Industrial racking for optimising a warehouse | Racking & Shelving

It’s crucial for a warehouse to be as organised as possible.

Statistics show that warehouses and distribution centres are becoming larger. Between 2016 and 2018 , the average square footage of a warehouse increased by 11%, while the average height grew by 5%.

With the pandemic, lockdown and subsequent rise of online shopping, warehouses have had to grow even more in the past few years.

This means that it’s essential for warehouses to be efficient.

One way you can enhance efficiency and improve how inventory is stored in your warehouse is through the use of an industrial racking system. A racking system makes it easier to store and access products, helping to save valuable time and resources.

Not sure if industrial racking is right for your warehouse? In this article, we’ll look at the different types of industrial racking systems available and how they can benefit your business.

What is an industrial racking system?

An industrial racking system is used for storing large amounts of goods in a warehouse or distribution centre environment.

Industrial racking consists of a steel frame connected by steel beams. This frame can be used to store inventory, or pallet racks containing inventory.

What can be stored using industrial racking systems?

An industrial racking system is ideal for all goods.

Racking can be used for items that are large or small , as well as irregularly sized items. The right type of racking system for your requirements will depend on what you stock, which we’ll talk about in more detail later.

Many warehouses think they can’t use industrial racking if they specialise in perishable goods, but this isn’t the case. Push-back racking (also known as ‘first-in-first-out’, or ‘FIFO’ racking) means the oldest goods are the first ones available, ensuring proper stock rotation.

Why is an industrial racking system of benefit in a warehouse environment?

Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider using industrial racking systems in your warehouse

1. It maximises storage capacity.

2. 44% of warehouse operative s see insufficient space for inventory as a significant issue. With a racking system, you can store more products, even if floor space is limited

3. It means fewer damaged goods. Industrial racking systems help protect inventory in a warehouse, reducing the risk of damage. This means less money wasted and a lower risk of a customer receiving an inferior product

4. It’s safer. Typically, the higher products are stacked in a warehouse, the higher the chances of them collapsing and potentially causing injury. An industrial racking system means you can stack items higher without them falling down. Specific racking systems also ensure that older goods are shipped first, meaning customers won’t fall ill from consuming out-of-date perishable item.

5. It’s easier to see what you have available. Racking makes it easier to see what inventory you’ve got in stock. This makes it easier for warehouse staff to find the right items, but also means they know when products need to be replenished

6. It keeps staff happy. Warehouse staff can walk several miles a day during the course of their job. This means anything you can do to reduce wasted trips will not only improve productivity but increase job satisfaction. A racking system keeps items organised and means staff can find what they need quickly

7. It reduces the risk of theft. A well-coordinated warehouse with everything in its place makes it harder for people to remove things without others seeing. This can keep profit healthy and ensure you always know how much inventory you have

What are the different types of racking?

There are different types of racking available, meaning no matter what your needs are, you’ll be able to find the industrial racking system that’s right for your warehouse.

The great news is we stock all these systems at Racking and Shelving. Click on the links to find out more, or alternatively, contact our sales team to find out more about the products we have available.

Pallet racking system

A pallet racking system holds goods on pallets over multiple storage levels. This is a great way to optimise your vertical space in a safe and secure way.

There are different types of pallet racking systems available.

Adjustable pallet racking is a cost-effective solution that is ideal for all shapes and sizes of warehouses – a good all-rounder!

Drive-in pallet racking is good for optimising both vertical and horizontal spaces and storing large volumes of the same product. It’s called drive-in pallet racking, as forklift trucks can easily access inventory.

Narrow aisle pallet racking and mobile pallet racking are great options where space is an issue, or you need to install racking in an awkwardly-shaped area.

As we mentioned above, push-back racking is ideal for perishable goods as the oldest pallet is unloaded first.

Cantilever racking system

Cantilever racking (sometimes called lumber racking) uses horizontal, load-bearing arms to safely store heavy, bulky, and long items. This type of racking is ideal for timber, pipes and rolls of carpet and is fully customisable to your needs.

The great thing about cantilever racking systems is that they’re scalable. A single-sided rack can easily be converted into a double-sided rack, meaning this type of racking grows and evolves as your warehouse does.

How to choose the best type of racking for your needs?

As there are a variety of industrial racking systems out there, it can be hard to work out which is the right choice for your warehouse.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. What is your budget? Some types of racking systems are more expensive than others, so if you don’t have much money to spend, this might affect your final decision. An adjustable pallet racking system is a good option if you need something affordable but functional.

2. Does your warehouse need to grow in the future? A high-quality, professionally installed industrial racking system will last for several years. However, it’s still important to future-proof your system. If you plan to expand, you need a racking system that can quickly adapt to your changing needs, like cantilever racking.

3. How much floor space do you have? The good news is that you can take advantage of industrial racking even if you don’t have a lot of floor space to work with, or if the floor space you have is unusually shaped. For example, narrow pallet racking can save up to 40% of your warehouse space.

4. How high is your warehouse? If you have a lot of vertical space, choosing the right industrial racking system can help you optimise that space. Drive-in pallet racking is excellent for taking advantage of high ceilings. Alternatively, installing a mezzanine floor can give you an extra level of space for more racking.

5. Do you have any specialist items? If you stock niche inventory, there might be a bespoke solution available that will help you store it more efficiently and safely. As an example, there is pallet racking available for tyres that protects the surface of the tyres and prevents them from rolling away.

Remember that you don’t have to stick to the same type of racking system in your warehouse. Many warehouses and distribution centres use a combination of racking to ensure logistics are optimised as much as possible.

And of course, if you’re still not sure which racking is the best option, we’re always more than happy to advise.

In summary: industrial racking can help transform the way your warehouse operates.

We hope this article has given you some good insight into industrial racking and how it can be used to improve operational efficiency in your warehouse. If your warehouse has grown incrementally, it might be the case that you’ve updated your racking on a piecemeal basis, adding new elements as and when you need them. Taking a step back and auditing your entire system as a whole will help save time and money, as well as keep your staff safe.

If you want to know more about how industrial racking can improve your warehouse operations, we’d be happy to help. We supply and install pallet racking and cantilever racking systems across the UK and Ireland. Not only this, but with our free design service, we can optimise your warehouse space for the best results. Contact our team of experts today to see how you can use industrial racking systems to make your warehouse more efficient.