Regarding warehouses and other industrial storage facilities, pallet racking has overtaken popularity in most other industrial storage systems. Even though there are numerous practical reasons for this, they are most common because they are flexible.
No matter how crude or high-tech, these storage systems provide a straightforward answer to the problem of limited available space. As a result of the systems’ common purpose of increasing storage density by storing vertically, consumers immediately notice an increase in available floor space after installation.
All pallet racking are built utilizing pallets, or “skids,” in their most basic form. There are numerous horizontal rows of pallets piled on top of each other depending on the vertical height of the given facility space and the safety rules that are related to it.
Factors including the size of the stored objects, the accessibility of the pallets by industrial equipment like forklifts, and how much aisle space is reserved beside the system influence the distance between horizontal rows.
Even though pallet racking manufacturers can customize their pallet racking designs that there are still a few basic designs that have stood the test of time:
What is pallet racking?
Pallet racking is a multi-level storage system of load-bearing pallets mounted on vertical frameworks. Because of their versatility in accommodating loads of all sizes and weights, racks are now commonplace in nearly every modern warehouse.
Forklifts can easily access materials and products because their design optimizes the stacking of materials and products. Pallet racks allow goods to be stored vertically, safely, and securely to make the most efficient use of available storage space.
Types of pallet racking
Stacking Pallet Racks
Selectivity is the most common compared to other FIFO pallet racking systems and provides the most level of access. These layouts are typically recommended for operations when the number of pallets is significantly lower than the number of stored SKUs. That is an excellent system if you must cope with constantly changing inventory rotations. In addition, this approach can benefit businesses that store their product at lower elevations.
Push-back pallet racking
Compared to the selected racking system, this one does not provide the same level of accessibility because pallets are stacked vertically, sometimes up to four deep. On the other hand, push-back pallet racking systems are not suggested for organizations that aim to keep product that frequently requires picking.
Drive-in pallet racking
Systems with drive-in pallet racking are an excellent choice for businesses with a lot of available space but a high demand for storage. It is possible for drive-in systems to be up to 10 to 12 pallets deep and 6 to 7 stacks high. Surprise, this approach isn’t ideal for order picking, but it’s perfect for staging and SKU separation.
Mobile pallet racking
Unlike other racking systems, this one has wheels integrated into it. Mobile pallet racks are equipped with electronic stop and lock designs, some of which are entirely earthquake-proof, even though the design may sound unsafe. If you’re looking to move complete pallets at a time and have a lot of storage space, mobile pallet racking systems are the way to go. This style is commonly used in high-cost operations, such as cold and cold stores.
Narrow Aisle Racking
If you’ve limited space, narrow aisle racking systems are just what you’re looking for. Those that store many SKUs in tiny quantities and need a lot of time may consider this option.
Because the method produces small aisles, one piece of equipment or vehicle can only move through the region simultaneously. Pallet racking can be designed in various ways, ranging from highly dense systems like satellite racking to AS/RS high-rise solutions.
