Category: Warehouse racks

Warehouse Racking Systems: An Introduction

Warehouse racking is as essential to warehouse infrastructure as the skeleton is for the human body. A good warehouse racking system can greatly improve the speed of warehouse operations, maximize space usage, and optimize organization for a flawless order picking process. A poor system, on the other hand, can severely decrease warehouse efficiency, waste precious space, and expose employees to unnecessary danger.

In addition, there is no one warehouse rack type or size that best fits all storage needs. The storage system you choose to install in your warehouse must be tailored to the specific dimensions of the available space, as well as to your inventory and business.

There are two main components to a simple warehouse rack – the upright frame and the bays. The upright frame consists of two upright posts and several vertical bracings made of steel, as well as the horizontal beams that connect them. Between two frames and their beams, a bay is created.

Inside each bay, a number of pallets can be introduced to support inventory. The pallet remains the most primitive, but also the most effective means of warehouse storage up to this day. It is essentially a platform or a flat surface built from wood, metal, or plastic that allows the storage and transport of inventory. On top of it, you can safely deposit equipment, tools, all kinds of goods, and more.

Each warehouse rack usually features multiple levels and can reach up to several feet in height. For this reason, an effective storage system will include not only warehouse racking, but also enough forklift vehicles to make loading and unloading possible.

Pallet Warehouse Racking

Pallet racks are a type of storage with bays designed to store palletized goods. These simple warehouse storage racks are easily adjustable to different load sizes and provide access to each pallet by means of a reach truck or counter-balanced forklift. Depending on the type of pallet racking in question, access can be 100% selective, 50% selective, or less. Generally speaking, the lower the selectivity is, the higher the density of storage.

Using such a system, you can access products on a FILO (First-In-Last-Out) or FIFO (First-In-First-Out) basis, depending on specific requirements. Generally speaking, two types of pallet warehouse racks are most common – selective and push back. While the first is 100% selective and can be organized to permit FIFO access, the second maximizes the use of storage space, but does not allow direct access to all pallets and is generally managed on a FILO basis.

Pallet Rack Wire Decking

Pallet rack wire decking is the best solution to offer additional support for pallets or individual items, thus increasing the safety and efficiency of operations in a warehouse. Find out what type of wire decking is best for your storage system here.

Double Deep Pallet Racking

Double deep pallet racking increases storage capacity when compared to a selective system and is more affordable to implement than similar push back racks. Read about advantages and disadvantages of this type of storage for an informed decision.

Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking

Narrow aisle pallet racking is the ultimate storage solution for warehouses that prefer selective access to pallets, but are pressed for space. Read more about narrow racks and whether they are suitable for your project.

Selective Pallet Racking

Selective pallet racking systems go one pallet deep only and allow unrestricted access to each pallet. Follow our guide to find out whether this storage solution is the best for your project.

Structural Pallet Racking

Pushback pallet racks are the optimal storage solution for warehouses handling upwards of 3,000 pallets with a high pallet per SKU ratio. Find out more about the advantages and uses of pushback racks for your business.

Push Back Pallet Racking

Boltless Racks

Boltless racks are some of the most popular storage systems currently on the market. Functional, aesthetic, and versatile, these riveting shelf systems are often the top storage solution for offices, law firms, logistics companies dealing with bulk products, and much more.

Tyre Racking

Tyre racking systems are the most adaptable, convenient, and efficient way to store both large and small volumes of tyres. Learn which tyre storage best fits your needs and stock volume.

Stack Racks

Versatility and flexibility are the main assets of stack racks. To find out more about this high-density storage solution, read our guide about its basic characteristics, advantages and uses, as well as drawbacks.

Carton Flow Rack

Carton flow racks are a cost-effective, high-density storage solution for warehouses and retails stores where fast turnover of stock is a must. Learn more about this type of storage and find out whether it’s the right fit for your project.

Longspan Racking

Longspan racking is a flexible and versatile storage solution for both warehouses and other applications. Find out how you can implement this type of storage in your manufacturing plant, office, retail store, home, and more.

