If you need more storage capacity for your stock, you may be wondering where to start. Pallet racking is likely your first consideration, but there are some important things you need to know before making an investment. Here are 5 benefits specific to selective pallet racking and how to identify what works best for you.
1: Access to every pallet, at all times
The first consideration is to understand your product quantities. If most of your inventory is spread across many different product lines, and you hold a small number of pallets of each item, then selective pallet racking is your best option. The first advantage of selective pallet racking is that every pallet is accessible at any time, without the need to shift other pallets to get to the one you need. If you have multiple pallets of the same product, it may be beneficial to use a denser pallet racking type, such as drive-in or shuttle racking.
2: The most cost-effective per-pallet solution
Selective pallet racking is the simplest of all racking systems. It is easily engineered and has no moving parts or complexities with loading/unloading compared to other racking systems. Selective pallet racking also accommodates the most standardised materials handling equipment, which is generally the most cost-effective.
Something to think about when planning your selective pallet racking purchase is the type of forklift you have. The most effective use of warehouse space is to build your selective pallet racking as high as possible in order to best utilise the building volume. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your forklift will reach high enough to access the upper levels of the pallet racking. If the machine reach is insufficient, you need to carefully calculate whether it’s more cost-effective and productive over the long term to purchase higher selective pallet racking, plus a new forklift, or have an under-utilised warehouse with lower racking and use an existing low-reach forklift.
3: High density is still achievable
To gain additional storage capacity using selective racking, this can be achieved by reducing the width of the aisles between racks. This spacing is determined by the type of forklift you wish to utilise. A traditional counterbalance-type forklift requires the greatest aisle width due to its length and turning circle. A reach-truck-style forklift is a lot shorter and has a much smaller turning circle and therefore requires less aisle width in which to operate.
An even narrower aisle option can be achieved by using an articulated forklift. Unlike traditional forklifts, articulated forklifts have a central pivot point which allows the front section (mast and forks) to pivot independently from the rear section, enabling them to manoeuvre in very narrow aisles.
4: Maximise your storage capacity by reducing the number of aisles
If your product mix has more than one pallet per item, or if you have fast- and slow-moving items, you may want to consider sacrificing some pallet accessibility by utilising double-deep selective pallet racking. In this scenario, you’ll need to use a reach-truck-type forklift to reach two pallets deep. Double-deep selective pallet racking means you can store two pallets of the same product, one in front of the other. Or if you have slower-moving products, these can be stored behind faster-moving items, as they’re less frequently accessed and will have minimal impact on efficiency.
5: The most configurable pallet storage solution
Selective pallet racking has the greatest variety of sizing and adjustability to suit almost any product type. Storage bays can be configured as single, double or even triple pallet widths. Different beam profiles can also be utilised to support different pallet weights. And with every beam level easily and individually adjustable, different pallet heights are never a problem.
Where excessive weight capacity is required, different upright/frame profiles are also available to support high loads. With such a variety of beams, frames, bracing patterns and accessories available, selective pallet racking is truly the most configurable and versatile storage system.
To find out more about selective pallet racking, or to arrange an assessment of your storage needs, call the Industrial Warehouse team at Bowen to help maximise the potential of your operation at 1300 780 654 or visit www.bowenstorage.com.au
