Industrial racks, used in warehouses, logistics staging areas, and shops, consist of various interconnected industrial rack blocks or systems, providing a storage solution. They facilitate the storage of diverse unit loads, such as heavy-duty, light, long, and fragile items. Despite the array of options available, determining the most suitable solution for your company’s requirements can be challenging. Yet, this pivotal decision in logistics remains at the core of your operations.
1. What are you slotting?
What are the inherent and external characteristics of your products? As mentioned in the article “How to Become an Efficient Product Organizer,” it’s essential to thoroughly understand your products even before selecting industrial racks.
Indeed, not every storage solution is suitable for all kinds of goods. For instance, if you are storing lengthy items like beams, pipes, or other extended goods, consider cantilever racking as it unquestionably meets the requirements.
2. Are pallets part of your power-play?
If you’ve raised the issue of needing a specialized industrial rack for pallet storage rather than for boxes or totes, consider the following suggestion.
In instances where your company deals with substantial pallet quantities, the Pallet Shuttle presents itself as a viable and potentially advantageous alternative to conventional systems.
3. What stock output principle works for me? FIFO or LIFO?
Ensuring a clear understanding of your needs increases the probability of acquiring the precise industrial rack required. For instance, it’s crucial to specify that standard live rack systems are intended explicitly for FIFO storage, while other systems like push-back are designed for LIFO method pallet outputs.
It is recommended to take your time in the selection process and consult storage professionals for guidance to prevent making a hurried decision that might negatively impact your business’s financial performance.
4. What handling equipment do you use?
When reworking your warehouse or considering a redesign, it’s important to evaluate your handling equipment needs. Do you have the necessary tools to effectively move your products?
In the case of using forklifts, it’s crucial to prioritize warehouse safety and select specific racks and operational practices suitable for forklift operations.
5. Are you keeping it cool?
Determining the ambient temperature within your warehouse is essential for safeguarding your goods. Certain installation environments might be humid, necessitating special maintenance and adherence to specific regulations. For instance, if a company stores food in a frozen-storage facility, it is imperative to ensure that its industrial racks comply with the current standards related to food contact.
📚 Also Read: What is Roll Out Cantilever Rack?
6. How big in your warehouse?
This particular question holds paramount importance. Understanding space and ceiling height represents another crucial set of factors. These elements play a pivotal role in identifying the industrial rack that best suits your storage needs.
While it’s accurate that market-available products can be adaptable to your warehouse, not all necessarily fulfill your company’s specific requirements.
Each company’s warehouse and logistics infrastructure are unique to its operations. However, the storage material needs of a company are defined by its business activities. To discover the most suitable industrial racks for your installation, it’s vital to lay out all relevant considerations. Certain companies provide customized industrial racks tailored to meet any storage requirement.
Conclusion
Selecting the right industrial racks is a critical decision, impacting operations in warehouses, logistics areas, and shops. Understanding load diversity and considering product characteristics, pallet needs, stock principles (FIFO or LIFO), equipment, temperature, and space are crucial. Thorough evaluation and expert guidance ensure optimal industrial rack selection, forming the backbone of efficient storage in a company’s logistics.