3 Signs It's Time to Consider Rack Removal

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:46:03 GMT

When you're scheduling rack installation for your warehouse, rack removal is likely the furthest thing from your mind. However, experienced material handling equipment providers know that having a plan for the growth and evolution of your business is essential. Here are three signs that it's time to schedule rack removal.

You're Running Out of Space

Every business owner wants their business to succeed. If your business is thriving, you're likely experiencing expansion in both the figurative and physical sense. When your warehouse space is starting to feel cramped and overcrowded, it's most likely time to eliminate some racks. This might mean that you're simply reorganizing your warehouse space or looking to upgrade your pick modules. Whatever the reason, removing racks will create more space to accommodate your business's growth.

You've Made Changes to Your Process

It can be difficult to know with certainty how to use your warehouse space efficiently, especially when you're just starting out. If your team has been hard at work for a while, you've most likely made improvements to your process' efficiency and effectiveness. Don't let your warehouse layout and push back rack placement hinder your business. Scheduling rack reorganization or removal will help you optimize your workspace. Take full advantage of the space you have and improve your workflow even more.

You're Relocating

Relocation can happen for a number of reasons. Regardless of your motivation, equipment and storage removal is necessary when you have to move your warehouse operation to a new space. This can even be a great opportunity to invest in new equipment! According to Global News Wire, the warehouse racking market was valued at over $8 billion in 2018. Since then, the market has continued to grow and is expected to surpass $10 billion by 2027. Considering the investment your business will need to make on racking and storage equipment, it's important to make sure you're choosing a reliable equipment provider.

Flexible module options and long-term planning are essential parts of your warehouse storage solution. Regardless of your industry, RakTek has an appropriate option for you. Call our team today to receive a FREE quote on the products and installation that suits your space.

What Is a Pallet Rack?

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:48:09 GMT

If you've never worked in a warehouse setting before, you may not be familiar with a pallet rack. Pallet racking is integral to most warehouse environments in this day and age. Warehouses themselves have many uses, but they need to be able to store as many items as possible. Pallet racks enable warehouse owners to maximize space while at the same time organizing the items that they store. However, they have more of a history than many realize, and for that matter come in a myriad of different forms.

The History of Pallet Racks

Pallet racks are not as old as you may think. In fact, prior to the first world war, they were not very common at all. It became clear in the early twentieth century that warehouses would be better able to utilize their space if they were storing products vertically rather than horizontally. Potentially, warehouses can double or even triple their storage capacities when they stack products vertically.

Additionally, the creation of corrugated packaging, which was cheap but required a lot of labor, meant that storage needed to be easier as well. The more efficiently packages and products could be stored, the more business owners would be able to save money. As forklifts were invented in 1915, it became easier for products to be stacked. Pallet racks followed in the 1920s, with multilevel pallet racks gradually becoming more common. Pallet racks today are, typically, 48 inches deep by 40 inches wide, according to Speed Rack. They've come quite a long way from the early, rudimentary pallet racks.

Pallet Racks Today

Today, pallet racks are structured strategically, in order to maximize space even further. This is usually referred to as selective pallet racking, which comes in two main forms. One is roll formed, which creates a structure in a teardrop shape. Pallets rely on horizontal load beams, held in place by mounting clips. This configuration can easily be moved and restructured, which means that it's ideal for products of different shapes and sizes.

The other form is the structural pallet rack, which is held in place with bolts rather than clips. This pallet rack style can hold heavier weights, but pallets can still be reconfigured and dismantled as is necessary.

It's difficult to store anything of great capacity without pallet racks. With that being said, it's also important to understand the variations in pallet racking.