Stroll into any warehouse nowadays, and you will almost certainly see a pallet rack system. The multi-tiered steel shelves that are organized in side-by-side aisles are fixtures for operations across a wide range of industries. In fact, pallet rack systems are so prominent that they are commonly found in many widely popular retail stores, including Lowe’s Home Improvement, The Home Depot, and Sam’s Club.

Pallet rack systems are ideal for many warehouses, distribution centers, and even some retail stores are because they are cost-effective storage solutions that offer bulk storage capabilities while keeping goods organized. No other industrial shelving option can provide the versatility and storage density of a pallet rack system, and there are several pallet rack system designs that allow companies to choose a perfect storage solution to meet their particular needs.

The History of Pallet Rack Systems

While palletization has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, it was still common in the early 1900s to store products on the floor or on top of other materials. Pallet rack systems rose to prominence around the time of World War II, when engineers determined that racks could store much more material in far less space while keeping that material organized. Since then, pallet rack systems have become fixtures in most modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other storage and distribution centers. Pallet racking has continued to evolve from that time, with improvements to pallet rack designs as well as lift trucks and other material handling equipment leading the way to much more efficient storage capabilities.

Pallet Rack Systems Provide Cost-Effective Storage Solutions

While pallet rack systems are not cheap, they are among the most cost-effective solutions for bulk storage. The price of pallet racking is ultimately determined based on the storage capability of the system; the higher the density, the higher the cost. Some of the least dense pallet rack systems could cost as little as $50-70 per pallet bay, while the most dense options can cost upwards of $250-$400. One option many companies choose is purchasing a used pallet rack, which can provide significant cost savings since pre-owned racking often can be had for a fraction of the cost of new.

Pallet Rack Systems are Extremely Versatile

Perhaps one of the best things about a pallet rack system is its ability to expand with the needs of your business. Companies can add extra upright frames, cross beams, and other accessories to an existing pallet rack system to create additional storage bays. This provides the ability to increase storage capabilities relatively easily, and the ability to do so relatively quickly as well. Pallet rack components also can be removed and repositioned, providing the opportunity to reconfigure the system to accommodate a change in floor plan if necessary. This type of versatility isn’t available in many industrial shelving systems, which is another reason why pallet rack systems are the chosen method of storage for most warehouse operations in the United States.

Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving, and his work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites.

Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving. His work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites. http://www.aceshelf.com/

Author Bio: Charlie O\’Brien is a professional writer specializing in the material handling industry. His writing focuses on new and used pallet rack, cantilever rack, and other industrial shelving, and his work has been featured on multiple material handling industry websites.

Category: Business
Keywords: