How to Choose the Right Type of Pallet Racking for Your Business Needs

Pallet racking is a strong and space efficient structure which enables you to store inventory pallets vertically across multiple levels. A forklift can be used to place and remove pallets and visibility of stock is increased as each pallet front is visible.

These storage solutions have become extremely popular due to the fact that they increase storage density of any area and can be configured to fit a variety of spaces.

The lifespan of pallet racking options will vary according to brand, but you can access Australian standard warehouse pallet racking which can last for more than 20 years in some cases. This makes this form of storage an extremely cost efficient option for business owners.

However, if you are going to benefit from the best pallet racking in Melbourne, you need to know which type of shelves, pallets, and storage system is best for your warehouse.

Picking the right pallet racking system for your business, will ensure that you are optimising all of your available storage space, improve inventory management, increase fulfillment productivity, improve customer service, and reduce your overall costs.

Below we will look at the different types of pallet racks available and what you need to know to make sure you select the right pallet racking for your everyday operations.

What Different Types of Pallet Racking Are Available?

Pallet racking is available in different designs, capacities, materials and accessibility and the best choice for you will depend on the inventory you are storing and the warehouse environment. Here are some of the different types of pallet racking you can consider:

• Double-Deep Pallet Racking gives you double the normal storage capacity of standard pallet racks without increasing the number of racks you need. This makes these a great option for those looking to optimise every niche of available storage space.
• Mezzanine Pallet Racks are freestanding storage shelving which is raised above the floor space, doubling the mezzanine floor functionality of the warehouse or stock room.
• Push Back Pallet Racking includes slidable carriages which allow stacked pallets to slid forward each time you remove one from the rack. This design is perfect for a last-in-first-out fulfilment system.
• Flow Pallet Racking in Melbourne works as a conveyor-like system which will push inventory items from the back to the front. These systems are best suited to a first-in-first-out system.
• Selective Pallet Racking systems are made up of two racks placed back to back, giving easy access to each pallet. This is a great option if you have limited inventory for each product SKU and high differentiation between products.
• Cantilever Racking is a heavy duty, secure option which can support heavier loads with a bolted bases and strong solid shelves. This is a great option for business owners looking for storage systems for wood, doors, pipes and panels.
• Drive-In Pallet Racks are space saving options which reduce the need to aisles in between inventory. Instead, you can drive down the shelving system directly to access stock.
• Vertical Pallet Racking has been designed to enable you to keep tall objects such as tubes, pipes, and beams safe and upright. This enables safe storage of awkward items and keeps them protected from damage.
• Carpet Pallet Racks (Vinyl Racking) are a pigeon hold type system which allows you to stake rolled products such as fabric carpets and curtains. These protect the products from damage while keeping them organised and easily accessible.

As you can see there are a wide range of pallet racking options available which can be further customised and adjusted to fit the shape and available ceiling height of your warehouse.

However, it isn’t only versatility which makes this type of storage so popular Australia wide. Safety of warehouse workers and product damage prevention also make this storage option a no-brainer for many businesses in Melbourne.

But if you are to ensure that your racks are safe, there are a few factors to consider.

Safety Issues Related to Pallet Racking

If you are to make sure that your staff and inventory remain protected in the warehouse, you need to keep the following factors in mind when it comes to pallet racks.

Safe Installation of Pallet Racking Systems

In order to ensure that your storage system has been securely fixed into your warehouse and risk of toppling is reduced, you should turn to a professional supplier.

An experienced and expert pallet rack company will supply and install the best options for your warehouse and inventory.

Carry Out Regular Inspections of Your Racking Systems

You also need to schedule in regular check of your storage shelves in order to comply with health and safety regulations for AS 4084: Steel storage racking shelving.

When carrying out inspections, you need to consider the following:

• Make sure that the beams are not overloaded and bending out of shape. The manufacturer will have provided information about the storage capacity of your racks. And you should take care not to exceed this as it will compromise the overall structural integrity and safety of the setup.
• Check for signs of damage in the welding or beams. In a busy warehouse, a few knocks and bumps are almost inevitable, but you need to assess the damage properly each time a forklift connects with the shelving. A competent operative should be responsible for checking for any bumps or cracks.
• Is everything still securely connected? Regular checks should be carried out to make sure that connectors, safety clips and beams are still present and securely fixed. Clips can become dislodged during the hustle and bustle of warehouse life and beams can sometime pop out – both of which can prove hazardous.
• Make sure they the anchor bolts are fixed securely. Warehouse operatives need to make sure that floor bolts are tight and secure in order to ensure racking doesn’t topple or collapse.
• Maintenance, Cleaning, and Checking for Mould. A bust warehouse is a natural home to dirt, grime, and debris which can end up harming structural integrity if left unchecked. Particularly if you are working with wooden pallets.

Train Your Warehouse Staff

The key to ensuring that your warehouse pallet racking remains safe is making sure that your staff are properly trained in using the systems and placing and removing pallets.

Ensuring that you put up proper signage to remind workers of the safety issues involved and institute proper training is essential if you want to keep your pallet racks undamaged, safe, and fully functioning.

Pallet racking accidents in Australia can be caused when forklift operators are not correctly trained, when forklift operators are working within limited spaces with a lot of footfall and when aisles in between racks are piled up with hazardous obstructions.

Caught between accidents, (where any employee was caught between a forklift and a hard service make up 7% of work related fatalities in Australia. And cases of warehouse pallets toppling on top of employees have also made the news in the past few years.

Make sure that your workers are aware of what they need to avoid to maintain a safe working environment.

Conclusion

Choosing and installing the right type of pallet racking system for your warehouse can bring benefits to your business operations, employees, and customers.

Enabling better use of available space, higher organisational standards, and safer inventory storage, these versatile storage systems are the best choice for a wide range of businesses.

For more information about the best type of pallet racking system for your business, or to request a quote, contact us today.