1.) Selective pallet racking: is the most common pallet racking system in use today. Pallets that can’t be double stacked. Can be stored in pallet racking vertically. And can save up to 70% of your floor space. Pallets rest on the horizontal load beams that are held in place by mounting clips. Because the clips on teardrop configurations can be quickly moved, the shelves can be easily adjusted to different heights to accommodate various load sizes. This is convenient for a warehouse that needs to store a wide variety of product sizes.
2.) Pallet rack accessories:
A. Pallet Supports are roll formed channels that are placed front to back between the load beams to support pallets.
B. Wire Decking is used on selective pallet rack to prevent pallets or the products stored on them from falling through the rack.
C. Row spacers are used if uprights are arranged in back-to-back rows; the spacers are mounted between columns to make sure that the rows are kept straight and to give the pallet racks even more strength.
D. Column protectors or post protectors, are protective shields that can be installed around the base of an upright to minimize damage where forklifts might hit the upright.
3.)Drive-in and Drive-through: are storage racks that allow the forklift to drive directly into the lane of stacked rows typically called a bay. The difference between a drive-in and a drive-thru pallet rack system is if the bays have an entry at only one end, or at both ends. Drive-in rack systems uses one entry and exit, and drive-thru systems have entry points at either end of the bay. Because a drive-in racking system has only one entrance, it uses what is called a LIFO (last in, first out) storage method. With only one entrance, the last pallet put into a row is necessarily the first one to be taken out. A drive-thru storage system, with two different entry points, can also use a FIFO (first in, first out) storage method. With a FIFO system, pallets are loaded in one end and are pushed back to the other end, where they are then at the front of the row on the opposite side. The first pallet put into such a row is the first one taken out at the other end. The advantage for this system is for material with an expiration date or wherever shelf life is a major concern.
4.) Push-back pallet rack systems are designed for organizing space by depth rather than width. This way the racking greatly reduces aisle space and increases storage density. In this type of system, each bay can be up to six pallets deep; each pallet is stored on wheeled carts that fit onto rails. The rails are angled toward the load/unload side of the rack for gravity purposes, saving lots of energy for moving heavy pallets. When a forklift sets the pallet onto the cart, it drives forward and causes the pallet to bump the next pallet, causing all the pallets to roll backwards. When removing a pallet from the front position the remaining pallets immediately stage themselves forward so that the next available pallet can be accessed. Push back rack is a LIFO (last in, first out) storage system.
5.) Pallet Flow systems are high density pallet storage systems that use depth to increase capacity. This system uses a inclined rail with rollers that allow pallets to move easily. These systems are also called gravity flow. The pallet flow system often has complex motion and braking systems to control the speed of the moving pallet. Pallet Flow racking systems are either a FIFO (first in, first out) or a LIFO (last in, first out) storage system. If the system is loaded from the back and unloaded from the front, its FIFO; if the system is loaded and unloaded from the front its a LIFO system.
6.)Mezzanines
The mezzanine is used in shops and similar spaces for storage of tools or materials. The high roof of the shop is ideal for a mezzanine, and offices can be put either below or above it. Mezzanines are used in industrial operations such as warehousing, distribution or manufacturing. These facilities have high ceilings, allowing unused space to be utilized. Industrial mezzanine structures are typically either structural, roll formed, rack-supported, or shelf-supported, allowing high density storage within the mezzanine structure.
7.) Cantilever racks
A cantilever rack consists of a vertical column, base, arms, horizontal or cross bracing. The horizontal or cross braces are used to connect two or more columns together. They are commonly found in lumber yards, woodworking shops, plumbing warehouses, aluminum excrusions, etc..