Warehouse racking is a necessary but expensive investment for storage-based businesses. Equipping your facility with the appropriate racking can enhance the speed and efficiency of operations.
Choosing ill-fitting or unsuitable pallet racking to cut costs is a gross error that inevitably leads to problems. Inadequate racks may reduce storage capacity, slow product retrieval, and increase picking errors, ultimately affecting your bottom line.
Overloading a rack with an insufficient carrying capacity increases the likelihood of a collapse, jeopardizing the safety of your staff and inventory.
Rather than sacrificing equipment quality to reduce spending, consider investing in used warehouse racking. Industrial pallet racking systems are manufactured from heavy-gauge steel, so they maintain their structural integrity for several decades.
Buying well-maintained used racks is a minimal-risk investment that can save you money in the short term and provide reliable service in the long run.
Advantages of Purchasing Used Pallet Racking
Pallet racks are typically made from structural or roll formed steel, which are both durable and long-lasting. Due to their long-term reliability, used pallet racks are widely available in various styles, sizes, and load capacities.
At Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc., we offer a selection of used pallet racks, providing your business with a low cost opportunity to improve your storage facility. If your warehouse has specific storage needs, we can tailor the equipment to meet your requirements.
Affordability
The primary benefit of investing in used racks is the price. Second-hand equipment costs a fraction of new materials. This means you can use funds in other areas of the business, like customer service, material handling machinery, or warehouse management software.
The cost savings can vary depending on the size and condition of the racks, market demand, and availability. However, with careful maintenance and responsible use, you can be rewarded with a reliable long-term storage system.
Durability
Finding durable racks is essential for warehouse safety and ensures you reap the full benefits of your investment. Fortunately, pallet racks are designed with strength and durability at the forefront. Heavy-duty applications can endure years or even decades of rough use in busy warehouses.
Structural, roll formed, and galvanized steel are some of the longest-lasting pallet racking materials, so they should sit at the top of your list of requirements.
However, pallet racks are not indestructible and eventually experience wear and tear. Damage from forklifts, overloading, and a lack of maintenance accelerates degradation. While scratches and aesthetic deterioration can be expected in used raking, some more serious structural issues to look out for include:
- Evidence of rust or corrosion
- Damage to connections or welds
- Warped, buckled, or bent uprights
- Cracked baseplates
- Signs of horizontal deflection on pallet rack beams
- Large dents from impacts with forklifts or machinery
Availability of Parts and Accessories
A key advantage of used racking is that it can be upgraded or customized with pallet rack accessories or replacement parts, like column protectors, wire decking, or bin dividers. If you find a perfect pallet flow rack system that needs new conveyors, you’ll have no problem finding several options to secure your equipment.
Safety
Safety is a major concern for warehouses and distribution centers when buying used equipment. Industrial racking stores pallets and contributes to safety by providing direct and easy access to materials.
Second-hand pallet racking is usually safe unless it has been subject to years of abuse or damage from machinery. The high-quality materials ensure it can be passed between owners unscathed, extending its use. Many racking systems have the same core components, meaning signs of damage are easy to identify.
However, you should examine all equipment regularly (new or used) and schedule a professional equipment inspection yearly. This ensures your racks are safe to use and helps with OSHA compliance.
Easy to Maintain and Restore
Pallet racks are typically easy to maintain, even after several years of use. Having a thoughtful layout and well-trained staff helps prevent unnecessary collisions and accidental damage to racks, inventory, and workers. Protective equipment, such as rack anchors, baseplates, guard rails, and column protectors, also shield warehouse equipment from damage.
Our warehouse safety guard rail system, from Handle It, is impact tested with a 10,000 lb. load at 4 mph, providing excellent protection against forklift collisions. It is available in single or double rail configuration, depending on the level of protection you require. The heavy-gauge steel is finished in high-visibility paint to be easily seen.
Surface scratches and superficial damage may not be a concern for warehouse businesses. However, client-facing racks should be kept in good condition for maximum product appeal. Worn racks can be restored cheaply and easily with paint and treatment. Damaged components can be replaced, restoring your equipment to its original condition.
Types of Used Racks to Consider
If you need used pallet racking equipment, contact Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc. We stock a wide range of equipment, from individual pallet racking uprights to entire teardrop pallet rack systems.
Our supplies are based on availability. If we don’t have an item in stock, don’t worry. We can use our vast network to locate suitable options, helping you get your warehouse update underway as soon as possible.
Some pallet racking systems that we regularly stock include:
Selective Pallet Racks
Selective pallet racks are the most widely used systems in warehouses. They effortlessly adapt to a first-in, first-out (FIFO) product retrieval strategy. Selective racks are easy to assemble and follow a simple configuration setup.
Most selective racks are manufactured from steel, making them a worthwhile second-hand option. Our selective rack beams from Space Plus USA are engineered to meet a range of product volumes, sizes, and weights. They can be stacked vertically for maximum storage density. Each beam supports up to 7,100 lbs.
Cantilever Pallet Racks
Cantilever storage racks are specialized warehouse storage equipment designed to house long, bulky, non-palletized inventory, like lumber, piping, or sheet metal. This type of racking offers vertical integration and supports cumbersome loads.
We carry several varieties of cantilever racks, catering to different load sizes and warehouse layouts. We also stock individual cantilever components if your used equipment needs some upgrades. Our Series 1000 cantilever arms, manufactured by Meco Omaha, are an excellent option for medium-duty product storage.
Choose between straight or inclined arms, with or without lips. The arms adjust on 3-inch centers along the entire length of the uprights. Each arm has a maximum load capacity of 1,000 lbs.
Push Back Pallet Racks
Push back racking is a type of live storage system that offers high-density storage. It is designed to carry high volumes of homogenous or similar, non-perishable items in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory management setup. These systems use shuttles or rollers mounted on inclined rails to move pallets to the front of the rack when one has been removed.
Since the shuttles or rollers are often the first components to become worn, they may need replacing on a used system. We stock replacement wheels and multiple roller conveyor options.
Our stainless roller conveyors are built from 16-gauge stainless steel tubing. The spring-loaded axles and welded cross braces offer strength and stability that can reinvent an old system. These rollers are USDA-approved, making them an ideal solution for food and beverages or pharmaceutical goods.
Other Popular Racking Equipment
Other important racking supplies we offer include:
- Drive-in rack equipment
- Drive-through rack equipment
- Pallet flow rack conveyors and wheels
- Various decking options (including wire, laminate, and pallet board varieties)
- Replacement uprights, beams, braces, and base plates\
- Pallet rack frames
- Reusable pallets
- Safety netting
- Column protectors
- Aisle marking tape
Invest in High-Quality Used Racks From Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc.
Purchasing high-quality used racks can be a wise investment for a budget-conscious storage facility. However, choosing the right equipment is essential to gaining long-term benefits.
Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of reliable pallet racking. We constantly update our inventory with a range of systems, components, and replacement parts. We also offer planning, design, consultation, and installation services so we can support you at every step of a renovation.
For more information on used equipment availability, contact us today at (800) 589-7225.
