Chaos is not cool when it comes to warehouse management.
How a business stores stuff can either make or break your efficiency game. That’s why, it is essential to know which pallet racking type suits the best to your business.
Confused as to which pallet racking solution is the best one for you?
This guide will help you in determining which form of industrial pallet racking is the best for you.
Types of pallet racking
There are 8 primary forms of pallet racking, these include:
Selective pallet racking
Selective pallet racking is one of the most common warehouse pallet racking systems.
It includes upright frames and horizontal beams – made for forklifts that can directly access every pallet out there.
Advantages:
For FIFO (first in, first out) inventory flow, these systems outperform other systems.
They are also easy to install and adjust.
Disadvantages:
Requires more aisle space.
Lower storage density compared to high-density systems
Best for:
Best for warehouses with a large variety of SKUs that require frequent and direct access to each pallet.
Double deep pallet racking
Double deep pallet racking stores two pallets deep instead of one. This serves to boost storage density without going full-density.
But, you’ll need a deep-reach forklift to access the back pallet.
Advantages:
This form of pallet racking increases storage capacity.
It also saves floor space as there are fewer aisles
Disadvantages:
You get reduced access to rear pallets, and the front pallets must be moved first to access them.
It requires specialized forklifts, increasing overall cost of capital.
Best for:
Best suited for operations that deal with fewer SKUs but larger volumes of the same product.
Carton flow pallet racking
Carton flow racking is also known as gravity flow shelving, owing to its inclined roller track design that allows for automatic carton movement. Cartons move forward automatically as one is removed.
Advantages:
Aids in FIFO inventory management
A great option for order picking
Saves a lot of labour time owing to its design and functioning
Disadvantages:
Not the best for palletized goods.
It requires uniform carton sizes in order to work efficiently
A higher upfront investment is required.
Best for:
Perfect for fast-moving inventory like small boxes or cartons in order-picking operations.
Cantilever pallet rack
Cantilever racking is all about storing long and bulky items such as steel bars, pipes and furniture. It has no vertical obstructions in the front, which allows full accessibility using forklifts.
Advantages:
This type of racking is perfect for long and irregular items
Easier unloading and loading.
Arm-lengths are customizable.
Disadvantages:
Not suitable for standard pallet storage
Uses more floor space than other methods
May need reinforced flooring
Best for:
Ideal for storing long, bulky, or awkward-shaped items such as pipes, timber, or furniture
Multi-tier pallet rack
Multi-tier pallet racking is all about height. It builds vertical storage levels with walkways and stars. This allows workers to manually access items without using forklifts.
The following system is best when you want to maximize airspace and not floor space.
Advantages:
Maximizing vertical storage.
Great for manual picking
Can integrate lighting and HVAC
Disadvantages:
Higher installation costs as compared to others
May require mezzanine approvals for installation
Not the best for heavy pallet storage
Best for:
Best for warehouses with limited floor space but generous ceiling height. It’s especially useful for businesses that rely on manual picking.
Drive-in pallet racking
Drive-in racking allows forklift movements into the storage lanes. These forklifts help place and retrieve pallets.
This form of pallet system works best for high-volume and low-SKU inventory.
Advantages:
High storage density
Great for cold storage pallets
No need for multiple aisles
Disadvantages:
Offers limited access to individual pallets
Higher potential for forklift damage
Not suited for varied SKU storage
Best for:
Ideal for high-volume, low-variety inventory that doesn’t need frequent rotation. This system thrives in cold storage or seasonal warehouses.
Pallet flow racking
Pallet flow racking works just like carton flow, but for pallets. It uses inclined roller tracks so that pallets automatically move forward when the front one is removed.
It’s a powerhouse for FIFO systems.
Advantages:
Continuous, uninterrupted product flow
FIFO-friendly
Reduces forklift traffic
Disadvantages:
High upfront cost
Sensitive to pallet quality
Requires more maintenance than static racks
Best for:
A great choice for fast-paced operations handling time-sensitive or perishable inventory.
Push back pallet rack
Push back racking uses a system of nested carts that slide back when new pallets are loaded. It’s a high-density LIFO system and allows 2 to 6 pallets deep per lane.
Push back pallet racking is a solid choice for operations that don’t require strict rotation.
Advantages:
· Saves aisle space
· High storage density
· Faster retrieval than drive-in
Disadvantages:
· LIFO only
· More expensive than selective racks
· Not ideal for large SKU variety
Best for:
Warehouse with high density storage without compromising speed. It suits operations with moderate SKU variety and LIFO inventory flow.
The bottom line
There are many types of pallet racking options to choose from.
Ultimately, it boils down as to which type suits your needs and requirements in the best way possible. Though, it is essential to not compromise on quality as it may mean that you’re compromising with the integrity of your products as well.
With Gold Coast Racking solutions, you can buy pallet racking systems that fit your needs and requirements perfectly!
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