Understanding Racking System Options

There are a number of rack system types that your customer can consider for their warehouse. Being able to guide them through these options can ensure they look at you as the expert and as their partner. Below is an overview of each type of pallet rack system.

For further information, contact a DEH representative. We’re here as your partner, helping you grow your business with any information we can. Call us at 773-289-3237 or email sales@dehdirect.com.

Selective Pallet Rack Overview

Selective rack is used for first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory management. You load and unload pallets from the front. Double deep selective rack is also available for a last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory management option.

Selective pallet racking systems provides access to all stored pallets or cartons without the need to move others. This makes it a highly selective solution, ideal for storing a wide variety of products.

Numerous aisles are required to accommodate this high selectivity, making it a lower density option compared to other types of rack systems.

Selective rack is ideal for warehouses or distribution centers with continuous product circulation or that require access to all palletized items simultaneously.

Pallet Flow Rack Overview

Pallet flow rack is a first-in, first-out (FIFO) solution. 
In pallet flow racking systems, rack supports inclined rollers or wheels allowing pallets to glide from the back loading aisle to the front picking aisle. When the front pallet is unloaded, the next glides into picking position. Brakes can be included for speed control.

Pallet flow systems can be configured up to 12 lanes deep, providing excellent volume utilization and high-density storage.

Pallet flow rack is ideal for date-sensitive products such as food and beverage storage as well as freezer or cold storage applications.

Carton Flow Rack Overview

Carton flow rack is a first-in, first-out solution for storage of cartons. In carton flow rack, the rack supports inclined rollers or wheels allowing cartons to glide from the back (loading) aisle to the front (picking) aisle. Individual lane guides and tilt trays located at the discharge end can be added to allow for easy access into the top of a case or tote for piece-picking.

Carton flow systems provide excellent volume utilization for high volume case pick or piece pick applications. It is ideal for products varying in size, date-sensitive products such a s food and beverage storage and freezer or cold storage applications.

Drive-In & Drive-Through Rack Overview

In drive-in and drive-through racking, pallets are stored on support rails that are attached to uprights and are accessed by a lift truck that drives in to the system with the load elevated to the height of the rail and placed in the selected storage location. This provides high storage density by eliminating picking aisles but offers low selectivity.

Drive-in and drive-through racking systems are ideal for storing large quantities of homogeneous products, products with long life spans or products that require large, one time moves.

Drive-through rack allows a lift truck to enter through both ends of the system for loading and unloading allowing for a FIFO storage option but requiring an additional aisle.

Drive-in rack requires the lift truck to load and unload by entering through the front of the system and then backing out, making it a LIFO option.

Push Back Rack Overview

In push back rack, the rack supports carts that move along inclined rails. Push back systems utilize the warehouse cube to reduce required aisle space and maximize product storage, making it a high-density pallet storage solution.

These systems are ideal for warehouse and distribution centers that require access to multiple groups of SKUs simultaneously, as well as freezer and cooler environments.

Push back racking is for last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory management. Each pallet is loaded from the front of the system on to a cart. Using the next pallet, the first is slowly pushed until it is aligned with the next available cart. When the front pallet is unloaded, the next pallet glides to the front for picking.