Many businesses have lots of excess stock, files and equipment that don't need to be used every day. That is why storage is so important for any company that doesn't have unlimited space (and few do). There are many different ways you can plan your storage, from keeping it offsite in a rental facility to trying to reduce your on-site items to a bare minimum. However, there is a method that often goes overlooked by many businesses that could be just what you are looking for: pallet racking.
What Is Pallet Racking?
Pallet racking is a storage system by which you load up pallets and then keep them in ordered shelving units that are purpose-built to be compact and easily accessible. Many industrial companies have taken advantage of this storage system for many years, and large-scale fulfillment warehouses also use this technique. The ability to pack items vertically by using pallet racking means that no floor space is wasted, and you can really maximise your potential storage in a way that other systems either cannot do as safely or as orderly.
Different Pallet Racking Systems
Pallet racking is not a one-size-fits-all solution, as there are many different techniques that appeal to different needs. Cantilever storage is available for heavy or odd-shaped items that don't fit traditional pallet racking. On the other hand, if accessibility is your main priority, then drive-in pallet racking options should be where your prime option. Traditional pallet racking for most businesses would look more like selective or push-back systems, which are best for smaller items and using the space as economically as possible. If you want a uniquely customised system that incorporates many different parts of the aforementioned pallet racking systems, then there are plenty of storage and construction experts who specialise in just that.
Accessories
Most pallet racking needs at least a few accessories to work as smoothly as you want it to. For larger items, there is simply no way around it: you need a forklift. A forklift is a great addition for many tasks, but storage is where it truly shines, and you cannot go without one for a pallet racking system. Implementing a scanning and digital storage system that tells you exactly where different products are located is also heavily advised; it can be easy to forget or lose track of where certain items are when they are neatly packed away in boxes or pallets. Those are the two most important accessories for any successful pallet racking system, although it is possible to have one without them.
