Consider these five things before buying pallet racking and avoid the headaches that come from purchasing the wrong warehouse equipment.
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Information like pallet size and pallet weight are simple factors that optimize your racking dimensions. If your product stacks neatly on standard pallets (40' wide x 48' deep), standard racking size of 96' long beams with 42' deep uprights is the best.
But if your pallets are lightweight and stacked very low (say 24'), you want to have the most shelves possible per vertical section. Here, a thick beam will limit the number of shelves / section (because the beam itself uses up valuable vertical space).
Product rotation frequency, stack-ability, and pick-ability are game changers that allow you to push the limits of storage efficiency. For example, if your pallets are very heavy & stable when stacked, and you have a lot of the same inventory, floor stacking could be an option. If you have high quantities of repetitive inventory that is not time sensitive, Push-Back or Drive-In rack systems give you the most dense & efficient use of your storage space. For those who require FIFO, Pallet-Flow systems can do the same. Look for factors like these to share with your pallet racking professional so that they can show you the right options.
In a typical pallet racking system, aisles take up about 60% of the floor space; and the space above the aisle is not storing product! Know that you can limit aisle space with good layout and planning. You can cut that percentage point, to 50-55%, by using alternative racking systems, different forklifts and a little intelligent space design.
For example: the typical material handler on a counterbalanced forklift needs a 12' to 12'-6' wide aisle to access product; more than this is generally wasteful. Without the right forklift, insufficient aisle width will impede flow and lead to collisions.
Some alternatives: Stand-up reach trucks can help bring aisles widths down to 8'-6', while stock pickers and turret trucks support alternative picking methods can reduce aisles size to as low as 4'-4' wide. Better yet, if you're able to use deep storage systems, you can eliminate many aisles altogether, multiplying your capacity.
A custom system can provide very specific benefits which are tough to measure in the details, but easy to recognize as part of the big-picture. You're not just buying pallet racking. Think about how using a less than optimal system adds costs to your overhead. How tightly do you stack your products? Are you frequently traveling to the far corner of the warehouse? Is it easy to find the pallet you need to pull? When making a decision about storage systems, these time and material operating expenses should be weighed against the total cost of your optimal storage system. Think of it like a water heater. The high efficiency unit may cost twice as much, but it pays for itself after a few years of low energy bills.
Up-front costs are easy to calculate: equipment, shipment, & installation prices are typical; sometimes layout design and maintenance are additional factors to consider. Many businesses are comfortable buying used equipment because it comes at a discount and is readily available with little or no cosmetic differences.
It is not as easy to measure other factors like: compactness, dock-to-rack time, lighting, and signage. FIFO deep storage systems work well between the manufacturing line and dock doors, nearly eliminating dock-to-rack time. In turn, deploying this system can result in shorter traveling distances, less cross traffic.
Change can be easy or difficult, but in business, change is inevitable. Pallet racking is designed to be reusable and is easily adjustable. Why not take advantage of this? Too many business rush into buying pallet racking, and install it without considering how it can adapt as storage needs change. When a few poorly placed racking bays are expanded on, the system can lock you into a flawed layout. And once your building is full of product, the cost of reconfiguring rises considerably.
Take time to accurately measure your warehouse and consider how your racking should be oriented and spaced in order to set a good layout that can be easily reconfigured. If you are unsure about your layout, or have a challenging building, a small investment with the right material handling design consultant can make all the difference, saving time and money in the long run. Naturally, we think Arker Warehouse is the best company to call, but you get to be judge of that.
Does your warehouse look more like a janitor's closet or a showroom?
Warehouse facilities with few employees, visitors, and secondary purposes probably don't depend on their equipment looking a certain way. This is an opportunity for buying pallet racking for optimal function, cost, and availability. There is a huge range in appearance and condition in used pallet racking; see our other Resource Articles for more information. Remember to always purchase safe and capacity-appropriate racking. Still, savings can come from buying racking with stickers and faded or mixed colors. For example, if you have beams with lots of stickers, you can hide most of the stickers on the inside of your rack, exposing clean beams on the outside.
Keep in mind, some deals are too good to be true. Be careful about buying too many different styles of racking. Components are not interchangeable, and older styles may become difficult to source for future needs. Buying too many different sizes can be even more problematic. Using various beam lengths in the same system (without a strategic reason) makes loading pallets more difficult. That breaks the concentration of your lift operators and leading to damaged goods. The same issue can lead to lots of wasted space where oversized racking bays equal lost pallet positions and tight sections go un-utilized.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of warehouse pallet racking. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
On the other end of the spectrum, your warehouse may have lots of employees, visitors walking through, or sophisticated systems on display. In this case, purchasing new racking can provide the assurance that your system will be uniform, function specific, and perfectly color coordinated. Used racking can accomplish approximately the same levels of operating perfection. However, not all racking dealers care about these concerns (or are even aware of them). If you want uniformity and custom solutions, be crystal clear about your needs. That should lead you to the dealer who shares your concerns.
Pallet racking has sophistication built-in, with the goal of fast install, adjustability, and reuse. Your storage system is equipment meant to save your business time and money. With these tips, you can take better advantage of those benefits. Start by knowing your product and find the right professionals to take you the rest of the way. Set the bar high to take care of your bottom line!
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.
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:
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.
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:
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