It's easy to get caught up in the specifics of pallet rack. Brand names and hole patterns, measurements and steel gauges, new and used. There are plenty of little things that go along with finding the right style of rack for you. So let's step back a moment and look at the bigger picture.

In the grand scheme of things, how much of a victory is it that you got a steal on used load beams that match the hole pattern of your unidentifiable uprights when you might not even have the right type of rack to begin with? You may think you're happy with the system you cobbled together over the years, but a material handling expert might have an altogether better solution – a different kind of pallet rack – that will work better for you.

So next time you find yourself talking to one of the material handling professionals at Speedrack Midwest, drop the names of these kinds of pallet rack to see if they might not work better in your warehouse.

Pallet Rack Types

Selective pallet rack: This is the original. The pallet rack that gave pallet rack its name. You can't get any simpler than selective pallet rack, which is a fully stationary system that consists of uprights and load beams that completely cross each load bay. It's found anywhere from global distribution warehouses to your Uncle Jim's storage shed out back.

When you have plenty of space and no real need to move things at lightning speed, selective pallet rack works just fine, and if you're to say "I need some teardrop rack," people will assume you're talking about selective rack.

Drive-in pallet rack: The uprights are the same as selective rack, but instead of load beams that run parallel to the aisle, you have rails that run the depth of the uprights, letting you drive your forklift straight into each load bay and deposit loads way in the back. This maximizes your storage space, and works great for homogeneous product in tight spaces.

Drive-through pallet rack: Same concept as drive-in pallet rack, but without a dead-end. You could take a forklift straight through there if you wanted to. Use this kind of rack in tight spaces where you need to move things fast. Deposit loads on the opposite side of a rack system and let someone pick them up to keep inventory flowing.

Pallet flow rack: Using heavy duty skatewheels on an incline with a catch guard at the front of the load bay, you can use new pallets to push previously loaded ones deeper into the rack. When you remove the first pallet from the load bay, another one takes its place, speeding up your picking time.

Push back pallet rack: Similar to pallet flow rack, this system uses nested carts that run on rails, so that when you push back one pallet, a fresh cart is available to accept the new load. And once again, when you remove a pallet, another slides to the face of the load bay.

Modular roll back pallet rack: Another flow rack that relies on a heavy duty slatted track guided by rollers to move pallets back. Think of it like a tank tread. This is another great space saver that lets gravity do the work, and also accept your heaviest loads.

Let's Talk Rack

If you think one of these types of pallet rack might work better for you, don't hesitate to bring it up with the material handling professionals at Speedrack Midwest. We'd love to discuss options with you, and we're ready to review your operations to see what would be best for your business. Contact our Sparta, Michigan office at 616-887-8886 or write to us online to schedule a meeting with a member of our team.