Better use for your warehouse pallet rack | racking | pallet racking system and ways to manage and use your warehouse pallet storage space
How your storage warehouse currently stores pallet loads and can you utilize the space allocated to pallet storage better. Here we examine the differing pallet storage systems and the more commonly use pallet racking system
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Block Stacking
Stacking Frames
Single-Deep Pallet Rack
Double Deep Rack
Drive-In Rack
Pallet Flow Rack
Push Back Rack
Block Stacking
Block stacking refers to unit loads stacked on top of each other and stored on the warehouse floor in lanes or blocks.
A number of criteria dictate the height you can stack pallets to in your premises such as:
-height clearance
-Lift capability of warehouse forklifts.
-weight of the load
*also the pallet condition factors in.
The pallets are retrieved from the block in a last in, first out (LIFO) manner. This does not allow for removing stock based on date basis or FIFO (First In First Out). Removal of stock can cause spaces occur that cannot be filled until the whole lane is empty (honeycombing). This method is cheap to implement as it involves no racking and can be operated in any warehouse with open floor space. Damage to pallet contents has a higher instance with block stacking.
Stacking Frame pallet racking
Pallet stacking frames are decks and posts that can be erected and moved if required.
– Pallets can be stored several high
– Useful when the pallet load would be damaged if stacked on top of each other
– Often used in busy periods when extra temporary stacking space is required
– Honeycombing is still an issue with stacking frame system
Single-Deep Pallet Racking
Single-deep pallet racking provides access to each pallet stored in the rack. This gets around the honeycombing issues of stacking frames and block stacking pallet racking.
– If a pallet is removed the space is immediately available for a new pallet to be placed in that space.
– One of the most common types of pallet racking in use in warehouse storage
– Downside is the floor space used as racks require significant floor space for suitable aisles.
Double-Deep Pallet Racking
The double-deep pallet rack is a variant on the single-deep rack that incorporates two single racks that are placed together.
– Reduces the number of pallet rack aisles required.
– Double reach forklift is needed to use all pallet spaces.
– Honeycombing is an issue still with this type of rack set up.
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Drive-In pallet racking
An example of a drive in racking set up is five to ten pallet load spaces similar to the double-deep racking. Access for the forklift is via a drive in Lane to place and remove stock. The set up of drive in racking can reintroduce the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle is for pallet retrieval. This is due to the one entrance to the pallet bay LIFO is the ‘downside’. A drive through or ‘drive thru’ pallet rack bay allows entrance and exit at both ends of the bay so First In First Out (FIFO) system becomes an option also.
Pallet Flow Rack
The pallet flow rack operates via a rack on a conveyor that allows the pallets to be removed in a FIFO manner. Once a pallet is removed the next pallet moves into the position of the pallet that was removed.
– Suitable for warehouse with high volume / large throughput
Push Back Rack
The push back rack is a LIFO solution where the load is placed into storage using a rail-guided carrier. When a load is placed into storage the load pushes the other loads back into the storage area. When a load is removed the next load is moved to the position where the other load was removed. Each lane with stock has a load in the optimum position for removal. This Pallet racking method may not be suitable for warehouse storage solutions that require FIFO.
For more information on Pallet racking systems, prices, types – matching your existing racking and better using your warehouse space to maximize both storage space and optimize your storage solutions we recommend contacting the leaders in pallet racking and warehouse storage solutions in Dublin & nationwide across Ireland and Northern Ireland:
Fayco Engineering – Pallet racking and pallet racking supplies Dublin
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