How to Choose the Right Pallet Racking for your Warehouse

There comes a time in the growth of every warehouse that you need to invest in a pallet racking system, either for your rapidly expanding business or for a newly opened subsidiary of your facility. It may be tempting to browse online for any run-of-the-mill warehouse pallet racking, but carefully choosing a high quality product will serve your business better in the long run. We’ve compiled some questions below that you can ask yourself to determine the right pallet racking system for your warehouse’s needs: 1) What is your required storage density? Depending on how much you need to store within your facility, you may find that storage density is especially important to you. Look for systems that provide greater storage density by maximising the available space in your warehouse. Deep-lane storage might be right for your business, meaning it’s well worth determining your storage density before making a purchasing decision. 2) What is your required capacity? It’s critical to know that your chosen pallet racking system can handle the heaviest pallet that you will be working with. Always weigh your heaviest pallets and choose a system that can handle this weight. This way, you ensure that the pallet racking system will be able to support all your inventory, from the lightest to the heaviest. Similarly, it’s essential to factor in how much space you are working with, including available floor space and the height of your facility. 3) What will you be storing? The type of warehouse pallet racking you require depends on what you will be storing. Food storage, for example, will necessitate wire racking for hygiene purposes, while push back racking is best suited for lengths of timber or tubing. Whether you are storing your products on pallets is also a factor to consider. Some bulky products can be placed on shelves as they are, while small items can be placed in boxes. The appropriate warehouse pallet racking system for you will depend on whether all your product is stored on pallets, or whether you need to store loose items. 4) What is your selectivity? Selectivity means how often you must access each SKU (stock keeping unit), and plays an integral part in choosing the appropriate pallet racking system for you. For example, if you need access to all your SKUs simultaneously, you’re better off with a lower density storage system. 5) Do you need a FIFO or LIFO pallet racking system? The efficiency of your warehouse depends largely on whether a FIFO (first in, first out) or LIFO (last in, first out) system is best for you. As the name suggests, the products that are added first in a FIFO system are also removed first. On the other hand, in a LIFO system, the products you add later are removed first. Depending on the operational processes of your warehouse, one may be better suited to your needs than the other. Another factor which can inform whether you need a FIFO or LIFO system is your picking profiles, or the way that stock is moved from the warehouse. Whether you are picking cases, pieces or pallets as well as how this process functions will influence your choice of pallet racking system. 6) What regulations do you need to follow? Before deciding on a pallet racking system, make sure you are well-informed regarding any state or national regulations that may apply to your warehouse. This can include materials you can use and what type of system is most suitable for your warehouse. 7) Do you require forklift access? Certain pallet racking systems are designed specifically for easy forklift access. If this is necessary for you, research what kind of access different systems provide, in terms of different lift truck sizes and levels. Choosing the right pallet racking system for your required forklift access will help to protect your product and racks while creating a safer and more efficient workplace. 8) What is your warehouse environment like? The climate of your warehouse, wash-down requirements and any special product handling needs can all affect what material or type of pallet racking system you should have. Asking yourself the above questions will help you determine what your warehouse’s needs are. From here, simply contact a reputable industrial storage solutions company for personalised product recommendations.