A Complete Guide to Pallet Racks

A Complete Guide to Pallet Racks
  • Author: Mahtab Idrees
  • Posted On: June 6, 2021
  • Updated On: July 2, 2023

Choosing pallet racks for your warehouse or factory can be one of the most important decisions you make for your business. Equipping your workspace with the right racking system can give you considerably more space and improve employee workflow.

In contrast, choosing pallet racking that uses more space than necessary can lead to decreased productivity and lost revenue.

Read on to find out about the different types of pallet racking you can use to your advantage.

Selective Pallet Racks

This is one of the simplest yet most accessible storage systems found in warehouses across the country. Pallet rack uprights support metal shelves, and forklift operators can place materials on the front and rear of the structure. This system can also utilize a teardrop racking design to ensure shelves are extremely secure.

This factor is vital when employees will constantly be moving around in a hectic workplace. If shelves were to become loose, this could have severe consequences for any staff standing nearby.

Drive-In Pallet Racking

In any material handling environment, storage space is at a premium. Fortunately, drive-in racking is a fantastic system for storing goods in compact areas. A forklift driver can maneuver their vehicle between the uprights and place goods at the back of the pallet rack. This is a good example of a last-in/first-out storage situation.

Push Back Pallet Racking

Push-back pallet racks are very similar to drive-in racks, except for one crucial difference. When a forklift driver removes a pallet from the front of the rack, the rear pallets will move forward. This helps with easy access and works in much the same way as vending machines found in many stores.

Pallet Flow Racking

Using a first-in/first-out design, employees load pallet flow racking systems at the rear. The pallets sit on rollers, and gravity then gently eases the merchandise towards the front of the rack for unloading. This can be an effective system if you store perishable goods and need to deliver products before they go out of date.

Cantilever Racking

Businesses mainly use cantilever racking for storing long or oversized goods such as timber or steel poles. Some arms extend from the rack uprights, and a forklift operator can place items directly onto the metal. This is an extremely sturdy structure, and you can also customize it to hold pallets of various sizes.

Choose Your Pallet Racking System Carefully

When deciding on the best pallet racks for your workspace, you’ll likely need to use more than one type to get the best results. However, you can enjoy a more organized warehouse floor with some careful planning and increased employee output with some careful planning.

Using high-quality pallet racking is also an excellent way to keep employees safe in a busy environment.

If you’ve found this post helpful, be sure to browse more articles in our Structure section before you go.

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Author: Mahtab Idrees

Mahtab is all about lifestyle, home improvement, and interior decor trends. Her role as associate editor at ConstructionHow has helped her to offer genuine ideas, information, and intricate details about the special home editorial projects. As an interior designer by profession, she is solely focused on the latest trends and shares homeowner’s concerns as she also is a proud homeowner of two properties in mainstream locations.

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