Pallet Racking Services
Across Yorkshire & the Midlands

Pallet racking and shelving differ primarily in their load capacity and intended use.
Pallet racking is engineered for storing large, heavy items such as palletised goods. It typically consists of upright frames and horizontal beams, forming strong bays that can be accessed by forklift. Pallet racking systems may feature open bays, timber or mesh decking, or no decking at all, depending on the application.

In contrast, shelving is designed for lighter, hand-picked items such as archive boxes, tools, files, or retail stock. Shelving units usually incorporate solid shelves and are ideal for environments like workshops, storerooms, or back-office storage.

Put simply, if you’re storing heavy pallet loads, pallet racking is the solution. If you need to organise smaller items manually, shelving is likely the better fit.

Organising your warehouse with pallet racking systems is key to improving efficiency, maximising storage space, and ensuring smooth operations. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Plan Your Layout: Start by mapping out your warehouse space, taking into account the size and shape of your inventory, the height of your ceiling, and the available floor space. Arrange your racking systems in a way that optimises both vertical and horizontal space, ensuring there’s enough room for forklifts and other equipment to move around easily.
• Choose the Right Racking System: Depending on your inventory, select the most suitable type of pallet racking. For example:
  • • Adjustable pallet racking is ideal for a wide range of products that need direct access.
  • Drive-in racking maximises space for storing large quantities of the same product.
  • Push-back racking allows for high-density storage with easy access to multiple pallets.
• Organise by Product Type: Group similar products together to streamline picking and stocking processes. For instance, store fast-moving items near the front or in easily accessible areas, and keep slower-moving or bulk items in less accessible parts of the warehouse.
• Labelling and Signage: Clearly label each aisle, rack, and shelf to make it easy for warehouse staff to locate and retrieve items quickly. Implementing a barcode or RFID system can further enhance inventory management and reduce errors.
• Optimise Picking Paths: Arrange your system to minimise the distance that workers need to travel during the picking process. A well-organised layout should allow for efficient picking paths, reducing time spent moving between racks.
• Maintain Aisle Widths: Ensure that the aisles between your pallet racks are wide enough for forklifts to manoeuvre safely. The right aisle width depends on the type of equipment you use, but generally, it should be wide enough to allow easy access to all stored items without risking damage to the racking or products.
• Implement FIFO or LIFO Systems: Depending on your inventory turnover, decide whether a first-in, first-out (FIFO) or last-in, first-out (LIFO) system is more suitable. Pallet flow racking is excellent for FIFO, while push-back racking works well for LIFO.
• Regularly Review and Adjust: As your inventory changes or your business grows, regularly review your warehouse organisation and make adjustments to your racking system as needed. This ensures that your warehouse remains efficient and that space is used optimally.

By following these steps, you can effectively organise your warehouse with warehouse racking systems, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the safety and productivity of your warehouse operations.

Choosing the right pallet racking system is crucial for optimising storage space, ensuring efficient operations, and maintaining warehouse safety. Here’s how to select the best system for your needs:

• Evaluate Your Storage Needs: Start by assessing the types of products you store, including their size, weight, and how often they need to be accessed. For example, heavy, bulky items may require a robust system like drive-in racking, while lighter, frequently accessed items might be better suited for adjustable pallet racking.
• Consider Space Utilisation: Take into account the layout and size of your warehouse, including ceiling height and available floor space. adjustable pallet racking is ideal for maximising vertical space in warehouses with high ceilings, while push-back racking or drive-in racking can optimise floor space in smaller warehouses by reducing the number of aisles needed.
• Determine Accessibility Requirements: If your warehouse operations require frequent access to a wide variety of products, adjustable pallet racking is typically the best choice because it provides direct access to every pallet. For storage of large quantities of uniform items where access is less frequent, drive-in or push-back racking might be more suitable.
• Load Capacity Considerations: It’s essential to choose a racking system that can safely support the weight of your inventory. Be sure to verify the load-bearing capacity of the racking system, especially if you store heavy goods, to prevent overloading and ensure the long-term safety and stability of the racking.
• Think About Inventory Management: Your inventory management strategy—whether you follow first-in, first-out (FIFO) or last-in, first-out (LIFO)—will influence your choice of racking system. Pallet flow racking is excellent for FIFO operations, ensuring that older stock is used first, while push-back racking is ideal for LIFO setups, where newer stock is retrieved first.
• Plan for Future Growth: Choose a system that is scalable and can be expanded or reconfigured as your business grows. Modular racking systems offer the flexibility to adapt to changing storage needs, making them a wise investment for growing warehouses.
• Budget Considerations: While the upfront cost is important, consider the long-term value of the racking system, including maintenance costs and potential for expansion. Selective pallet racking is often the most cost-effective for general use, but specialised systems like drive-in racking or cantilever racking might offer better value for specific applications.
• Safety and Compliance: Ensure that the racking system you choose complies with industry safety standards and regulations. This includes considering the seismic design, especially if your warehouse is in an earthquake-prone area, and making sure the racking is properly anchored and installed.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select the system that best suits your warehouse’s specific needs, ensuring efficient use of space, ease of access, and long-term safety.

