called runners or landing skids).
Types of Skids and Their Applications
Wooden Platform Style (Also Known as Basic Pallets)
In the storage and transport world, a skid is your basic flat wooden platform – commonly called a basic pallet, shipping platform, or base frame. It’s like a pallet’s less fancy cousin, lacking those bottom boards. These bad boys make moving stuff with forklifts a breeze and are sometimes referred to as “two-way pallets” since forklifts can only access them from two sides.
The Car Dance (Also Called Slipping or Sliding)
In car talk, “skid” is when your ride decides to go off-script and slide around – automotive professionals also call this slipping, sliding, or losing traction. It’s a big deal for staying safe on the road, especially with all the tech in modern cars aimed at keeping skids in check. Related to what we discussed about skid alternatives, drift racing actually uses controlled skidding as a sport.
Flying Without Wheels (Landing Gear or Runners)
For helicopters, skids are the way to go for landing in all sorts of wild places – aviation experts also call these landing gear, runners, or landing skids. They’re tough, reliable, and less fussy than wheels.
Machinery's Best Friend (Mounting Platforms or Base Frames)
In the heavy-duty world of manufacturing, a skid can be a platform for keeping a set of machines together – industrial engineers often call these mounting platforms, base frames, or equipment skids. It’s a big deal in places like oil rigs and water treatment plants.
Other Worlds
Skids extend beyond transportation and industrial applications. You’ll find skids in shipbuilding, where they help move heavy materials horizontally across dry docks. In the music world, a skid can even describe an issue with a vinyl record. When the stylus (needle) of a record player loses contact with the record’s grooves, it might skid across the surface, disrupting playback. While undesirable in this context, skids remain part of the experience of using older physical media.
Other Industry-specific Definitions
- In maritime industries, skidding describes the horizontal movement of heavy objects, especially during shipbuilding.
- In music, particularly with vinyl records, a skid refers to the stylus sliding across the record, causing playback disruptions.
Alternative Names for Skids by Industry
Logistics and Shipping Terms:
Pallet:
Your go-to for a sturdy base to stack, lift, and store goods, complete with top and bottom boards. The main difference from skids is the additional bottom support structure.
Platform:
General term for any flat surface used to support goods or equipment.
Base Frame:
Industrial term for the foundational structure supporting equipment.
Slide:
The general term for moving smoothly along, which can double for “skid” in some chats.
Slip:
More about losing your footing, but in the car world, it’s kinda like a skid light – when tires lose some but not all traction.
Drift
Be carried slowly by a current of air or water or move without being in full control, as from the effect of currents, wind, or momentum. In automotive sports, especially in racing, “drift” and “skid” can both refer to controlled and uncontrolled lateral movements of vehicles.
Aviation Terms:
Landing Gear:
The complete system used for landing, including skids for helicopters.
Runners:
Alternative term for helicopter skids, emphasizing their function of “running” along the ground.
Industrial Terms:
Mounting Platform:
Engineered base for securing industrial equipment.
Tray:
A flat, shallow container or platform designed for carrying things. In some industries, especially in smaller-scale operations, skids might be referred to as trays, especially when they’re used to hold or transport smaller items.
Importance of Skid Uses and Applications
Logistics and Shipping
- Role of Skids: Skids serve as foundational platforms for storing and transporting goods. Their flat structure allows for easy stacking, ensuring optimal use of space in warehouses and shipping containers.
- Impact: By facilitating the efficient movement of goods, skids play a pivotal role in global trade, ensuring products reach consumers in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Automotive Industry
- Role of Skids: Beyond the physical structure, the term “skid” in the automotive context refers to a vehicle’s loss of traction. Understanding and preventing skidding is crucial for vehicle safety.
- Impact: Modern vehicles often incorporate anti-skid systems, enhancing road safety. The study of skidding has also influenced tire design, road construction, and driver training programs.
Aviation
- Role of Skids: In aviation, skids are used as a type of landing gear, especially for helicopters. They provide stability during landings and takeoffs.
