If you own a warehouse and want your business to operate efficiently, it is essential to have proper storage. Utilizing pallet racking to store your inventory will help you maximize every square foot of your facility. Organizing and installing racking strategically will improve business operations, the safety of employees, and overall revenue. Keeping inventory organized and boosting productivity can be accomplished with pallet racking, especially when installed by a professional. Let’s look at how to strategically purchase and place pallet racking for more warehouse space.
Choose The Right Type Of Pallet Rack
The first step in strategic pallet rack storage is to find the right type of racking and sizes. Not all businesses will have the same needs, which means that what works for one warehouse may not work for another. Optimizing your storage space will require you to review how much space you have, what items will be placed on the racks, and if you need them to move around.
Common types of pallet racking include:
- Selective Pallet Racking
- Drive-In/Drive-Thru Racking
- Push-Back Racking
- Pallet Flow Racking
- Cantilever Racking
- Double Deep Racking
- Narrow Aisle Racking
- Mobile Pallet Racking
- Carton Flow Racking
For companies with multiple products and fast turnaround times, pushback racks may be beneficial. If you have large products that need to be moved by forklift, drive-in or drive-through racking will ensure proper flow.
Make The Most Of Vertical Space
With high ceilings, warehouses often waste vertical space and experience cramped floor space. By using pallet racking, you can utilize tall racks to store more items without blocking walking space or aisles. Long rows of pallets that reach up into the ceiling may seem inefficient, but if they can be reached with equipment or a forklift, they can make your warehouse feel more cohesive and comfortable. Pallet racks can be installed on top of one another, allowing you to have vertical storage that is built to last.
Reduce Aisle Space
While aisle space is crucial and is often required by safety and manufacturing regulations, you can stack more pallets in your warehouse by stacking them as close to each other as possible. By putting racks as far apart as the minimum width requirement allows, you can fit more racks inside the space. The number of shelving units you can fit in a warehouse will depend on how large the warehouse is, but it also comes down to your ability to strategically space storage. Saving even just a few inches on each aisle can make a world of difference when it comes to storage.
Utilize Modular And Flexible Designs
Pallet racking and cantilever racking have mobile or flexible options to help you create a more high-density warehouse layout. Choosing mobile options that move along tracks or on wheels can help you make space for a delivery, move seasonal products forward, or make certain shipments easier to complete. Some systems even have electronic or Bluetooth components, making it easy to rotate racks depending on the day.
Segment Into High And Low Flow Areas
Splitting up your space into high-demand and low-demand areas will help improve your everyday flow. High-flow areas should feature your products that are in high demand, meaning they never stay in your warehouse for long. These items should be easy to access and near pick-up areas for faster shipment. Low-flow areas are great for seasonal products, specialty pieces, or those that just don’t sell as well. Use your high-flow areas to the best capacity by storing the product at waist height or utilizing palletizer tools that keep items at that height for fewer employee movements.
Racking Options From BL Pallet Racking
Warehouses should take advantage of vertical space and choose the pallet racking system that works best for them if they want to ship products faster and reduce lost revenue. BL Pallet Racking offers different pallet racking options for a variety of industries, helping you to find solutions that will work with your daily operations. BL Pallet Racking can help you store large items, small packages, and more, with durable and long-lasting racks.
Our team offers products in Utah and Indiana, so you can check out our new products and used options in person. We install racking to ensure that it is secure and safe for your warehouse workers to use, preventing toppling or severe injury. Let our experts help you pick the best racking solution for your needs.
