Pallet Racking

Pallet racking is an essential element in most modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail centers, and other storage and distribution facilities.

Pallet racking is a material handling storage system designed to store a variety of material on pallets, also known as skids. All pallet racking types allow for the storage of palletized materials in horizontal rows with multiple levels. Forklifts are typically a vital part of any pallet rack system as they are required to place the loaded pallets onto the racks for storage.

Many types and designs of pallet racking are available to fulfill any functions or create specific advantages. All types of pallet racking allow for an increase of storage density with of course, the least dense being the least expensive and cost increasing with storage ability.

Pallet rack design can be a difficult process. Several basic considerations have to be taken into account when deciding what your business needs:

    Desired storage density

    Building height and floor space

    Placement of building doors and columns

    Inventory accessibility and rotation

    Item/load size and weight

    Optimal storage design

    Cost of materials and installation

DONT FORGET ABOUT SAFETY! Always remember to:

Report any damage to the system as damage could cause the pallets to fall.

Communicate to all who are around storage racks:“Never climb on racks during or after assembly. Storage racks are not designed to be stepped on or climbed on. A slip or fall may result in serious injury.”

Ensure there are highly visible warning signs posted if the pallet rack system is used in a retail environment

Use only quality pallets that are not damaged.

Always ensure that the proper motorized equipment is being used for the application.

Keep the aisles free of clutter or debris- don’t stager pallets in these areas.

Never overload or exceed the recommended load specifications

Rack audits (safety checks) should be performed on a regular basis by a qualified inspector