Different Types Of Pallet Racking

Pallet racking is the most favored and sought after storage system by warehouse owners all over the globe. The reason is that this type of storage unit is suitable to handle and store bulk materials without any kind of hassle. The pallets can be made of a variety of materials, like wood, plastic or galvanized steel. This makes it easy for the forklifts to lift them and shift heavy quantities of stored items around the warehouse with ease.

There are various types of pallet racking systems one can choose from. However, here is the list of the most common ones in use today:

Drive In
Push Back
Block Stacking
Pallet Live Storage
Stacking Frames

Drive In

This is considered to be the most cost effective unit. It is also reputable of having a high density. The passage between the racks is wide enough to allow forklifts to pass through and operate without difficulty. In this system, materials are loaded and retrieved from the same side, on the basis of Last-In-First-Out (LIFO). This means the items loaded last will be placed in front and therefore, will be the first to get retrieved.

Push Back

This is also another high-density storage system. It allows a storage capacity of a maximum of four pallets on a single level. Except the top level, the pallets of all the other levels are placed on trolleys. These trolleys are designed in such a way that they can be easily pushed with the help of rolling rails. This system also uses the LIFO storage and retrieval mechanisms. Its biggest benefit is that it uses up the maximum amount of height space.

Block Staking

A very cost effective solution, block stacking includes keeping the pallets on top of the other. This storage system makes full use of the floor space. However, there are always risks of topping of the stored items in case there is instability. In such cases, there is a danger of the items getting heavily damaged. Due to the fact that they are easy to maintain and are extremely pocket-friendly makes them one of the most used types of pallet racking.

Pallet Live Storage

In this system, the pallets are supported on slightly inclined rollers. Sometimes, gravity wheel tracks are also used instead of the rollers. Due to the presence of the rollers or the wheel tracks, the pallets easily travel automatically from one side to the other. This system works on the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis. Therefore, it is easier to load as well as unload the items.

Stacking Frames

Some warehouses rely on non-stackable and irregularly shaped pallets. The pallets are piled or stacked on over the other, and are supported by the stacking frames. This storage system is mainly adopted by companies whose storing needs are temporary and depend from period to period.

Pallet racking system is highly effective in enhancing the efficiency of a warehouse. It does not only help to keep important items stored in an organized manner, but also greatly optimizes warehouse space. Therefore, you should be careful while selecting them and know which type will be best suited to the needs of your business.

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