24 Feb Custom Racking Solutions and How to Get Them Planned and Made Quicker
“The first question is what kind of rack do you need for your business. In fact, it would not be remiss to say that if you could find the type of rack that is closest to the rack you need then you can shorten the amount of time it will take to design the product for you.”
The interesting part about working with pallet racking is that there is a little bit of a “one size fits all approach to it” or at least that is how some people feel about it when they look at websites. Everyone is carrying the same to similar types of products. If you need a custom racking product then it is not always clear if a business can handle it or would even consider handling the job from what they have posted on their sites. It does not leave you in a very good position at all.
The first question is what kind of rack do you need for your business. In fact, it would not be remiss to say that if you could find the type of rack that is closest to the rack you need then you can shorten the amount of time it will take to design the product for you. Of course, that requires you to know what the different types of racks are that are available in the marketplace. If you do not have a lot of experience with the material handling industry then you might not know what you should be looking for or what anything is called. Here is a short primer on the different types of base units you could use to describe the custom racking solutions you have in your mind.
The most common type of pallet racking you will find in the market place is something called a selective rack. You might be wondering if every rack or shelving unit is selective. The answer is yes but a selective rack offers the most amount of selection out of all the possible types in the marketplace. It is the most like the shelving you have in your own home right now. You can place products however you choose on the shelves and, for the most part, take them off as you choose as well to some degree of effectiveness. We all know how hard it is to get something that is behind a lot of other things on the shelf and it would not be any different with this rack/shelf solution. Therefore, that might be the limitation as far selection is concerned.
“The last thing to think about is how soon do you need the item. Even if a company can handle the job it does not mean that they can do it quickly. You are going to have to wait for your custom rack to be developed.”
Another type of racking is pushback rack. Pushback rack is good for businesses that do not have to worry about products that will expire. The system is made so that gravity pushes the next product to the front after the previously placed product is removed off the shelf. It is a last-in-first-out system that is great for a business that needs to store a lot of product in a very defined space. It is referred to as a high-density storage space solution.
If you are wondering if there is a storage solution that actually follows FIFO then you need to know that there is a rack that does do it. It has two possible names. The two names are a pallet flow rack or a gravity-flow system. It also replaces a removed product with the next in line. It does this by using gravity. You should know that it loads from the other end of the system. A newer product, in theory, loads behind older products. The older products leave the rack first. It is because of the design of the pallet rack system. This is the pallet rack you should use for your custom rack solution design. It is an excellent choice if you need to follow FIFO.
Cantilever Racks and Custom Racking Solutions:
Another rack type you should be aware of is a cantilever rack. A cantilever rack is best for businesses that need to hold heavy long products. Products that would fit this category include lumber, steel, pipes, etc. Cantilever racks can hold products on either side of the system. Sometimes referred to as i-beam racks. You may have seen a cantilever rack is at a hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot. Hardware stores put shelving or decking on their cantilever’s arms. The racks can hold products like a normal shelving unit. A good choice for any custom racking solutions you have in mind.
The last thing to think about is how soon do you need the item. Even if a company can handle the job it does not mean that they can do it quickly. You have to wait for your custom rack development. If there are other factors affecting steel production then you might have to wait even longer. See if any of the racks we carry will work for your design. If you can do that then you will have an easier time getting your rack designed and built.
Looking for a company to help you get the custom unit you have always wanted? Click the custom fabrication link and read more about it. If you have more questions and know what you want, then call us. Keep in mind, you want someone who knows what it takes to get a permit for your racking and we do. Call us and you will not have to worry about permit issues because we will help you through it.
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