5 Benefits of Warehouse Storage Racks

January 18, 2024

warehouse storage racks

Storage racks are popular systems in warehouses, distribution centers and factories. The right pallet racking system can enhance your warehouse operations to streamline your workflow and boost productivity. It also provides other important benefits as highlighted below.

1. Efficient Use of Warehouse Storage Space

Warehouse space is always highly valuable, and warehouse storage racks enable you to take advantage of vertical space. The air space above the racking system is an excellent place to store pallets and products, especially when you have a high ceiling.

Likewise, heavy-duty warehouse racks ensure that goods and products are protected from damage.

Some of the types of racking systems for optimizing storehouse perpendicular space include:

Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking:

A narrow aisle pallet racking system optimizes the floor area and height, permitting access to all pallets. Therefore it is used when land price is high or the area is limited as well as when storage environment is temperature and humidity controlled.

Special equipment is needed to maneuver between narrow aisles. Access to products is longer and supervision is required.

Drive-In Pallet Racking:

Suitable for the storage of palletized loads accumulated in depth and height. This system optimizes the utilization of warehouse capacity and offers a highly efficient method of steering large quantities of similar loads by allowing the forklift driver to enter the rack system and place the load on structural rails. Drive-In pallet racks maximize storage capacity by eliminating aisles.

Drive-In Racks are used to store many pallets of a similar SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) or product. Lift trucks drive into the rack to extract the first pallet they come to.

2. Bulk Storage Racking

If you need to store goods or products in bulk. These multi-deep racks allow you to do that:

Double Deep Pallet Racking:

A variant of the standard pallet racking, as the name implies, double deep pallet racking allows pallets to be stored two deep but still be accessible from the same aisle.

By reducing the number of access aisle and using the space saved to accommodate additional racking, a double deep pallet racking system provides a highly space-efficient storage system.

Although the speed of access to all of the pallet positions is restricted, with an efficient stock management system this can still be easily compensated for, by taking full advantage of the increased storage density. Double deep racking is ideal for cold stores, dry stores and the storage of multiple pallets of the same products.

The system requires the use of a special reach truck with either dual pantograph or slide fork attachments.

Pallet Shuttle Racking:

Pallet Shuttle is a programmable machine (fed by a rechargeable battery and controlled by remote control). It is used to transport pallets within the racking system (DRIVE IN structure), and can move easily under pallets working on its specially designed channel.

When the task is completed the shuttle returns to its position (at the front of the lane) to be ready for a new task. The forklift can move the shuttle from one storage channel to another easily.

Cantilever Racking:

This cantilever racking system fulfils all requirements for economic storage of long and heavy goods such as bars, tubes, pipes, wood panels, etc.

This offers flexible, space-saving, secure storage for high turnover items.

3. Faster Order Fulfillment

Warehouses play an essential part in the order fulfillment process. To increase order fulfillment effectiveness, it’s necessary to enhance productivity throughout the warehouse.

This depends, in part, on the warehouse storage system that is used and the system of stock retrieval. There are two general types of stock retrieval: First-In-First-Out (FIFO) and Last-In-First-Out (LIFO).

In FIFO warehouse racks, you can access single pallets without having to remove other particulars. Common operations for FIFO include the storehouse of time sensitive goods and products with an expiry date such as food, medicines and cosmetics.

The LIFO system is applicable for the long-term storage of homogeneous products that don't expire or lose value over time such as building materials.

4. Reduces Damage to Merchandise

Maintaining client satisfaction requires storage of all goods and products safely. Because you can wrap goods on a pallet and secure it on solid racks, they're less likely to fall or get damaged accidentally.

Using pallet racks in warehouses, employees can keep goods safe and reduce material handling.

5. Long-Term Investment

Storage racks can last for a very long time with proper maintenance. Because you don’t need to constantly replace your warehouse system, storage racks offer an excellent return on investment.

Pallet racks can also reduce labor costs. So you can allocate further finances toward other business expenses, adding to your competitiveness in the field.

Find the Best Pallet Racking Systems

Warehouse racking systems offer various benefits for storages, fulfillment centers, and other businesses. Whether you’re interested in expanding your warehouse capacity or enhancing your workflow, Ayoubi has a range or storage racks available to meet your requirements.

With over 65 years of experience, we offer our expertise to help you find the ideal pallet rack system for your warehouse or storage area. We also offer turnkey services, including racking design, installation and maintenance, to insure you are met with the highest safety and satisfaction.