The Top 7 Things to Know Before Purchasing Pallet Rack

All Pallet Rack is NOT Created Equal – Use Your Capital Wisely with These Buying Tips

Pallet rack is often the most cost-effective way to store inventory while maximizing your warehouse space. Rack systems are configured to take advantage of otherwise unused cube space while keeping SKUs organized and safe from damage. With a wide variety of manufacturers, systems designs, capacities, and materials, choosing the best pallet racking for your facility will take careful consideration… and some helpful advice. Here are 7 Buying Tips that our warehouse storage system experts recommend.

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Pallet Rack Buying Tips

Tip #1 – Buying Based on Price is Very Risky  – for so many reasons, this is a necessary caution. At a minimum, your pallet rack must be configured to withstand your expected inventory capacity, warehouse activity, and climate/wash down requirements. 

A less costly rack may have a smaller price tag for any number of reasons, such as:

• It’s manufactured with less steel which increases the chance for damage
• It’s made for lighter inventory
• It comes without safety features
• It could be susceptible to moisture due to the paint process
• It may have blemishes due to the paint process
• It may have longer lead times
• It may require more expensive freight

All that being noted, it doesn’t mean you can never choose the least expensive option; just be sure you know what you are getting and that it meets your warehousing needs.

Tip #2 – Material Quality and Interchangeability – pallet rack is manufactured from steel, but there are different types of rack resulting in a discernible difference in steel thickness. Rack systems are either manufactured as structural or roll-formed. Structural steel rack is formed from hot rolled channel steel. It is very durable and can withstand more abuse than its lighter weight and very popular roll-formed rack counterpart. Roll-formed is molded by feeding steel through dies to form a particular shape. Roll-formed systems are typically manufactured from 12 – 16 gauge steel making them lighter and less expensive to ship. While they can withstand significant load capacities like structural systems, they are more vulnerable to damage from equipment and harsh conditions.

Tip #3 – Seismic Considerations – there are seven seismic zones (A-E) in the United States. Depending on which zone you are building in, your rack system must meet the requirements of that region and particular zip code, which can include using heavier gauge steel, larger baseplates, anchoring modifications, different bracing, etc. This is one area of rack purchasing where consulting with an expert will save you significant time and expense purchasing unsafe racking. The WOI team will help you understand the seismic requirements for your area to ensure a safe design and installation.

Tip #4 – Be Selective… or Be Dense –  selectivity vs. storage density is an important distinction for your rack system. For example, a selective rack system provides 100% accessibility to every pallet, but it is only one pallet deep, meaning that every pallet must have its own SKU face. If your inventory comprises a significant number of low-volume SKUs, that is an excellent option for you. If you have fewer SKUs with a high volume of each, you will want a dense storage solution to consolidate your rack footprint. 

Tip #5 – Use a Reputable Rack Manufacturer – this is an area where reputation really does matter. Leading rack manufacturers have a lot riding on the success of their rack systems. An established rack manufacturer relies on strict quality controls, conditions, and safety checks. They will also provide warranty and expert service technicians, engineering, and field support.  International manufacturers, by comparison, may not meet U.S. quality regulations or RMI standards, and you may have difficulty with installation, service, certificate of occupancy, and/or rack safety. This is one area where “Go with what you know” is the right answer. Asking for references is always a good practice.

Tip #6 – Used Rack Risk  –  Used rack systems are abundant. What is less abundant is often the information specific to each rack system, i.e., manufacturer, gauge, specifications, stresses from the original installation, etc. Again the initial price point can be very tempting, but with the work that you have to put into gathering specs, producing engineering plans for approval, reconfiguring to meet your inventory requirements, perhaps replacing base plates or refurbishing components, and potential installation difficulties, you have to seriously consider the projected final costs of a custom-designed new system to a reconfigured used rack system.

Tip #7 – Is Appearance Important? – most likely, you will choose colors to paint the components of your rack system, but is paint just paint? We suggest looking for a powder coat finish over other popular options. It is more durable, able to withstand washdown, and has a nicer overall finish. A galvanized coat will add a moisture barrier to protect the rack against corrosion. A little expense upfront can save you down the road in repairs and replacement.  

Find a Dealer You Can Trust

There is a lot more to purchasing pallet rack than looks and cost. These systems last for many years, so a smart investment should check off your inventory needs for today and as much as you can anticipate into the future. Working with an experienced, professional dealer like Warehouse Optimizers, Inc. (WOI) will get you the most cost-effective result.

The WOI team will walk you through every stage of the process. We strive for nothing less than expert customer service to deliver outstanding results and peace of mind. We call it our 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™.

