Pallet rack systems are arguably the most efficient, cost-effective industrial storage solutions available today, and they are prevalent in most warehouse operations and distribution centers. If you are considering adding a pallet racking to your business’s facility, it’s a good idea to have an understanding of the basic components that formulate the system. This article will help you gain a firm grasp of the major components inherent in virtually any pallet rack system design, as well as teaching you about components that can help improve safety for your company’s employees and components that can help minimize potential damage that could occur in day-to-day operations.

Essential Parts of the Pallet Rack System

The two most essential components of a pallet rack system are the uprights and cross beams. These two components together form a bay, one of the storage areas where pallets are loaded in the rack system. Uprights are the support columns that run vertically from the ground up. They vary in size, design and style to accommodate different load requirements. Cross beams are mounted horizontally across the uprights to create the storage levels of the pallet rack system. Those two components are attached together using diagonal and horizontal braces, which are welded to form the frames.

Pallet Rack System Safety Additions

Safety should always be at the forefront of every business owner’s mind, and there are several components that can be added to a pallet racking to help make the industrial storage system safer for employees who work around the system. Some of the more notable components that can be added are wire decking, shims, and base plates.

Wire decking is a common addition to most pallet rack systems. This component is attached to the pallet rack beams to create a shelf underneath where pallets rest in the bays, and serves to catch loose objects that can fall off pallets. Safety netting is a similar component to wire decking that can be placed on the back of a pallet rack system for increased fall protection. Shims are installed to correct pallet rack systems that rest on an uneven surface. Adding a shim, which is equal to the base of an upright, will help level out the system. Shims are typically necessary because of foundation settling at the facility. Base plates are pallet racking components that are installed at the bases of upright columns. They serve as anchors for the system and provide more structural stability while also helping increase the system’s overall weight-bearing capacity.

Components That Help Limit Damage to Your Pallet Rack System

Using heavy-duty material handling equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and other similar industrial vehicles for loading and unloading goods can lead to the possibility of damage to structures in the work area. Even highly trained industrial vehicle operators can find it tough to navigate around pallet racking and other industrial shelving systems present in many of today’s warehouses while transporting large unit loads. However, there are some components that can be added to a pallet rack system in order to help minimize the amount of damage that can be caused in the unfortunate incidence of an industrial vehicle coming into contact with the storage system, such as post protectors and frame floor guards.

Post protectors can be installed at varying heights on the upright frames of a pallet rack system, and are ideally installed in the highest traffic area. Post protectors can help protect against damage that can be caused from a forklift or other industrial lift truck coming into contact with the system, as well as damage caused by pallets hitting the frame. Frame floor guards can be installed for increased protection for upright columns, and they also can serve as an added safety measure for employees when steps or platforms are attached to pallet rack systems.

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.

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