Pallet rack systems are essential to organizing large warehouses. To buy the right pallet rack, make sure you work with qualified vendors: buying a used pallet rack directly from a previous owner might save you a little money up front, but can result in serious problems down the line.
Before you start talking to pallet rack vendors, though, you have to carefully evaluate your needs. Start by measuring the standard size and weight of each full pallet. It's helpful to have both the average and the upper limits of weight.
Then consider how many pallets you'll want to be able to store – again, get an estimate of your standard inventory as well as the maximum. How you rotate your products or materials is also important: a first-in, first-out system requires different racks than a first-in last-out approach.
Depending on your storage needs, there are several types of pallet racks systems to choose from:
Single deep racks hold a single pallet in each bay, so you can always get access to every pallet. They are the simplest to configure but don’t provide as much storage density as other systems. They can be
Double deep racks, as the name implies, store two pallets in each bay. It's a more efficient use of space, but obviously limits access to pallets in the rear. This system also requires extended reach lift trucks.
Drive in and drive through racks are set up to allow the forklift to drive straight in to pick and place loads. Drive-through racks have entries at both ends of the bays, drive-in racks only have one entrance.
Cantilever racks are best for storing long items – pipe, lumber, and the like. Instead of fixed-width bays, they use supporting arms that can hold your irregularly shaped items.
Pallet rack components
Most racks have two major components: upright frames provide the structural strength, and horizontal beams actually hold the materials you're storing. The beams can be attached to the frames using bolts, or "boltless" using other types of snap-in fasteners, such as the popular teardrop pallet rack. Teardrop racks are easily reconfigured to accommodate different sized pallets, while bolted or structural pallet racks have slightly more capacity.
For additional stability, rack systems can be bolted to the floor, rear wall, or ceiling. Your vendor should have the final say, but in most cases this is only necessary for very tall rack systems.
Be sure of safety with the R-Mark
One way to make sure that the rack system you're choosing meets safety and technical standards is to look for the R-Mark, a symbol of certification from the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI).
To get this status, a rack manufacturer has to adhere to manufacturing and design standards set by RMI. Design documents and capacity charts are reviewed by the institute for accuracy and safety, and those that pass are entitled to display the R-Mark seal on the documents as well as the racks themselves.