Pallet racking systems are essential for optimising storage in warehouses, distribution centres, and industrial facilities. They allow for the efficient organisation of palletised goods, maximising both vertical and horizontal space. There are several types of pallet racking systems available, each designed to meet specific storage needs and operational requirements.

1. Selective Pallet Racking

• Overview: The most common and versatile type of pallet racking. It allows direct access to every pallet, making it ideal for warehouses with a wide variety of products.
• How It Works: Pallets are stored on horizontal beams that are attached to vertical uprights. Forklifts can easily access each pallet, making this system highly efficient for operations that require frequent access to different products.
• Advantages: Easy access, flexible configuration, cost-effective. Suitable for first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory systems.

2. Drive-In and Drive-Through Racking

• Overview: Designed for high-density storage, this system allows forklifts to drive directly into the racking structure.
• Drive-In Racking: Forklifts enter from one side, and pallets are stored in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) manner. Ideal for storing large quantities of the same product.
• Drive-Through Racking: Access is provided from both ends, allowing first-in, first-out (FIFO) management. Suitable for perishable goods.
• Advantages: Maximises storage space by eliminating aisles, ideal for bulk storage of uniform products.

3. Push Back Racking

• Overview: A high-density storage system that uses carts on inclined rails. When a new pallet is loaded, it pushes the previous pallet back.
• How It Works: Pallets are loaded from the front, and each subsequent pallet pushes the previous one back. Pallets move forward under gravity when the front pallet is removed.
• Advantages: Efficient use of space, allows multiple pallets deep storage per level, ideal for LIFO inventory management.

4. Pallet Flow Racking (Gravity Flow Racking)

• Overview: This system uses gravity rollers to automatically move pallets from the loading end to the unloading end, supporting first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory management.
• How It Works: Pallets are loaded at one end and glide on a sloped rail to the other end. This system is ideal for warehouses handling large volumes of perishable goods or products with expiration dates.
• Advantages: Ensures FIFO stock rotation, reduces handling time, maximises space usage.

5. Cantilever Racking

• Overview: Ideal for storing long, bulky items such as lumber, pipes, or furniture.
• How It Works: It consists of vertical columns with horizontal arms extending from them, allowing products to be stored without obstruction from vertical supports.
• Advantages: Highly flexible, easy to load and unload long items, customisable arm lengths and capacities.

6. Double Deep Pallet Racking

• Overview: Similar to selective racking but allows for two pallets deep storage, increasing storage density.
• How It Works: Requires special forklifts with extended reach to access the second row of pallets. Best suited for LIFO operations.
• Advantages: Maximises storage capacity while maintaining selectivity.

7. Mobile Pallet Racking

• Overview: Racks are mounted on mobile bases that move along tracks, allowing aisles to be opened up as needed.
• How It Works: Operators can move the racks to create an aisle only where it’s needed, thus saving space.
• Advantages: Increases storage capacity by up to 80% compared to static racking, suitable for high-value storage where space efficiency is critical.

Conclusion

Each of these pallet racking systems is designed to meet specific storage needs, whether it’s for easy access to a wide range of products, maximising storage density, or ensuring proper inventory management. Choosing the right system depends on factors such as the types of goods stored, warehouse layout, and operational requirements.

Pallet racking is a warehouse storage system designed to store materials on pallets, utilising vertical space to optimise storage efficiency. It consists of upright frames and horizontal beams that create shelves for holding pallets. Pallet racking systems allow for easy access and retrieval of goods using forklifts, making them an essential solution for maximising space and improving inventory management in warehouses.