A palletizer is a device used to stack and organize factory products onto a pallet. The palletizer can be hand operated, simple machinery or a highly complex robotic device the size of a small house. A palletizer might pack any number and size of boxes for freight shipment.

A pallet is a wooden, plastic, or metal frame that holds boxes or barrels for transportation. Pallets are usually designed so that they can be lifted by a type of forklift or crane, with open slats along the bottom. Factory products are packed tightly onto these pallets and covered in plastic to form a solid block, which can then be loaded into a truck, rail car, ship, or plane for transit.

A palletizer allows these pallets to be stacked quickly and efficiently. The most simple version of a palletizer would be something like a hand truck, which helps a worker carry heavy and unwieldy boxes or barrels, and place them securely onto the pallet. This type of manual palletizer is a simple and effective way for workers to safely palletize products.