Stack Racks

Stack racks are some of the most flexible industry storage solutions currently on the market. Essentially made up of a base and four posts, they can be used either to support pallets or as pallets in order to increase storage capacity and avoid product damage. Stackable racks are often portable, which means that they can be positioned in such a way as to require no aisle space.

Much like all other industrial or warehouse options for storage, however, a stack rack system is not necessarily suitable for all applications. Below, you’ll find all the information you need to decide whether such a system is worth implementing given the specifics of your project.

Basic Characteristics of Stackable Racks

Each stack rack is made of a metal base frame with open, wooden, or wire mesh decking and four or more metal posts that fit into its four corners. The purpose of the former is to support a pallet or to act as a pallet itself, while that of the latter is to ensure that items stay inside the rack at all times.

Stack racks are similar to bulk stacking in the sense that they allow you to superpose up to 5-6 pallets while using minimal floor space. The main difference between the two is that stacking racks are designed to prevent product damage that would otherwise occur with bulk stacking. No two bundles of palletized goods come in direct contact with one another when stored in a stack rack and the metal structure ensures that products on the bottom do not have to support the weight of those at the top.

Stackable racks are also advantageous when compared to conventional pallet racking systems because, unlike the latter, they are easily assembled and disassembled. A stack rack can usually be moved throughout a warehouse and broken down when not in use so as to occupy as little storage space as possible.

Portable Stack Racks

One noteworthy characteristic of a stack rack is that it is highly versatile and portable, precisely because it is so quick to set up and take down. An immediate consequence of this is that you don’t have to clear space for aisles when stacking racks. Instead, you can arrange them as densely as you like, provided that you have a clear idea of when they will be needed and how they can be accessed at that time.

In addition, you can use portable stack racks to ensure the integrity of your stock during transit. The racks will protect the items from the pitfalls of bulk stacking and it will allow you to cut down on the overall price of shipping materials.

Stack Racks: Uses and Advantages

Stack racks are highly versatile, high-density storage solutions with a number of significant advantages when implemented properly. These include:

Flexibility.

Perhaps the biggest selling point for a stack rack is that it can be easily reconfigured to suit all storage needs. The base of a stack rack can be adjusted to fit a diversity of lengths and widths, whereas the weight each platform can support ranges from 2000lb to 4000lb. Portable stack racks can also be configured to store bulky or awkwardly-shaped items and are easy to move around if the priorities of the warehouse change.

Maximizing the use of space

A stack rack can handle as many as 5 pallets placed on top of it, which makes it a great solution to pick pallets off the floor and maximize your use of air space. In addition, because stackable racks are mobile, you can pack them in as densely as needed without wasting any space on aisles.

Protecting the integrity of stock

Stacking racks function similarly to bulk stacking, but are much safer than the latter form of storage. They essentially ensure that pallets at the bottom of a stack are not damaged under the weight of pallets on top, but also that the entire stack is more stable and less likely to collapse. As such, both in the warehouse and during shipping, stack racks are the ideal solution to keep stock intact and avoid losses

Doubling as pallets

You can place entire pallets on stack racks or you can use the racks themselves as pallets. In either case, most stackable racks are designed to permit four-way access by means of a forklift, which can be tremendously useful in any high-density storage system

All in all, stacking racks are the optimal choice for situations where high-density storage is required for a significant period of time. For instance, they are perfectly suited to handle the ups and downs of a seasonal business and they can be easily disassembled and stored when no longer needed.

Stacking Racks: Drawbacks

Of course, the advantages of a stack rack can quickly turn into drawbacks if implemented with a faulty approach. Some issues to bear in mind when considering stack racks are the following:

Poor accessibility

One of the main assets of stackable racks is that they can be packed together without any aisle space. This, however, is only suitable for warehouses that store large numbers of pallets per SKU and that never or rarely perform order picking from pallets. Accessing a particular pallet at the bottom of a group of stacks can lead to a considerable waste of time, which is also why this type of storage is not suitable for depositing perishable items.

Less stable than conventional pallet racking systems

Stack racks are portable and highly flexible, but they are also less equipped to support high volumes of heavy-duty stock. In a warehouse that handles such loads on a regular basis, a conventional racking system might be a better option, especially if no warehouse reconfigurations are planned for the near future.

Stack Racks from Kingmorack

Not sure whether a stack rack system is a suitable investment for your project? Contact us at Kingmorack today and run us through the specific details of your storage space and stock.

Kingmorack boasts years of experience working with customers from around the world for a diversity of optimal and highly customizable storage solutions. We put our knowledge and the latest technologies in the industry at your disposal as we design, manufacture, and deliver the stack racks most advantageous for your business.

Discuss your order

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