Guide To Warehouse Racking: Which Pallet Rack System Is Right For Your Business?

Warehouse racking is an effective solution for businesses that need to store materials efficiently. If you're considering a racking system, you'll find a wide variety of options available. Racking systems store materials in rows and different levels for space and efficiency. The type of racking system you choose depends on your storage and business needs. To help you narrow down which system is right for you, here is a rundown of the most common racking systems.  

Selective pallet racks are versatile and the most common systems used in warehouses of all industries. It's low cost and efficient. Of the most common racking systems, selective racks have the lowest storage capacity, making it a good all-around option for businesses that don't have a lot of warehouse space to store product.

Selective rack systems come in two configurations -- roll-formed and structural. It's easy to install, configure and re-configure based on your needs. The design allows you to store a wide variety of products of different sizes.  

Both configurations allow for stacking products on multiple levels and allow you to move and restock your products quickly and efficiently. However, this solution is less than ideal if you need high volume storage.

The most basic system is floor stacking. This is where pallets are placed on the floor of your warehouse and configured to your needs in terms of rows and aisle space. This is the least expensive solution and an excellent option for businesses that have a lot of warehouse space and have no need for heavy pallet moving equipment. If you have limited warehouse space, you'll want a racking solution that stacks the pallets on different levels to best utilize your square footage.

If you need a high-density storage system, you may want to consider pallet flow racking. This narrows the aisles to maximize your storage space and is ideal for businesses needing a first in, first out product retrieval solution. This is a good system for businesses that have a high inventory turn over. It's also highly customizable, so you can configure it to suit your business needs.

There's no need to drive into the rack system, and you can store up to 20 pallets deep. Pallets flow to the front of the system each time a pallet is removed, making for an efficient solution.  

With a push-back rack system, up to five pallets deep are placed on carts that naturally slide forward each time you unload a pallet. The retrieval is done from one aisle, which reduces picking times.  

Products are stored in lanes in up to six pallets deep. In contrast to the first-in, first-out, the pushback racking is a last-in, first-out system that automatically advances to the aisle when the front pallet is unloaded. Essentially new pallets push back previous pallets into the next cart position. This type of racking system is ideal for businesses in the food industry.  

You may want to a consider drive-in, drive-through racking system if you only have a few types of products but have a large quantity of them. The drive-in, drive-through rack system helps to maximize your space and offers last in, first out and first in, first out configurations. This is an ideal system for businesses that don't need multiple aisles and need to stock a high volume of a few different types of products.  

Choosing the right rack system is crucial for your business. Lone Star Pallet Rack can help you find the rack system to suit your needs. We offer new and used racks systems for a wide variety of storage needs.