The racking system is the most important factor that changes the layout of a warehouse or storage. The working of employees, management of warehouses, and even productivity depend on the storage racking system.
So, choosing suitable storage racking makes a huge difference in the bottom line of a warehouse. A well-designed rack can easily increase the storage space up to 40% and more. But, how to know which racking system is suitable for your storage?
For simplifying your task, we have enlisted various types of racking systems. Also, for your better understanding, we have put some focus on storage racking systems.
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What is a Storage Racking System?
A storage racking system is a structure designed for stacking products on multiple levels in a horizontal row. Also, the storage racking system helps manage and utilize warehouse space the most.
Every warehouse has a different set of requirements. So, the system you choose must be able to increase the space without hampering the picking process and the other operations.
Types of Storage Racking Systems That You Should Know
As you know, every storage is unique in itself; that is why their requirements are. Well, check out the list of a wide range of storage racking systems.
Compact Racking
The first one on our list is a compact rack. It’s a very high-density warehouse racking system. It helps in optimizing height and storage space by reducing the truck work aisles.
Mostly, in compact racking, manufacturers create parallel aisles inside the structure. Furthermore, their forklifts can move and enter over the pallet loading as well as unloading. For the space issue, compact storage systems are the best choice.
Basically, there are two kinds of compact racking:
1) Drive-Through Pallet Rack
The first one is to drive through a pallet rack, it requires two work aisle accesses, and it should be one on each rack’s side. It operates as per the FIFO method. This means First in, First out; the first item in the pallet is the one first to be taken out. Usually, a FIFO storage system is suggested for storage having rotational items.
2) Drive-in Pallet Rack
Here users require one access aisle for the forklift. It works with the Last in, First out (LIFO) product management method. This means the last pallet will be the first one to leave the rack.
Single-Rivet Boltless Racking System
It is a simple and lightweight boltless rack that is used to store products. Furthermore, this rack is beneficial for low-weight and medium-weight items. The single-river boltless rack includes particleboard, wood board, and aluminum decking.
Also, with the feature of being lightweight, the rack includes cold-rolled sheet steel beams. Further, the racks offer structural integrity to medium or light-duty applications. A Single-Rivet unit has thin beams and is 48′ in width. And these characteristics are beneficial in increasing accessibility and visibility.
Well, this racking system is the best choice if you own a package distribution facility or a small postal. Moreover, this is easy to use in residential-based garages.
Standard Adjustable Pallet Racking
As the name says, this is a flexible and adjustable pallet rack. It can be used for industrial purposes in which items are stored mechanically with the help of forklifts.
With the help of forklifts, the workers in a warehouse can access the items. Even the employees can get the products placed on aisles that are placed parallel to the racking system. Furthermore, it has direct access to the items placed on it. Also, it consists of standard aisle width and is stored on the back side of the rack as a single pallet.
Double Deep Pallet Racking
It is a rack that has some qualities of compact systems as well as adjustable racks. In a double deep pallet rack, items get stored in the two depths. That is why the rack consists of a high storage density.
Moreover, the rack is used in forklift conjunction. And the rack is easily fitted with a pantograph mechanism. It is a great storage solution that includes outstanding racking features.
VNA Pallet Racking
VNA stands for a very narrow aisle pallet rack. It is a compact version of an adjustable pallet rack. Also, help in creating higher density and capacity storage without space.
Well, VNA is compacted by narrowing the aisles. Further, the result will be saving space by at least 40%, and the minimum width of the aisle should be 1.5 m.
Here, special handling equipment is needed for installing racks in the warehouse. But once the rack is installed, the work will be smooth and easier.
Long-Span Boltless Racking System
The long-span boltless shelving is also known as a double-rivet. The “long-span” term means it simply indicates the boltless shelving systems.’ but it is heavy-duty in nature. Also, it is able to accept longer and heavier items with a 96′ width.
Also, this racking system consists of robust steel shelving and heavier decking. This offers high structural integrity. However, as compared to single-rivet units, it is limited in accessibility. Furthermore, it is easy to find long-span shelving in supply rooms, larger distribution centers, or warehouses.
Pallet Flow or Gravity Flow Storage
It is a roller bed design that moves the pallets into the last open position. Just like drive-through racking, the lane consists of two openings. One opening is on the front side, and the second is at the rear.
Moreover, the pallet gets loaded to the rear side. And after loading, the pallet starts rolling with the lane on the front. The inclined plane at the rear is very important. Also, the off-loading is for the rack’s front side.
The pallet flow racks are best for high volume and low SKU number applications. Also, for FIFO, this rack is great for inventory management. Also, it is a dynamic system that is prone to damage from forklifts. It can prevent the collapse of items placed on a racking system.
Final Words:
So have you found this article helpful? As now you have enough knowledge of different storage racks, it would be easier to choose the suitable one.
Moreover, the type of racks depends on the shape and size of your storage. We hope you have liked the information on the racking system types in a distribution center or warehouse.
