Rack Shelving
Rack shelving is a type of heavy-duty storage shelving system designed to store medium to heavy objects. They are an essential element of any warehousing space.
At Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc., we carry a huge variety of rack shelving systems. Discover what properties and advantages they offer and what they can do for your business.
Most rack shelves can accept palletized products, making them suitable for warehouses equipped with forklifts.
Standard rack shelving units are known as structural racking. They employ a heavy hot-rolled structural steel construction capable of withstanding forklift impacts.
Each horizontal beam is connected to the uprights using bolts, guaranteeing strength and stability. You can also dismantle and reconfigure your racking systems, modifying your storage solution to suit your needs, making rack shelving versatile and easily adaptable.
You may want to use rack shelving with welded steel shelves instead of bolted systems if you prefer more structural strength. While they are less adaptable, they offer a higher maximum load capacity.You may want to use rack shelving with welded steel shelves instead of bolted systems if you prefer more structural strength. While they are less adaptable, they offer a higher maximum load capacity.
Rack shelving units employing deckings, such as pallet racks, are compatible with various decking styles, which utilize a high-strength steel construction. Available deckings include solid decks, perforated decks, corrugated decks, or wire shelving, similar to those employed in a garage storage shelf.
You may also outfit your rack shelving with safety accessories, allowing you to improve workplace safety and reducing the risk of injuries.
Aside from standard structural racks, Shelving + Rack Systems Inc. provides an array of rack shelving systems to address the needs and requirements of all kinds of businesses.
Cantilever racking is a rack shelving system suitable for storing long and bulky objects, such as lumber or piping. Cantilever racks are open on the front and sides and may be single or double-ended. The rack arms may also be angled or fitted with stops to prevent the products from tipping unsafely or rolling off.
Carpet racking is primarily designed for carpet roll storage, featuring 48” steel decking and a generous amount of vertical space between each deck to protect the products from damage or deformation. For the best results, your facility should also use forklifts equipped with rug rams.
Manufacturing plants and fabrication businesses use die racks to safely store heavy machine assembly equipment, such as molding dies and associated tooling. Die racks possess roll-out decks (also called slide-out decks), allowing safe access and storage of your heavy equipment without the need to move it out of place.
When extended, your workers can use the decking as a work surface, operating the dies or equipment directly from the rack. When retracted, the die rack optimizes your floor space and protects your dies and tooling from falling and potentially injuring a worker.
Drive-in and drive-thru racking systems are ideal for facilities frequently storing palletized goods and forklifts. Their design allows forklift operators to drive directly inside the rack, allowing them to store or retrieve pallets directly.
Drive-in racks are one-way only, whereas drive-thru racks are two-way (allowing entry and exit from either side). Both types feature reinforced support beams specifically designed to resist forklift impacts.
Drum storage shelving units are designed explicitly to store large, round objects, such as water or oil drums. They feature side stops and rails designed to keep drums in place without the risk of rolling off.
Drum storage racks adhere to OSHA regulations, making them ideal for storing hazardous materials.
Push-back pallet racking is one of the most common rack shelving systems and has been in use since the 1940s. Warehousing facilities commonly utilize them for storing large quantities of palletized goods. A push-back pallet rack can hold anywhere between 2 and 6 pallets deep per level, depending on the design.
Depending on your floor space and the placement of your pallet racks, you may need to adapt your inventory method accordingly, such as Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) or First-In-First-Out (FIFO).
It is critical to assess the layout of your warehousing space, as it will allow you to determine whether you need to equip your rack shelves with additional safety accessories. These accessories not only protect your racks from damage but also increase their lifespan and improve workplace safety.
Simple accessories such as post protectors and column guards are ideally suited for reinforcing your racks against collisions. Depending on the level of protection needed, you may prefer to use plastic or steel protectors.
Rack column guards protect your rack’s feet and support beams. They typically come in bright yellow or safety orange for high visibility by forklift operators.
Pallet backstop beams and safety bars are designed to fit into the back of a pallet rack, informing a forklift operator that they have reached the end of the rack and preventing them from improperly storing palletized goods.
Wire mesh partition walls are suitable for safety and warehouse security, pulling the double duty of protecting your inventory from damage and unauthorized use. You can also use them to form security cages, further improving your facility’s security.
From a local store to large warehousing buildings, facilities of any size can benefit from using the right rack shelving systems. They offer a high load capacity and high structural strength, allowing you to store many goods for a long time and optimizing your floor space to the fullest.
Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc. is your materials handling and warehousing specialist, offering a wide assortment of warehousing products and services since 1979. Whether you need a single storage rack or a complete turn-key facility designed and equipped by our personnel, we can help you meet your needs. Contact us at (800) 589-7225 for a quote or any information.
