Walk into a warehouse and it’s likely you will see selective racking. It is the most popular type of pallet racking in the market. There is a reason for that. This type of rack offers different variations including roll-formed and structural racks.
When it comes to selective pallet racking types, one of the significant differentiators is material. In most cases, you’ll need to choose between roll-formed and structural steel racking systems.
Manufacturers construct roll-formed pallet racks using heavy-duty sheet metal. The most popular type of roll-formed racking is teardrop-style racking. This highly versatile style of pallet racking is quick to assemble and sourcing additional components and parts is fairly painless.
Of course, teardrop is just one style available in the market. You’ll often find other manufacturers producing different styles like Interlake New Style or Keystone pallet racking — each with different advantages and availability.
All roll-formed racks use a unique key and plug system of assembly. While no bolts are required for assembly, most roll-formed styles will utilize beam clips for extra safety. Regardless of assembly methods, roll-formed selective racking has a reputation for easy assembly.
Even so, if you’re interested in installing a racking system in your warehouse, consider working with a team of professionals to handle equipment installation.
A potential drawback of roll-formed racks is their construction.
While these racking systems do use heavy-duty sheet metal for construction, it’s no match for pallet trucks or forklifts. Roll-formed racks can sustain more damage than other types of racks—particularly structural steel racks.
On the other hand, roll-formed racking is perfect for light to middle-weight products.
It works best in warehouse environments with many product SKUs, particularly if there are multiple sizes. If you carry many seasonal products and require multiple uses for that space, roll-formed racking may be the right option if you’re interested in improving warehouse efficiency.
Structural pallet racking gets its name from the material used in construction: C-channel steel.
Compared to sheet metal used in roll-formed racks, this material is much more durable and impact resistant. Additionally, instead of a boltless locking design, each upright and crossbeam bolts together. This provides increased strength.
The steel used in structural racking is thicker. As a result, it’s more resistant to impact/damage from forklifts and other warehouse equipment.
Durable is the word often associated with structural racking.
You will find structural rack systems in use in many traditional warehouse environments. But its durability means it’s a good choice for extreme environments such as freezers, too—making it an excellent choice for cold storage.
Thanks to its C-channel construction, you’ll find virtually no hard-to-reach areas of structural racking systems. This makes this racking style the preferred choice for food manufacturing and storage.
Some downsides include cost and assembly method.
Since manufacturers use strong and durable structural steel, this type of racking often is less cost-effective relative to roll-formed racking. Additionally, the bolt-in style of assembly means installation will be a more involved process.
When it comes to commercial storage racks, selective pallet racking is indeed a widely used style. But, when it comes to installation, configuration and assembly, what should you know?
Configuring your selective pallet racking system is almost as important as the style and material of the rack you choose. You’ll need to weigh several factors for improved warehouse efficiency:
If you’re struggling to put all the pieces in place, consider getting help. Here at East Coast Storage Equipment, our team of equipment experts can help you make the most out of facility design and layout.
Another important safety factor you need to understand is proper pallet rack anchoring.
Anchoring your pallet racks is not only essential to maintaining a safe warehouse, but it’s also a requirement to meet specific industry standards.
The Rack Manufacturers Insitute (RMI) has long been in charge of setting safety standards for industrial racking and material handling, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has vetted and approved the standards RMI has set for anchoring pallet racks.
While selective pallet rack is a common choice for many storage environments, this rack system is not perfect for every setting.
Applications that require dense product storage are not well suited for this type of racking. Moreover, manufacturers don’t design selective racking for high-density vertical storage. Safety and expense are the main reasons most do not recommend selective racking systems higher than 40 feet.
The same is true for warehouses with small footprints. Selective rack requires quite a bit of space.
But, selective racking makes sense for many warehouse settings, including:
These racks offer easy accessibility and can reconfigure easily. Additionally, selective rack typically provides a quick and economical installation experience.
Are you looking to add selective pallet racking to your warehouse floor?
Discover which selective rack option is best for your facility by talking with one of our equipment experts. Get in touch today!
Input your search keywords and press Enter.