A successful warehouse is a complex organism. It’s a living breathing entity that either makes or breaks a business.
How you organize a warehouse is critical to your ongoing success. And warehouse pallet racks are the foundation to an organized, efficient facility.
If you want to get orders packed and shipped in time, it’s all about easily finding and accessing the right pallet when needed.
But the best pallet racks for your facility might be different from the place across the street. Every business will have unique needs and considerations.
Since there are different types of racks in the storage industry, there are a few questions you need to ask before investing in a pallet rack system. Read on below to determine how to choose the best racks for your business.
How Much Do You Need to Store?
First off, you’ll want to consider how big your space is, and how much you need to store. If you are trying to maximize storage space over everything, there are warehouse racking systems that are better than others.
The selective racking system is the most common, but the most basic. Racks need to be in rows of no more than two together, as you’ll need to access both sides of the rack. So you waste a lot of space between racks.
A front-loading rack is a better option to maximize storage space. You can situate these right next to each other, eliminating the dead space in between. However, you can only load and unload pallets from the front. So the first pallet in will be the last pallet out.
Front-loading racking systems include drive-in racks and push-back racks.
Are Pallets Time Sensitive?
Front-loading pallet racks and push-back racks only work when pallets aren’t time-sensitive. You won’t be able to access the pallet in the back (the first one loaded) unless you move all of the others out of the way.
So these systems work best when pallets contain identical products and orders and aren’t time-sensitive.
If you have many unique pallets, that may need to be accessed at different times, you may need to choose something like a selective rack. While less storage space is utilized, you have flexibility, always able to access individual pallets.
Consider Weight and Height
Regardless of what type of racking system you choose, you’ll also need to consider the weight limits and height of the beams used. Rack shelves can be spaced between eight and 12 feet apart, depending on the height of your pallet rack uprights.
The longer the beam, the taller the pallet you can store. But this also means fewer levels on your rack, and fewer pallets overall.
Don’t forget to consider the weight rating of the beams and shelves as well. You’ll need to work with your supplier to ensure the rack you are considering can hold your pallets.
Finding the Best Pallet Racks for Your Business
Choosing the best pallet racks is both an art and science. In the logistics industry, it’s all about functionality and efficiency. You often need to find the perfect balance between maximizing storage space and accessing the pallets with ease.
It’s best to work with a racking provider to determine the best solution for your business. Much of the time, racking systems aren’t permanently fixed and can be adjusted later on if needed.
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