From a small garage to a certified, women-owned leader — every milestone reflects our growth, values, and vision for a sustainable future.
John V. Handrigan starts reconditioning milk and soda crates in Pawtucket, RI, later pivoting to barrels. Early success leads to growth opportunities.
John's son Earl joins and helps scale to 15 employees. Earl later enlists in the U.S. Army during WWII.
Earl returns from WWII after seeing how the army utilized pallets for effective transportation and logistics.
Earl pioneers pallet repair and quality control. Pallets become a sustainable and reusable shipping solution.
Earl improves recycling processes, reclaiming wood and maximizing salvage operations.
Company shifts to only wooden pallet recycling and moves to a larger facility in Central Falls, RI.
Atlas Barrel & Pallet is officially incorporated on December 5th.
Earl E. Handrigan brings a scientific approach through studying at URI and contributing to industry standards.
Earl E. helps form International Recyclers Pact (IRP), standardizing GMA pallet specs still in use today.
Earl E. becomes President & CEO after his father’s passing. Atlas relocates to a 65,000 sq. ft. facility on 16 acres in Northern RI.
Atlas scales from 1 to 3 semi-trucks and 45 trailers, increasing reach and logistics capacity.
Facility fully utilized; team grows to 40+ employees. Additional loading docks are installed and enhance efficiency.
Atlas benefits from NWPCA’s software that improves safety, cost-efficiency, and design accuracy.
Earl E. joins the NWPCA Board of Directors, furthering pallet standardization across the U.S.
Atlas becomes a founding member of First Alliance Logistics Management (FALM), offering integrated sourcing and recycling solutions.
Fleet expands to 85 trailers and 5 trucks leading to improved distribution network and boosts recycling.
ISPM 15 compliance achieved for global pallet shipping with in-house heat treatment.
Atlas now runs over 110 trailers and 8 trucks, with nearly 50 employees across growing facilities.
Earl E.’s daughter brings expertise in insurance and compliance to improve safety and efficiency.
Heather Ross becomes President & CEO, preparing Atlas for a new phase of growth and innovation.
Atlas Pallet remains committed to sustainable manufacturing and achieving net-zero goals.
Atlas Pallet & Barrel was born from hard work, vision, and family values. In the early days, our founder worked out of a modest garage, driven by a simple mission — to repurpose and rebuild wood products with integrity. The image you see here is more than just a photo — it’s the foundation of who we are today.
What started with a few tools and a strong work ethic has grown into a leading, certified business recognized for sustainability and quality. These early years taught us resilience, accountability, and the value of every customer. And though we’ve expanded, our roots — and values — remain the same.
From day one, Atlas has been a family-first business. Whether it was building pallets by hand or delivering to local partners, every moment was built on trust and dedication. That’s our founder standing beside his daughter — a quiet reminder that behind every piece of lumber was a legacy in the making.
