In a warehouse, you must have everything working in unison to maximize your profits. Even just a single mistake or out-of-place object can cost you a lot of money. This only becomes truer regarding storage systems and, more importantly, racking. Pallet racking is very important to any large storage area, as good racking is the only way to maximize your storing capabilities. The first step to efficiently running a warehouse is to plan your racking properly. That is why you will need to know the different types of pallet racking systems.
Selective Racking
This is the most popular kind of racking, as well as the simplest. This kind of racking can carry just about any kind of material in a pallet. Selective racking does come in a few varieties, but they generally work as shelving units for materials and products. You can house entire pallets on these racks, and they provide access to both machines and personal.
Double-Deep Racking
A lot like selective racking, double-deep racking provides you with a versatile storage option. It can carry a wide variety of products and pallets. However, it layers the pallets, putting one in front of the other. This means that it can carry a lot more in a smaller space, giving the whole system an improved storage density. The major issue with this system is you cannot store or remove the pallets using normal means and will need a forklift to run the whole system.
Push Back Racking
This system works similarly to the double-deep racking, where it increases storage density by adding additional layers of depth to hold more pallets. The issue with this concept is how to get the pallets onto the racking in a reasonable fashion. The push back racking has you insert pallets that then push the pallets already there to the back. This method increases storage efficiency but usually requires a forklift to fully utilize.
Narrow Aisle Racking
This kind of racking suits warehouses with small floor space for storage. It increases storage density at the sacrifice of aisle room. This might sound like a good thing, but it does have its drawbacks. Workers will struggle to navigate the area with small aisles and risk injury in the small area. That is why most of these racking systems use special machinery and forklifts to do most of the carrying.
Drive-in Racking
Drive-in racking is a system of racking meant to provide a high-density storage system for stackable items. The system generally requires a forklift to drive in all the product you need to store. It also requires the same thing to take product out. These systems use the same point for drop-off and pick-up as well. Even though they do use a forklift, they do not have to rest on the ground. They can use up a lot of overhead space if you have the right kind of forklift.
Satellite Racking
This kind of racking focuses on the accessible, high-density storage of a large number of pallets. It uses a machine capable of storing, sorting, and removing these pallets. This way, you can access whatever pallet you need without driving into the system with a forklift or truck. The system can handle a lot of pallets if you have the room to install one.
Pallet Flow Racking
This kind of racking is unlike a lot of the kinds of racking you have already learned about. This system uses a first in, first out order, where the first object put into the racking is also the first one to come out of the rack. This is because the system uses a loading area and an unloading area. When you put a pallet into the loading area, gravity and a series of rollers and bearings will move it to the unloading area. This creates a flow of pallets that are always ready for unloading.
Carton Flow Racking
Pallet flow racking is not the only kind of rack that uses gravity to move its pallets. Carton flow racking is very similar in design principles to the pallet flow. However, it differs in what it transports. The carton flow rack carries smaller box-like pallets, like a carton, down a system of rollers that utilize gravity.
Cantilever Racking
This kind of racking is a heavy-duty system that carries large and long items you cannot easily store. Things like plywood or pipes, which are hard to bundle together on a normal pallet, are easy to store on this kind of racking system. The racking holds these objects in such a way that they will not slip or roll around and cause damage.
Mobile Sliding Racking
These racking systems come in various designs and forms. They handle different materials as well. The common link between these racking systems is the fact that the whole storage can move from one place to another, usually through the use of rails. This can help in compact storage spaces or if product needs to move to another area. It can even aid in rotating things in storage.
High-Rise Racking
This is the ultimate in overhead space usage. The racking system utilizes all of the space it can, from the floor to the ceiling, to hold product. This system works anywhere with a lot of overhead space. However, you will need special forklifts to actually use the higher levels of the system. The racking is also made from heavy-duty materials to help prevent damage.
These are only the most popular kinds of racking. There are other kinds of storage systems that may better suit your storage area’s needs. However, knowing the different types of pallet racking systems is the best place to start your journey. Choosing the best warehouse rack storage system is very important to your business and can save you a lot of resources and money in the long run. That is why you must make these decisions as soon as you can, as every day you do not have the correct system, you will lose potential profit—and that’s the last thing anyone wants.
