6 Warehouse Racking Solution Types (infographic)

Enhance Warehouse Flow & Productivity

Depending on the needs of your warehouse, industry, and product flow, you may benefit from a racking solution that you haven’t implemented.

Selective Racking

• Single pallet depth
• Against a wall or back-to-back configuration
• Best for wide variety of products with low turnover

• Advantages

  • Relatively inexpensive with flexible application
  • Special forklifts are not required
  • Wide variety of product sizes & weights

• Disadvantages

  • Single Pallet Depth
  • Low Density Storage

Double Deep Racking

• Same as Selective, except in a back-to-back configuration
• Ideal space conservation for units not placed along the walls

• Advantages

  • All the advantages of Selective
  • Slightly Higher Density

• Disadvantages

  • Not as dense as other options

Drive-In/Drive-Thru Racking

• Made so narrow forklifts can pass inside to place or remove pallets
• Can be put against a wall (drive-in), or the back can be open (drive-thru)

• Advantages

  • Massive space savings of up to 72%
  • Allows the facility to store more inventory

• Disadvantages

  • Not ideal for multiple SKU’s
  • Higher risk for rack damage

Push-Back Racking

• Similar space conservation as Drive-Thru
• Forklifts push product through, instead of drive it through
• Best option for Last-In/First-Out (LIFO) inventory management

• Advantages

  • Less risk to racking
  • Special forklifts are not required
  • Reduces picking, loading, unloading times

• Disadvantages

  • Higher price point than Selective
  • Not good for First-In/First-Out (FIFO) inventory management

Pallet-Flow / Gravity-Flow Racking

• Very similar to Push-Back Racking
• Pallets are loaded on one side and retrieved on the other
• Best option for First-In/First-Out (FIFO) inventory management

• Advantages

  • Significantly less space
  • Great for multiple SKU’s
  • Great for the food industry

• Disadvantages

  • Pallets can become congested.

Cantilever Racking

• Very different from other racking, as it isn’t made for pallets
• Made for longer objects, such as lumber or piping
• Has arms that objects are stretched between

• Advantages

  • Extremely strong and durable
  • Can store odd items such as cars and small boats

• Disadvantages

  • Not made for storing palletized items.

As you can see, not every racking solution fits every business or industry type.  However, with an understanding of the pros and cons of each racking type, you can make the right decision for your business.  Speaking of “pros,” feel free to pick up the phone and give our pros a call!  We have warehouse design experts ready to walk you through the optimal configuration of your warehouse today!