Drive in racks

Drive in racking is a cost-effective, high density storage solution for warehouses handling medium to high volumes of stock. Read more about the details of this type of storage to find out whether it’s suitable for your warehouse.

Industrial Racks

Industrial racks are manufactured to withstand special environmental conditions, such as very low temperatures, for industrial purposes. They can be designed to support the storage of palletized goods, but they are most often built using shelves, rather than pallet bays. As such, items deposited in industrial warehouse racks are usually accessed by employees without the use of a forklift or other vehicle. Nevertheless, an industrial racking system can extend beyond the height of a human being to allow denser storage. In this case, the system is equipped with corridors and stairs that make access possible.

How to Choose the Right Warehouse Storage Racks

There are many options to choose from in terms of warehouse racks and a good warehouse rack company will make them all available to you on demand. Before you make any commitments, however, you should carefully consider your options in order to find the most suitable solution for the characteristics of your specific space.

Below, you’ll find some of the essential questions you should ask yourself in the process.

Cost and Available Space

Acquiring a complete set of warehouse racks to organize your storage space can turn into a significant investment. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, calculate not only the cost of the racks themselves, but also that of machinery and vehicles needed to assist access to your inventory. Then, compare the total against your budget and make changes accordingly.

The cost of a complete racking system also has to do with the space you intend to use for storage. The best way to maximize your use of warehouse space is to build storage vertically, as well as horizontally. This is what warehouse storage racks do best, but the space you have at your disposal might not match the lengths or heights of predesigned systems. Customization is paramount if you want to use up all your storage space wisely.

Frequency of Access

Finally, before you decide on a type of racking system, you should estimate how often pallets will be accessed and re-deposited for the day-to-day activities of your warehouse. Moreover, will order picking be done from pallets or otherwise?

If the answer is yes and pallets will be accessed frequently to fulfill orders, then a selective system is best suited for you, in spite of the fact that it is not necessarily as efficient as a push back system, for instance. If order picking from pallets is not a concern for you, then you can and should opt for denser storage units.

Product Shelf Life: FIFO or FILO Requirements

While you’re on the topic of inventory, it’s also a good idea to consider whether the items you store are perishable or not. This ties in directly to the type of access you’ll require and can limit your racking options.

This is not necessarily a concern for you if you deposit non-perishable products, but if your warehouse is stocked on perishable food items, for example, then a system that only allows FILO (First-In-Last-Out) access will not do. You don’t want the goods you place at the back of a bay to stay there for a long time, which means that you need warehouse storage racks with FIFO (First-In-First-Out) accessibility.

Volume, Size, Weight, and Range of Inventory

The type of inventory you want to store using the new racking system is another fundamental issue to bear in mind. The volume, size, and weight of your equipment or goods are obviously important measurements because you want the latter to fit with the dimensions of the warehouse racks. Once again, customization is necessary here, so make sure you discuss your options with the warehouse rack company of your choice.

Meanwhile, give some thought to whether you’ll use this rack warehouse to store a narrow or wide range of items. If, for instance, you’ll store few pallets per SKU (which basically means you’ll store many different types of inventory), selective pallet racks are likely the optimal solution for you. Conversely, when you deposit a large number of pallets per SKU (that is, you store many pallets of the same type of product), your best bet to save up space is a push back or drive in racking system.

Warehouse Racking Solutions from Kingmorack

Kingmorack is a warehouse rack company that designs, manufactures, and delivers optimal storage solutions for businesses and individuals around the world. The details we’ve presented above are just a glimpse of the possibilities we put at your disposal in terms of warehouse rack systems.

If you want to make the most of your storage, contact Kingmorack today and present us with the specific details of your warehouse space. We’ll put together our vast experience in the industry, the best technologies currently on the market, and your individual storage needs to come up with the warehouse racking system you need.

Discuss your order

For more information, quotes, sample and orders, contact Kingmorack today.