The Right Warehouse Racking System Design Saves Time And Money

By Paulette Short


Warehouse racking system design is a science in and of itself. The many different systems you have seen in other plants is not a hap hazard installation without real thought. It is designed to be used for the material being stored and with the equipment used to move things on and off. These design professionals work to make sure your plant is usable and safe for all.

Metal is a very popular material for these types of shelves because of their strength. Plastics are used in areas where sanitation is critical, however, a smooth surface metal can be cleaned just as well. The strength of the shelves are important as they must be able to hold whatever they are asked to hold and stand up to whatever abuse they will be subjected to.

Planning the correct racking system will begin by identifying what is going to be stored there. The standard pallet sized items will find a good fit in standard sized units. The larger than normal will need to be analyzed to establish what sized compartments will need to be made. This does not mean that the installation will only accommodate one size units as these flexible units can be planned in many different configurations.

Weights of the stored items will need to be looked at seriously. The height of many shelving units will make for a big problem if it can not hold the weight of the stored material. The make up of those things will also be a consideration. If they are liquid, gelled or powdered, there will be safety concerns that will not be present in a solid load. Leaks must be prepared for and recovery will also be on the list of issues.

Being able to get to all sides of the stored goods will also need some thinking. Having an open compartment, within the racking, means being able to get to all sides of each nook. This is not as practical as it might seem as that would mean free standing shelving taking up a lot of space. Being able to get through the front and the back of each bay is sufficient in most cases.

Looking into all of the equipment needed for moving material around should be looked into. The pallet jacks will only move pallets if they are already on the floor. Forklifts have reaches that may be insufficient for the racks you are thinking about. The system designers will have recommendations about which equipment is appropriate for all applications.

While installing a new or changing the racking system you have, it might be the best time to transform the work flow. The inefficient flow that has been the normal way of doing things can be up dated. The most direct line of work flow, combined with the best of on time delivery of ingredients, will have an impact on productivity and ergonomic stability.

Warehouse racking system design is a very specific science and its practitioners have the experience to make it work for your plant. They will have the recommendations to ensure you have the right set of shelves and the system that makes them all work. Knowing about the automatic nature of attachments and processes that make your plant more productive is what they do and they do it quite well.




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