Your warehouse’s design is one of the aspects that determine your operation’s efficiency. With the right warehouse pallet racking system, clutter will be reduced, warehouse space maximised and worker productivity and safety increased. Pallet racking systems achieve these by getting your pallets off the floor and organised, simplifying the picking and loading of your cartons or pallets and automating some of the elements involved in the retrieval and storage of pallets.
Cantilever systems are the standard pallet racking solutions for the storage of long, bulky and irregularly-shaped products. These include plasterboard, timber, pipes, carpets, and trusses. They are hence mostly used in plumbing supply warehouses, woodworking shops, and lumber yards. The systems do not have upright columns that limit their horizontal storage space. Their design comprises arms, bases, and towers. Vertical columns connect to arms that extend out of shelves and then to a base. Here are the types of racking systems for warehouses:
Light-duty Racks
These are primarily for hand loading only. Each arm loads up to 500 pounds. Variants of light-duty racks hold 700-1,000 pounds for medium-duty racks and 5,000-6,000 pounds for heavy-duty ones. Your employees will easily access the items on your shelves manually to fill orders. As such, they are generally used for small warehouses and light products.
I-beam Racks
These are freestanding pallet racks. Most are available in heights of approximately twenty feet. You can store loads of up to 20000 pounds on I-beam racks. They have few maintenance needs and are the best choice for warehouses that want to maximise their horizontal and vertical space.
Structural Racks
These are the most common cantilever racking systems available. They will efficiently handle extra heavy and medium loads. Structural racks comprise steel components to guarantee their strength and durability. They are also connected using structure grade high-strength bolts throughout. The vertical beams of structural frames have punched holes that extend their full height to enhance their versatility and adaptability to various storage environments.
Dynamic Racks
These are racks which are controlled using a programmed system for their closing and opening in different aisles. They are the ideal choice for warehouses with minimal space since they will maximise your storage capacity without interfering with access to your items. Dynamic racks can have both automatic and manual inputs making them ideal for forklift operator when manoeuvring your warehouse’s aisle. Moreover, they feature diagnostic systems for the troubleshooting of different aspects.
In the end, these cantilever racking systems can be used outdoors and indoors provided they have efficient protective coatings from various elements. Your warehouse’s choice from the cantilever racking systems above depends on your distribution order, placing practices and inventory volume. The storage density you achieve with a cantilever racking system can be incredibly high provided you have a foolproof plan on how to use it efficiently. This will depend on the flexibility of the rack you get. Get an expert’s opinion before making a final choice to ensure you pick one that guarantees immediate returns on your investment.