Pallet racking is one of the most important investments you can make in a warehouse. It creates organized vertical storage, improves inventory access, and helps you make better use of available floor space. But pallet racking is only one part of an efficient warehouse storage system.
To get the most out of your pallet rack, it is important to consider the other material handling equipment and accessories that work alongside it. From pallet jacks and carts to decking and rack protection, ordering the right equipment with your pallet racking can make installation easier and improve day-to-day warehouse operations.
Pallet Rack Decking
One of the first accessories to consider is pallet rack decking. Decking provides a stable surface between the rack beams and can be especially useful when storing items that are not being placed directly on pallets.
There are several types of pallet rack decking available, including wire decking and solid surfaces. The right option depends on your inventory, rack configuration, load requirements, and warehouse environment.
Adding decking when you order your pallet racking can also help ensure that you have the correct dimensions for your rack system.
Pallet Jacks
Pallet jacks are a basic piece of material handling equipment for warehouses that use pallet racking. They allow employees to move palletized products across the warehouse without requiring a forklift for every task.
Manual pallet jacks are useful for everyday movement of pallets over short distances, while powered pallet trucks can make transporting heavier loads easier and more efficient.
If your warehouse receives, stores, and moves palletized goods regularly, a pallet jack is a natural companion to your pallet rack system.
Forklifts and Lift Trucks
For taller pallet rack systems, forklifts or other lift trucks may be necessary to safely place and retrieve pallets from elevated rack levels.
The type of lift truck you need will depend on your rack height, aisle width, pallet dimensions, load weights, and available warehouse space. Planning your rack layout and material handling equipment together can help prevent problems with aisle clearance and accessibility.
Pallet Rack Protectors
Pallet rack can take a lot of abuse in a busy warehouse. Forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment can accidentally strike rack uprights during loading and unloading.
Rack protectors and column guards can help protect vulnerable areas of your rack system from impacts. They are a relatively simple addition that can help extend the life of your pallet racking and protect your investment.
Consider rack protection during the initial rack purchase rather than waiting until after your warehouse has experienced an impact.
Pallets
Pallets are another important consideration when planning a pallet rack system. Your pallets should be compatible with the rack dimensions and the products you intend to store.
Wood pallets are common in many warehouses, while plastic pallets may be preferred for certain applications. Before ordering your racking, make sure you know the size, weight, and condition of the pallets you will be storing.
This information can affect your rack configuration and load capacity requirements.
Warehouse Carts and Platform Trucks
Not every item needs to be moved with a pallet jack or forklift. Warehouse carts and platform trucks are useful for transporting smaller products, tools, boxes, and individual items around the facility.
They can be particularly helpful in picking and order fulfillment areas where employees are moving products between storage locations and packing stations.
Safety Equipment
Warehouse safety should also be part of your pallet rack planning. Depending on your facility, you may want to consider guardrails, safety barriers, rack end guards, bollards, mirrors, and other warehouse safety equipment.
Protecting rack ends, pedestrian walkways, loading areas, and other high-traffic locations can help create a safer working environment.
Labeling and Organization
A pallet rack system works best when employees can quickly identify where products belong. Rack labels, aisle signs, bin labels, and other identification products can make inventory locations easier to find.
Good labeling can reduce picking time and help employees keep inventory organized as your warehouse grows.
Plan Your Material Handling Equipment With Your Pallet Racking
Ordering pallet racking is an opportunity to look at your entire warehouse storage and material handling system—not just the rack itself.
Before placing your order, consider:
- What types of pallets will be stored?
- How heavy are your typical loads?
- How high will products be stored?
- What equipment will load and unload the rack?
- How wide do your aisles need to be?
- Do you need decking or additional rack accessories?
- Where are the highest-risk areas for equipment impacts?
- How will employees pick and move individual products?
By considering these questions upfront, you can create a pallet rack system that works together with the rest of your warehouse equipment.
Build a Complete Pallet Rack System With A Plus Warehouse
At A Plus Warehouse, pallet racking is just one part of a complete material handling solution. From pallet rack decking and rack protection to pallet jacks, carts, and other warehouse equipment, choosing complementary products can help you create a more organized and productive facility.
When you're ordering pallet racking, don't just think about where your pallets will be stored. Think about how your employees will move, access, protect, and organize those products every day. A complete material handling setup can help your pallet racking work harder for your warehouse.
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