Customized Steel Compact Drive In Pallet Racking Systems For Warehouse Storage

In modern warehouse and distribution centers, storage capacity and efficiency are the most important factors in maximizing a facility. The desired types of steel storage pallet rack include selective, push back, drive in, drive through, pallet flow, cantilever, work platforms and any other related systems.

We have introduced some basic rules about choosing selective pallet racking system, which is suitable for the storage of products with many SKUs and offering 100% selectivity. But the storage density is sacrificed for accessibility with various aisles. You can also see the differences in the form before. (Have not read the article yet? Click here to learn more about selective pallet racks.) So for the companies with large volume requiring higher product storage density, we do have a better choice—the drive-in pallet racking system.

Introductions

Drive-in pallet rack is a popular high-density storage solution compared to selective and can be configured to store loads of multiple deep. As the name suggested, lift trucks are able to drive in the rack structure to manoeuvre, which is specially designed without traditional beams across the bays. So let’s look at the special structure of drive-in pallet racks carefully.

Specifications of Drive-in Pallet Racks

Major Components and Accessories

The pictures below has shown some major parts of drive in pallet racks.

♦ Upright frames: Upright frames are the main support components of drive-in system structure, which consist of upright columns, horizontal and diagonal braces and row spacers.

♦ Beams: Top beam is on the top of each bay to connect adjacent frames forming a complete drive-in structure. Back beams provide system rigidity and rail support in the back of the system.

♦ Braces: Top and back cross braces are installed for increased rigidity and stability.

♦ Pallet Rails: Pallet rails are designed to store multiple pallets with excellent strength, load capacity and resists torsion, ensuring safe and efficient pallet loading and unloading.

♦ Rail Supports: Rail supports (or corbels) can be divided into single rail-support and double rail-support. The single-rail support is used in start bay and end bay, while double rail-support is used in additional bay holding pallet rails in the right position.

♦ Upright protector: Upright protectors are installed in front of the columns to prevent the system from potential damage by vehicles, which is extremely important since the drive-in pallet racks is relatively vulnerable for its special structure.

♦ Pallet stops: Pallet stops are attached to the rear of the rails to stop the pallets being pushed off resulting serious accidents.

♦ Ground guide rail: ground guide rails are installed on the floor, allowing forklifts to enter the racks easily and accurately, decreasing the risk of false operation or collision.

Advantages of Drive-in Pallet Racks

► Increased storage space

Drive-in pallet racking system is a high-density storage solution with fewer aisles compared to selective pallet rack, allowing for maximum utilization of the warehouse floor. Pallets can be stored extremely deep along the rails and the depth of of the lane is 10 at most.

► Best solution for large volume with few SKUs

Drive-in pallet rack is designed for the businesses that have few items but large pallet quantities following the LIFO rotation system. Forklift driving into the structure, the entire bay of same products can be moved at once, which is very efficient and convenient. It also allows easy access to pallets and especially suitable for staging products that need to be moved out quickly.

► Relatively low capital costs

Drive-in pallet racking system can be used in small space while offering denser storage, saving initial capital investment in space greatly. At the same time, conventional handling equipment with proper size can be utilized in this structure for picking and replenishing. So buying those expensive specialized forklifts are not necessary. With self-centering pallet rails, pallets can be positioned quickly and safely, reducing operational time and overall labor cost.

► Flexible utilization options

Drive-in pallet racks can be custom designed to accommodate your verifying needs from forklift types to pallet sizes. And both roll-formed and structural designed drive-in pallet racks are available for customer fabrication.

What’s more, drive through pallet rack is also an alternative if you want to have two entry points on both sides, following both FIFO and LIFO product rotation principle. This drive-in system can also work together with any other type of rack such as push-back to build a combination system for various storage needs.

Though it seems very appealing, before jumping into any decision, I would also like to warn you some limitations of this high density storage system.

Disadvantages of Drive-in Pallet Racks

► Only suitable for common-sized pallets.

► Not suitable for products with many SKUs.

► Not ideal for time or date sensitive products

► No individual pallet access or selection.

► Increased safety challenges with drive-in system.

► Demanding requirement for pallet quality.

To add up, drive-in pallet racking system is very popular offering outstanding storage density with fewer aisles. Suitable for storage of products of large volumes but few SKUs, this structure can not be used for storage of perishable products or that requiring fast stock rotation.

Typically subjected to more forklift abuse due to the way they are functioned, drive-in pallet racks can be very dangerous if not be designed to meet specific stability, rigidity and integrity requirement. Now I believe you can decide if drive-in pallet racks can fit in your facility perfectly with all the details I have displayed.