An Overview of Pallet Racks

Are you planning to get into the material handling business? Of course, just like any venture, you would need to be well-informed before charging into your plans. You might be going into the manufacturing, distribution or warehousing industry, all of which is highly concerned with keeping materials stocked and controlled within one place and moved to another. In any case, you would do well to learn all the important elements in detail. To start off your fact-finding for material handling and storage, here is what you should know about pallet racks.

The pallet rack is one of the essential aid systems in material handling storage. The concept is to use pallets, also known as skids, to store materials in a warehouse setting.  Despite the fact that different types of pallet racking systems exist, the main idea remains the same where pallet-stockpiled materials are stored horizontally with multiple levels. The use of the pallet rack system is integrated with the use of forklifts. It is through the fork trucks that the pallets are loaded, unloaded and moved to and fro the racks to be stored or taken for shipment. It has long been a typical storage practice for distribution facilities, retail centers, storage depositories, modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities and many others.

Now, in most manufacturing plant and warehouses, the demand for what is called heavy duty pallet racking has become commonplace. You should be aware that in the modern times today, it is apparent for warehousing facilities to bring in heavier materials in higher densities. To manage heavy loads as such, you will most definitely need heavy duty pallet racks.

Just as the average pallet rack, a heavy duty pallet rack’s purpose is to contain pallets or loads with the main difference being that heavier items can be handled through this specific pallet rack type. This is because these heavy duty pallet racks are commonly manufactured from highly durable steel piping that is made sturdier with cast iron netting. This secures safety when handling heavy loads of materials. Moreover, the racks are made easier to access with both sides open, making it easier to grab and store pallets.

Now, here are some specific types of heavy-duty pallet racks with their respective purposes.

• Drive-in Drive-Through – These are useful for warehousing settings with very narrow aisles. The purpose of its design is to make it easier to maneuver in and out of rack bays when moving loads on or off. With two aisles accessible, it allows an efficient first in first out operation inside the facility.

• Pushback – This increases the amount of items to be stored by up to 75%. It promotes safer operations that go hand in hand with maximized throughput and productivity. 

• Mobile - Mobile pallet racks have heavy-duty wheels that are typically associated with antilock brakes as well. It allows for an easier designation and transportation of products within the warehouse facility. 

This is your quick overview on the so-called pallet rack. You should put a lot of effort on more research if you are to get in the material handling industry.