WOI will:

1. Listen to your needs
2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application
3. Stick to project timelines
4. Ensure a safe environment
5. Pay close attention to the detail  of the finished product

If you are going to invest in drive-in racks in your warehouse, there are many things to consider, such as what are the advantages of drive-in racks? Under what circumstances do consumers need to buy it? What should I pay attention to when using the drive-in rack?

• What are the advantages of drive-in shelving?

• What do you need to know before investing in drive-in racking systems?

• When should the drive-in rack be used?

  If you are looking for more details, kindly visit drive in racking system.

• Notes on drive-in rack

What are the advantages of drive-in shelving?

1.One of the most important jobs in any warehouse is to keep your inventory on top and use your available space efficiently. Creating drives in the warehouse allows you to take full advantage of footprint when storing products vertically. This maximizes space without having to look for more space on the ground. Cargo can be packed more densely and pallets and items can be retrieved or placed more easily during loading and unloading.

2. Installing the drive in racking system will also help reduce the number of damaged goods you encounter in the warehouse. This is because modern systems now rely on heavy duty frames that have multiple horizontal and multiple position pallets in the structure. The actuators in the rack system are more durable than previous models, and the properly installed equipment can withstand less impact and forklift impacts.

3. Because drive in racking systems make better use of space than other types of storage systems, they help create faster workflows, throughput, and final order fulfillment. Since goods can be moved back and forth throughout the process without any delay, continuous restocking and packaging of outstanding orders provides a platform to reduce lead times and improve customer satisfaction.

What do you need to know before investing in drive-in racking systems?

1.When choosing a drive-in rack system, consider whether the purpose of the warehouse is to provide maximum storage capacity or to improve efficiency. Keeping an eye on the goal will enable you to design rack systems to better utilize space or run efficiently. In general, if you want to provide long-term storage for your customers, you want to focus on space utilization.

2. The size of the warehouse determines the daily output. However, maximize efficiency by considering how many forklifts you plan to use at the same time. When choosing, planning the traffic route allows you to avoid warehouse conflicts and enhance security. Pay attention to warehouse layout and pay particular attention to aisles, doors and tunnels when selecting drive-in racking systems.

3. When looking for a drive-in rack system, consider the design and security of the rack system. While most frame construction is made of sturdy materials, some manufacturers offer an aesthetic that lacks strength. Do your research and do your due diligence, and only select the manufacturer that provides greater security for the product.

4. In the design phase, attention must be paid to the crane to be used. The lift is crucial because it determines how much freight to carry each day. If you have an existing crane, it is especially important to consider the crane you want to use. Ideally, its specific measurements should be considered when designing.

5. When selecting, please note the specific size of the warehouse. Pay special attention to the area accessibility factors in the width, height, and elevation of the rack to be used. As a general rule for selecting the area to stack, add 12 inches to the top and sides to allow forklift use.

6. Finally, think about the budget and set a predetermined number and work on it. Because it affects storage space and design, always consider the goals of the warehouse. If your budget is limited, choose an embedded rack-type system that gives you the best efficiency and storage space, and allows for future expansion.

When should the drive-in rack be used?

1. If your products require refrigerated/refrigerated storage.

2. If you have a large number of similar products and limited space, an internal drive rack may be your best choice for storage.

3. If your product load is fragile, it cannot be stored in the block stack.

4. If you have a large number of pallets for similar products, drive in racking makes more efficient use of space in the warehouse than alternative types of shelving, where there is space between many aisles for forklifts.

Notes on drive-in rack

1. When you install the drive in racking system that goes through the rack, you also rely on a forklift to move the pallets in and out of position. If you already have one or two, there is no guarantee that it matches a pallet-rack-sized drive. In order for the forklift to work successfully with the system, the width usually needs to be narrower. Of course, you will be aware of this when researching the system to invest in, so be sure to check the current forklift specifications before submitting.

2. Another disadvantage when using a drive in racking is that it relies on a LIFO (last in, first out) rotation method. This means that new, fresh products must be positioned at the front of the shelf before old ones. This can lead to old products being left unused and wasted. This is something to watch out for, and more attention needs to be paid to inventory turnover, especially in warehouses with fixed periods for use by date.

Whether buying drive-in shelves is a wise decision depends on your specific needs, and while drive-in shelves have many advantages, there are a number of things that require extra attention when using them. Before investing in drive-in racks, make sure you choose a qualified shelf vendor. If you are looking for a supplier of drive in racking that can provide you with high quality products at reasonable prices, Jiangsu NOVA Intelligent Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. will be a wise choice.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of rivet shelving manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.