All You Need to Know About Pallet Racking

Modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and storage centres rely on pallet racking for storage. They are the best way to organize and store the products without worrying about the products getting damaged. The system has been in use ever since the Second World War, and today, it has become a universal element in most manufacturing and distribution facilities. As the system allows for optimum and denser packing and storage, it has always remained a popular choice for warehouse owners. It is essential to know more about pallet racking and what it is all about.

Pallet Racking

What is Pallet Racking?

In simple words, these are storage systems which are generally used in warehouses. The pallet racking system allows the storage of all types in horizontal rows and in multiple levels. The loaded pallets are arranged with the help of Forklift trucks. The multi-level storage system aims for increased storage density. Today, the Pallet rack systems are the fundamental component in any material handling operation and allow faster and easy access to stored materials. Pallet racking configuration allows maximum utilization of the storage space as well as simplify inventory requirements.

Types of Pallet Racking system:

There are different types of pallet racking system, and here are a few of them:

• The drive-in pallet racking system
• Push back racking system
• Pallet flow racking system
• Cantilever racking system

There are other types as well, but these are some of the common types that you will find in most of the warehouses.

The Pallet Racking configuration

The pallet racks are made of vertical frames and horizontal beams that have been designed specifically for the kind of loads and material to be stored and load requirements. Upright vertical frames can vary in height and depth, size and design. The most common material used for vertical frames is coil steel, and holes are punched in the column at the standard intervals. Structural C shapes are also used for making upright frames at times. The horizontal braces are then welded between the upright columns to create the frame. Footplates are then attached to the base of columns, and they not only fix the pallet rack to the floor but raise the stability of the rack.

How to choose the right Pallet Racking system?

If you are out there to choose the right kind of pallet racking system, then you need to take the following parameters into account :

1. SKUs: SKU or Stock Keeping Unit is the number assigned by the retailer to the items in the inventory. If you are planning to buy the pallet rack system, then you need to consider the number of SKUs that you will be stored in the racking system. 
2. The number of pallets: It is the number of pallets you will have in the rack. Make sure that it should be such that it doesn’t impact the use of the pallet and storage of the products.
3. Size of the pallet: This is also an important factor that you need to take into account, measure the height, width and doth of the pallet before placing an order, the wrong size will make it difficult to store the products. 
4. Kind of products: You need to take into account what kind of products will be stored in the racking system, for example, if you are storing perishable products, they would need a climate-controlled system.
5. How long will the product stay in your warehouse: Based on the time you can decide whether you want to go ahead with buying a racking system or renting them would do the job. 

With all these factors taken into account, you would be able to make the right choice when it comes to pallet racking system. Make sure that you invest in good quality pallet system such that it lasts longer and you don’t have to spend much on the repair and maintenance.