Pallet racks are used to store and transfer large amounts of goods. Here are the most common types.
When transferring or storing a vast amount of goods, businesses need the proper equipment to hold them. Pallet racks are often used for just this job. They are storage and material handling aid systems, designed to hold a large number of goods in horizontal rows with multiple levels. The shelves of these are called pallets. Pallet racking comes in many forms, but some stand out as the most common of all types.
Floor Stacking
This is the simplest form of pallet racking. For floor stacking, pallets are placed on the ground in rows and can be as deep as floor space allows. Pallets can be stacked if they are able to support the weight.
Selective Pallet Racking
Selective pallet racking is the most common form of pallet rack systems. A vertical system contains beams that act as slots for pallets to rest on. Each vertical “aisle” for pallets is called a “bay.” Selective pallet racking is an adjustable system and can be one to two pallets deep.
Drive-In Pallet Racking
Drive-in pallet racking is made for high-density storage. It is designed for a forklift to come in, retrieve or insert material goods, and exit the same way it came in. It is the right storage system for LIFO (last in, first out) transferring, in which the materials can have a longer shelf-life.
Drive-Through Pallet Racking
On the other hand, drive-through pallet racking has an entry and exit on both sides of the system. Drive-through systems are typically FIFO (first in, first out,) good for materials that do not last as long. Both drive-in and drive-through pallet rack systems can be about 6-8 pallets deep.
Push Back Pallet Systems
Push back pallet racking is also known for being good high-density storage, loading, and unloading system. Pallets roll down in lanes to be unloaded and loaded up once more. Each lane holds 2-5 pallets. Push backs are good for LIFO.
Pallet Flow Rack Systems
These rack systems are also known as gravity flow racks. Pallet lanes are on an incline, using gravity to transfer loads to its front side to be unloaded. Controls help regulate the speed of the movement and also have brakes. This works well as a FIFO.
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