- Impact: Skids allow helicopters to land in diverse terrains, from mountainous regions to dense forests, making them invaluable for rescue missions, military operations, and remote area access
Skid Uses and Applications: Modern-Day Applications
Advanced Material Skids
- Description: With advancements in material science, skids are no longer limited to just wood. Today, they are made from various materials like plastic, metal, and composite materials.
- Impact: These materials offer increased durability, and resistance to environmental factors, and can be tailored for specific industry needs, such as anti-static skids for electronics or corrosion-resistant skids for chemical industries.
Smart Skids with IoT Integration
- Description: Modern skids can be equipped with IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to monitor the condition of goods, track their location, and even measure environmental factors like temperature and humidity.
- Impact: This integration ensures real-time monitoring, enhancing the efficiency of supply chains and ensuring the quality and safety of products during transportation.
Modular Skid Systems
- Description: Skid-mounted systems in industries like oil and gas or water treatment have become modular. This means they can be easily assembled, disassembled, and reconfigured based on requirements.
- Impact: Modular systems reduce setup times, allow for flexibility in operations, and can be quickly deployed in emergency or temporary scenarios.
Summary: Skid Alternative Names by Industry
- Logistics & Warehousing: Basic pallet, shipping platform, two-way pallet
- Automotive: Slip, slide, drift, loss of traction
- Aviation: Landing gear, runners, landing skids
- Industrial Manufacturing: Mounting platform, base frame, equipment skid
- Construction: Foundation platform, base support
- Traditional/Historical: Sled, runner, drag platform As we’ve discussed throughout this guide, the term “skid” has evolved significantly from its Old Norse origins, and today’s various alternative names reflect the specialized needs of different industries while maintaining the core concept of a supportive platform or sliding motion.
Need a reliable partner?
Red River specializes in the design and manufacturing of pressure vessels. We also fabricate related items such as prefabricated spools and skid packages.
Reach out to us today and experience the Red River difference. Where American-made products and American Values come together, we care more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a skid and a pallet?
The main difference is structural: a pallet has both top deck boards and bottom boards (called stringers), while a skid only has the top deck boards. This is why skids are sometimes called “basic pallets” or “two-way pallets” since forklifts can only access them from two directions instead of four.
What are skids called in different industries?
- Logistics: Pallet, platform, base frame
- Automotive: Slip, slide, drift
- Aviation: Landing gear, runners
- Industrial: Mounting platform, equipment base
- Marine: Launching platform, cradle
Why do helicopters use skids instead of wheels?
Helicopter skids (also called landing gear or runners) are preferred for several reasons: they’re simpler mechanically, more reliable in rough terrain, less likely to get damaged, and better for landing on uneven surfaces like mountainsides or ship decks.
Are there specific industries or applications where skid-mounted pressure vessels are particularly advantageous?
Skid-mounted pressure vessels are highly beneficial in industries where mobility, space constraints, or time-sensitive installation are critical factors. These include oil and gas, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, and marine applications. They are also ideal for remote or temporary sites, such as mining operations or construction projects, where permanent installations are not feasible.
What considerations should be made when selecting a skid-mounted pressure vessel?
When selecting a skid-mounted pressure vessel, consider:
- Capacity and Size: Ensure the vessel meets your operational volume and space requirements.
- Material Compatibility: The vessel material should be compatible with the substances it will hold, considering factors like corrosion resistance.
- Pressure Ratings: The vessel must withstand the operational pressures of your system.
- Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with relevant industry standards and safety regulations is crucial.
Solutions
In the realm of industrial solutions, Red River emerges as a pioneer, offering a diverse range of custom-engineered products and facilities. Among our specialties is the design and production of Custom/OEM Pressure Vessels, meticulously crafted to meet individual client requirements, ensuring performance under various pressure conditions. Our expertise extends to the domain of prefabrication, where Red River leads with distinction.
The company excels in creating prefabricated facilities, modules, and packages, reinforcing its stance as a forerunner in innovation and quality. This proficiency is further mirrored in their Modular Skids offering, where they provide an array of Modular Fabricated Skid Packages and Packaged equipment. Each piece is tailored to client specifications, underlining their commitment to delivering precision and excellence in every project they undertake.
