Small warehouses with large amounts of inventory are faced with daily struggles, and pallet racking is classed as the most ideal solution to effectively maximise space potential. Pallet racking is ideal for a large array of markets – from retail to manufacturing – and is designed to store high volumes and high-density bulk inventory. When purchasing and installing your racking, there are some considerations to run alongside to determine your pallet racking height.

What is Pallet Racking?

Pallet racking systems are the fundamental component for an efficient and operational warehouse, enabling you to better organise space and have a huge impact on productivity for your business.

Pallet racking is essentially structural support for your day to day operations, consisting of upright steel frames connected by horizontal steel beams allowing for pallets to rest between the upright frames. Generally divided into two broad categories, low-density systems allow easy access to products whilst high-density systems makes better use of space with limited access to stored products.

Storage Capacity

As a business owner, you will naturally want to squeeze as many pallets as possible into your allocated space whilst still operating at maximum efficiency, but you need to do so following safety at all times.

Thinking that the higher you can stack – the more space you are saving is a positive thought, but how high can you build it? With pallet racking, you can go pretty high, but you will have to consider the practical restrictions you will face which enforce limits.

The size of your building is the most prominent one and is something you will have to be aware of when selecting your pallet racking height, especially when encompassing a space that does not offer the same functionality as a warehouse.

Machine Ability

Your biggest limitation will probably come down to the reach of your forklift and machinery. Something that needs to reach a height of 30ft will no doubt cost much more to purchase than one that is simply required to reach 10-15ft.

The loading capacities of your racking system also are a major factor to take into consideration, so discussing with an installer beforehand the various products you are looking to stock makes specifying your requirements a lot simpler.

If your top shelves are planned to hold stock that needs to be accessed every day, it probably is not suitable to be situated up high and cause a hold-up whilst operators have to manoeuvre to get it down to floor level.

If you are looking for the perfect solution for your warehouse storage equipment, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.