Shelving units are something that every warehouse needs. Pallet shelves provide a huge benefit to warehouses because they can be used for storage, palletizing, and staging pallets. When pallets are stored on pallet shelves, the pallets don’t take up much floor space which means more room for other items like boxes or products! This post will discuss what pallet shelving is and the benefits of using them in your warehouse.
What are pallet shelves?
Pallet shelves are pallets that have been turned into a shelf or racking unit. Pallet shelves can be made of wood, aluminum, plastic, wire decking, and more. Heavy-duty storage racks are used to create warehouse space and increase storage density.
- Easy to use and assemble
- Saves space for pallets on the floor which means more room for other items like boxes and products
- Ensures the safety of your employees as they don’t have to go searching through piles upon piles of pallets looking for what they need.
- Save time and increase productivity by making it easier to find each item from an order when it comes in.
How are warehouse pallet racking shelves installed?
Once the pallet racks or shelves have been manufactured, pallets can be attached to your warehouse’s floor or ceiling with either forklifts or pallet jacks. Some types of pallets shelves do not come pre-assembled so you will need to set those up yourself. Make sure that all pallets are level on pallet shelves, and that the cross-member pallet rack beam is installed tightly so pallets do not rattle or shift.
Benefits of Pallet Shelves
Pallet racking systems are designed to create vertical space to use to store and organize products or palletized loads in your warehouse. Here are some more great benefits of installing the right pallet rack system.
- pallet shelves can be used for storage, palletizing, and staging
- pallets don’t take up much floor space which means more room for other items like boxes or products
- They are relatively inexpensive compared to the inventory it could be holding and the safety they provide by organizing and clearing space.
Pallet shelving units should always be level on your warehouse’s floors or ceilings with horizontal beams and vertical uprights securely installed.
How much do pallet racking shelves cost?
Pallet racking shelves can be purchased in pallets or as a complete unit with wire decking and prices vary. They can depend on what type of material they’re made from and how many pallet racks you need for your warehouse’s space. Make sure to budget for installation costs if you decide not to purchase preassembled pallet shelving units. If you decide to purchase a preassembled pallet racking system, make sure you know how to properly construct and install it.
Types of Warehouse Pallet Shelves
There are different types of pallet shelving available and made with different materials.
Selective Pallet Racks
These pallets are used to store pallets of different sizes and shapes. The weight capacity for these pallet racks can be up to 500 lbs.
Cantilever Racks
Cantilever pallet racks are the most common style of pallet racks. They can be used to store pallets that weigh up to 2000 pounds and come in standard depth or extra-deep depths (up to 12 feet). These are perfect for distribution centers that need help with inventory control and the organization of large items or large quantities of items.
Industrial Shelving
Industrial shelving is made in different sizes and shapes so it can hold lightweight to heavy-duty products. This is the most versatile pallet racking option on the market today.
One type of industrial shelves is metal point boltless shelves. These are made for light to medium size products that can be easily hand-picked. They are easily adaptable to any warehouse, office, or retail office to provide quick access to products or storage needs.
Mezzanine Floor Systems
Mezzanine floor racking systems can be the most cost-efficient way to increase warehouse storage space without the expense of a building expansion. With mezzanines, you will have double or triple what was once available to store materials in your facility because they maximize the vertical space available.
Pallet Flow Rack Systems
Pallet flow rack systems are pallets that can move automatically along a track system. They are the fastest way to retrieve pallets from your warehouse because you don’t need forklift trucks or workers to manually pick up pallets off of pallet racks and send them down their tracks. Pallet flow racks allow employees to focus on other items that are keeping your business running.
Drive-In/Drive-Thru Rack
This type of pallet racking is ideal for large amounts of pallets with heavy loads, as they have a drive-through design which makes it easy to access.
Teardrop Pallet Rack
Teardrop pallet racks are used to store products that have long, flat surfaces. The teardrop design provides more surface area than other pallet rack styles because they maximize floor space while still making it easy for employees or forklift trucks to access pallets on the pallet racks.
Pallet Rack Safety
You should always follow safety rules when installing and using a pallet rack in your warehouse.
Make sure the pallet racking is secured to prevent tipping and accidents from happening. Ensure that pallets are strapped down securely because they should never move while on pallet racks or during transport. This will also ensure that products aren’t damaged due to the movement of their containers which can lead to financial loss. Ensure you know the proper beam capacity, and that the upright frames and support beams are installed correctly. You want to ensure your warehouse racking and pallet rack beams can hold the load and won’t buckle or break which could cause serious safety issues and lead to damaged products.
When choosing where in your warehouse layout to place your pallet racking systems, you will want to get advice on local fire codes and building codes to ensure you have enough space for employees to move around. You wouldn’t want to obstruct the exit for example.
Where can I purchase pallet racking shelves?
Ready to get started and purchase a new or used pallet shelf? Our experts at Warehouse Solutions, Inc. are here to help you create a warehouse that is efficient and productive.
We have a large inventory of used pallet racking such as a teardrop pallet rack design and additional warehouse rack needs, including upright frames, beams, pallet rack accessories, and wire decks as well as a selection of other material handling equipment. Contact our Sales Engineers for the best products, services, and pricing on our toll-free number at 800-278-1715.