Understanding the Basics of Pallet Racking
Shelving for your warehouse can seem unnecessarily complicated for a very straightforward task. From the immense amount of different names for the same, products to the handful of available styles, it can feel like a whirlwind trying to make an informed decision on the subject. At ToyotaLift Northeast, we want to clear things up so you can be sure your company has the proper racking system based on your operation’s needs. Our goal is to break-down only the important elements of pallet racking, alleviating confusion when it comes time to narrow down your specific needs.
Pallet racking seemingly has an endless list of other names. We often hear it referred to as bulk storage racks, storage shelving, teardrop racks, warehouse shelving racks, warehouse racking systems, warehouse mezzanines, warehouse racks, rivet shelving racks, and industrial shelves.
What is Pallet Racking?
Pallet racking is simply a storage system that stores pallets of material in rows on metal shelves. The systems feature multiple levels of shelving that are accessible by forklifts. These systems are used to increase storage density by using vertical space. Think of the benefit of building skyscrapers in a city with limited space as the concept is the same.
The Basic Components of Pallet Racking
Due to its long list of available styles and sizes, pallet racking is an extremely flexible storage option. Pallet racking systems have two main parts, which are upright frames and cross beams.
The upright frames are vertical columns that run from the floor to the top shelf of the system. The upright frame will have a series of holes, allowing the ability to change the shelf size based on needs. The height of a frame should be the height of a loaded pallet + height of a beam + 4 inches for clearance. This number then gets multiplied by the number of levels you need.
The cross beams connect into the upright frame on both ends, creating a shelf for pallets and material to be stored on. It takes two cross beams to make a shelf.
Styles of Pallet Racking
The most popular rack style is teardrop pallet racking. This style utilizes a tear-shaped hole where the crossbeam’s connectors are inserted. The unique shape allows the horizontal beams to be locked to the vertical upright frames for simple slide-in assembly. The teardrop shape allows for the use of boltless beams, making assembly fast and easy as bolts, clips, and fasteners are not needed.
There are two forms of pallet racks made, rolled formed and structural style. The rolled form is made by cutting and rolling cold sheet metal, while structural is made using hot sheet metal. Structural is the stronger and more durable system of the two, but it is more expensive.
Accessories
Accessories and additional components are often added to racking systems to improve the system to better fit the owner’s needs. Below is a list of popular accessories on the market.
What Are The Benefits Of Steel Pallets?
Steel is an incredibly strong and durable material. It's used to build cars, skyscrapers, and tools. But steel is also perfectly suited for making pallets.
All the properties of steel which make it useful as a building material are also useful properties for pallets. This makes steel pallets an essential part of materials handling for many industries.
Here are the benefits and advantages of using steel pallets instead of other types of pallets.
The benefits of steel pallets
Steel pallets are designed to be a robust and durable option for industries with specialist materials handling needs. Using steel to construct pallets means that they are much stronger than regular pallets, they are easy to sterilise, and do not rot or carry pests.
The benefits of steel pallets include:
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High load capacity
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Longer lifespan
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Hygienic and easy to sterilise
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Easy to stack
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Can be exported without quarantine issues
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Corrosion and weather resistant
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Recyclable
These benefits make steel pallets extremely useful to a wide range of industries.
Steel pallet product details
Our steel pallets have the following specifications:
Find out more about our steel pallets.
Steel pallet industry applications
Steel pallets are extremely useful for a wide range of industries which need very strong pallets for heavy duty uses or pallets which are not made of organic material.
Industries that use steel pallets include:
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Construction – Large and heavy materials must be moved and stored on strong pallets.
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Chemical industries – Requires pallets to withstand harsh environments and be safe to use in the production and storage of chemicals.
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Long term outdoor storage – Pallets must be weather proof for outdoor materials storage.
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Food preparation and handling – Pallets need to be easily sterilised so they do not contaminate food during production or storage.
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Export industries – Pallets must not carry pests and must be ISPM 15 compliant.
There are businesses in all kinds of industries which require the unique advantages of using steel pallets.
