Getting the most from your pallet racking system requires a little planning in advance of the purchase and installation. Whether you want stationary or mobile systems, you can create a racking design for maximum efficiency. Get the measurements for the storage area, a piece of graph paper and a pencil, the rest is easy.
What to Avoid First
Using an example area of a 56 foot by 72-foot room, there are a few things you need to avoid in your design.
- Do not arrange your pallet racks along the shorter dimension. This means not running rows ofracking on the 30-foot dimension; you want your racks to be as long as possible.
- Do not arrange racks along all four walls, creating a perimeter system with more racks in the interior. This is simply not efficient.
- Do not create an “L” shape with your racks, this causes a loss of about 5% of your floor space.
- Do not create an access aisle along a wall. The last row should be against a wall.
Maximize Your Pallet Racking
Draw your first row of pallet racks along the back wall of the 72-foot length. Allow 10 feet of aisle space and draw two rows of racks, back to back lengthwise. Repeat this for one more double row ofracking. Your last row will be a single section along the other 72-foot dimension.
Now, check your storage area for any obstructions. You will need to mark these on your drawing. If columns are in the way, you will need to design your pallet racking around them. Also, consider any overhead obstacles including low-hanging lights or pipes. Finally, have your safety engineer check your plan for any code issues.
Consider Mobile Pallet Racks
The ActivRac mobile racking system can provide you with up to 60% more shelving in the same amount of space. Carriages move along tracks to eliminate unused aisles. You select the shelf you need to access and the ActivRac will move to create the aisle needed for that shelving section. When you are finished, the racking system can be closed or you can move to the next shelving section you need.
You can also choose to use a combination of static and mobile pallet racking. Seasonal products or infrequently accessed items can be compressed into less space with instant access to the items you use the most.
Additional Efficiency Tips
Plan your pallet racks with product flow in mind. You want to be able to work in one direction, without constant back and forth movement. Ensure that you are allowing sufficient aisle space for safe and easy racking access. When you design your racking system, keep the opportunity for expansion in mind.