Expand upwards through pallet racking
If you have maximized floor space, the option is the unused vertical space in your warehouse. If you have an existing pallet racking, there may still be available room for vertical expansion. Evaluate the warehouse layout including the loading bay and dispatch areas. If certain things can be moved around to create additional space for another set of pallet racking, there will be more room for inventory storage. However, it is important to consider the assistance of experts in designing vertical expansion because there are safety issues with additional height. Pallet racking must always be installed by experts so that adequate support and safety tools are implemented. When implementing changes in the warehouse, it is also important to avoid overcrowding. There must always be adequately-sized aisles for warehouse personnel and for forklifts to maneuver safely. Always ensure that any changes in the warehouse will not impact on its efficiency.
Important factors to consider when choosing pallet racking
The first thing to consider is the projected cost of vertical expansion. Going with the cheapest racking system may not be the best choice because the general idea in pallet racking is to find a suitable solution for your requirements. Spending a little more for a specially engineered design of push back racking or flow through racking may be more relevant to your particular type of product. Each type of pallet racking has its benefits and drawbacks that must be carefully weighed prior to the expansion project. For example, in the single deep selective racking, aisles can be very narrow but it can be a great option for storing large pallets that contain medium-sized to large-sized products. However, the push back racking system tends to be more productive because the design of the system allows the pallets to move forward and backward. The forklift operator can stay in the operating aisle for retrieval purposes only.
In the drive-in and drive-through racking system, the forklift drives right through the racks and it increases the potential for rack damage. This is critical to the safety of the racks. It is also important to consider future needs. Further down the line additional storage may be required as the company grows and there are pallet racking systems that can be configured more easily to meet the growing demands. Racking systems can be designed to grow as high to meet your requirements but you also have to consider the aspects of storage and retrieval. A racking crane that will access the higher levels of the racking system will mean additional cost. Consulting the experts is a good option to minimize any safety and legal issues with the racking system.