Industrial storage racks are steel structures that are suitable for storing large amounts of goods that are unitized on pallets or skids. They are an integral part of manufacturing plants, storage facilities, and warehouses. They are made and designed in a wide range of styles which are push-back racks, pallet racks, cantilever racks, and rolling racks. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Ridg-U-Rak®, Inc.
North East, PA | 866-479-7225Ridg-U-Rak produces more than 100 million pounds of pallet rack, high density storage rack and specialized rack systems annually. A customer-centric, full-service pallet rack producer with over 400,000 square feet of production and warehouse space, Ridg-U-Rak offers engineering, design, project management and installation services that meet your pallet rack needs on time and on budget.
Steel King Industries, Inc.
Stevens Point, WI | 800-826-0203Steel King offers the industry’s widest selection of rack types, including roll-form and structural pallet racks, drive-in racks, gravity flow and push back storage systems, multi-level pick modules, automation integration, cantilever racks, portable racks, and custom shipping racks. Plus a full-line of guard rail and rack protection products. Full engineering staff and more than 200 standard Quick Ship products.
Quality Material Handling, Inc.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 800-404-RACKQuality Material Handling (QMH) is a leading total solutions provider for boltless shelving, warehouse racking, storage systems, mezzanines, and dock equipment. With over 29 years of experience and an in-house fabrication facility, QMH designs and manufactures innovative custom solutions such as dock platforms and ramps that solve difficult loading and unloading challenges. We are a full-service warehouse solutions provider committed to doing things the right way.
Metalware
Montreal, QC | 833-937-9533Metalware has been known as a leader in the storage racks and steel shelving industries since 1954. We strive to provide excellent customer service, high-quality products, and competitive prices. Our experienced team of engineers and technicians work closely with customers to ensure that each product is designed and manufactured to their exact specifications. Over the years, we have continued to grow and expand, raising industry standards in the process.
Husky Rack & Wire
Denver, NC | 800-438-5629Husky Rack & Wire is a leading storage rack manufacturer that provides high-quality welded wire decks, pallet racks, security wire partition enclosures and warehouse racks. Husky Rack & Wire is committed to customer satisfaction and high-quality products. Visit our website today!
Storage Solutions
Westfield, IN | 866-881-0201Storage Solutions is a manufacturer of mezzanines, work platforms, pallets, shelving and more! We were founded in 1978 in central Indiana with multiple locations to serve our customers from. We work to give engineers and managers of warehouses and distributions centers a manufacturer they can count on! Our project managers work with you to ensure that your project goes as planned from start to finish. We have our own installation teams that have decades of experience. We offer both new and used equipment to help you find the perfect solution that fits in your budget! Call us today to learn how we can help you!
Products that have been palletized are mostly stacked to less than four layers before it is unsafe and prone to fall. Industrial racking systems allow manufacturers to store palletized products more than six stacks high, depending on the height of the warehouse or plant.
Considerations in Industrial Storage Racks
Before investing in industrial storage racks, it is crucial to note important factors to determine the viability of the project.
Available Storage Space
The initial step is to assess the amount of space that is available for storage rack construction. For an existing warehouse, all of the floor areas can be made use of. Industrial storage racks come in standard sizes.
Vertical Clearance
The amount of vertical space available needs to be assessed. The available vertical clearance has a direct influence on the storage racking density. The storage density can be minimized by the addition of one or two layers to an existing pallet with three layers. It is crucial to note also the clearance requirements for obstructions to airflow and fire suppression systems.
Unitized Load Dimensions
There is a need to consider the size and shape of the pallets that need to be stored. The industrial racking system must be designed to meet specific palletized loads.
Load
By the selection of the appropriate material, the frame must be capable of supporting the pallet load. Most of the industrial racking systems are manufactured using steel but their creation is through different methods. Heavy duty applications need steel that is made by the extrusion or hot rolling methods while lighter loads can make use of cold rolled steel.
The Volume of Incoming and Outgoing Goods
The volume of incoming and outgoing goods is linked to the target capacity of an industrial storage system. It is of utmost importance to know the rate at which goods are off-loaded or are being sold as well as the determination of seasons that have very low demands. Low storage space usually results in a lower rate of production and as a result, there will be a huge impact on the profit margins.
Types of Industrial Racking Systems
There are several types of industrial storage racks with different configurations and designs which are for specific applications.
Selective Racking
Selective racking can be viewed as large shelves that consist of storage space for only a single row of items. It has the lowest storage density. For the storage density to be improved, the racks can be arranged in a back-to-back pattern. Selective pallet racking can be combined with other system types of industrial racks. The selective racking system also offers several advantages like the operability of standard forklifts, design flexibility, simple construction that allows for easy reconfiguration, and the accessibility for cleaning and inventory accounting. Selective racking has frame and beam designs that are classified as slotted or teardrop racks
Teardrop Racks – Consist of the modified beam and frame attachments that can be expanded and configured much more easily without the use of machines.
Slotted Racks – Are also known as structural racks. They consist of a rectangular opening pair that is milled along with the frame that is vertical or upright.
Double-Deep Pallet Racking
Double-deep pallet racking is a modification of selective racking. It uses two rows per pallet shelf instead of single pallet rows. Their design increases storage capacity by forty to sixty percent.
Very Narrow Aisle Racking
The concept of very narrow aisle racking is to continually improve space utilization of a standard selective. This is achieved by loading pallets by a forklift that is able to perform side loading. There are numerous types of industrial storage racking systems such as: push-back which involves the loading of the pallet on carts resting on rail pairs that are on each push-back lane. Drive-in and drive-through racking, gravity flow, cantilever, carton flow, mobile racking, high bay racking, and chrome wire racking are other examples.
Benefits of Industrial Storage Racks
Industrial storage racks offer several advantages that have made them essential in warehouses and storage engineering. Some of these are listed below:
- Efficient space utilization
- Easy inventory organization
- Fewer damaged goods
- Increased employee productivity
- Storage automation
- Increased safety
- Clean and contaminant-free handling
