The best racking for your warehouse

When it comes to warehouse productivity, efficiency is everything. The way you store your merchandise is a key factor in determining the workflow of your entire business. So, what different kinds of storage systems are at your disposal? At ARPAC, we offer only the finest solutions in warehouse shelving and pallet racking for your Vancouver business. Let our experts run you through the different solutions available for your warehouse.

Types of warehouse racking for your Vancouver business

Choosing the right storage solution for your business can be tricky. There are various factors you need to consider including the max speed of your lift trucks, the type of lift trucks you use, the type of merchandise you stock, frequency of access, shelf life of your products and of course, the amount of space you have available. Let’s look at the pros and cons of a few different types of warehouse racking:

Selective pallet racking

This is the most common type of racking where pallets rest on horizontal beams that are adjustable to accommodate different pallet sizes depending on your needs.

Pros:

• Merchandise always accessible
• Can offer adjustability for different sizes
• Affordable
• Low forklift handling costs (standard forks are cheaper than specialized lifts)

Cons:

• Requires a lot of warehouse space
• Greater cost for higher volumes
• Not suitable for high volumes with limited SKUs
• Limited storage height

Double deep racking

Pallets are stored in a racking system that runs 2 pallets deep.

Pros:

• Increased storage capacity
• Frees up floor space
• Can be converted

Cons:

• Height limitation
• Reduced pallet accessibility
• Double reach required

Drive-in racking

This system requires operators to drive into the racking to extract a pallet.

Pros:

• Cost-effective for last in, first out access
• Perfect for storing items that don’t require immediate access

Cons:

• Difficult to reach
• Potential for damage by forklifts driving into the racking 

Pallet flow racking

Pallets are loaded from the back of the rack and slide to the picking position at the front.

Pros:

• Pallets can be stored more than 20 deep (ideal for high-density storage)
• Single loading point limits damage potential

Cons:

• High initial cost
• Doesn’t provide access to all pallets at once

Pushback racking

Pushback racks work in a similar fashion to a vending machine. Once the front pallet is picked, the next one will roll down to take its place.

Pros:

• High storage capacity
• No need to drive into the rack
• Front loading
• No need for multiple aisles

Cons:

• Doesn’t provide access to all pallets at once
• Limited depth (5 or 6 lanes maximum)

If your business is in the market for warehouse equipment in Vancouver, come visit us at ARPAC. Check us out here for more information regarding our products.