Racking and shelving is a science in itself. It’s a product/service which requires a great deal of expertise and engineering prowess. The solution formulated is generally dependent upon the core expertise of the company engaged in providing the service. Pallet racking is a sub-product of the entire Racking solutions gamut. Our blog post today would focus entirely on what pallet racking is and how it can help boost the business of a company.
What is Racking?
In the simplest of terms, racking is all about racks. Well, that’s the base definition for a layman. For a person or business serious about managing their warehouse space. Racking takes another whole set of meanings. Racking in warehouse management means a process of placing storage compartments, which allows for maximum utilization of available space. Along with the clever use of space, racking also has a focus on boosting the logistics efficiency of the entire setup.
What is Pallet Racking?
In its essence, a pallet rack is a material handling and storing system. Basically, it aids in the smooth movement of goods in and around the warehouse. Here the portion of the system where the actual products are stored is called pallets (also called skids at some places). There are many types of pallet racking systems prevalent in present markets. All, however, serve the same purpose with different levels of efficiencies. The beauty of this system is that it allows for both horizontal and vertical stacking of goods in pallets. Hence you get more storage space in the least actual area. Pallet racking has been widely in use since the second world war. Its efficiency and ease are still going strong. The use of a forklift to move the pallets is still the widely used mode of logistical aid used in pallet racking. One of the most commonly used forms here is the selective pallet racking system. More of which follows in the paragraph below.
Selective Pallet Racking
Selective pallet racking is the widely used pallet racking system. Selective pallet racking comes in two forms, that is the configuration we are talking about. They are :
Roll Formed Configuration
Roll-formed selective pallet racking systems are also called the teardrop style pallet racking system. The nomenclature is so because of the teardrop like the shape of the holes on the upright side of the system. Here mounting clips are used to hold the pallets securely on the horizontal beams. The mounting clips on here can be quickly moved hence the shelves can be easily adjusted to accommodate different kinds of products. It is the preferred choice for warehouses that have to store products of various sizes and weights.
Structural Bolt-Together Configuration
The design is quite similar to the roll-formed pallet racking system. However, in this configuration, the horizontal load beams are attached to the uprights with bolts thus giving them the greater weight-bearing capacity. It is more suited for a fixed configuration warehouse. Although this configuration also allows for restructuring but its often more time consuming when compared to roll-formed configuration. This type of selective pallet racking system is more suited to companies that have heavy products to store and the products are generally of similar size.
Which Industries Can Be Benefitted From Pallet Racking?
Pallet racking is for everyone. Yes, you heard it right. As we have mentioned above, pallet racking systems can be installed in two configurations depending upon the nature of the goods that need to be stored. It all boils down to the products and the logistics efficiency that is desired. For an e-commerce warehouse going for the teardrop, the configuration is suited. It allows them to store and move goods of various sizes easily in the warehouse. For an automotive OEM manufacturer, using a bolt-together configuration is more suited as the parts are heavy and are of fixed size. These are just the examples, the reality, however, is that almost every industry can be benefited from pallet racking systems.