How should we configure pallets for storage racking systems?

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Metal pallets are now one of the common logistics equipment in logistics transportation and storage turnover, and also one of the most frequently used storage equipment with storage racks. The use of metal pallets can be more convenient for the goods in the storage racks with forklifts directly handling operations, both to provide efficiency and save manual handling costs.

metal pallet
metal pallet

Then heavy duty racking systems, through racking systems, shuttle racking systems, etc. need to combine their own characteristics, for different storage needs, choose different materials of the pallet, pallet by material classification is divided into the following three kinds: metal, wood, plastic.

1. Metal pallets.

Metal pallet, also called steel pallet or iron pallet, the main material is steel or galvanized steel plate, formed by special equipment, various profiles are supported by each other, rivets are connected and strengthened, and then welded by CO2 gas protection welding. It has the strongest loading capacity among the pallets and is 100% environmentally friendly and can be recycled and reused, so that the resources are not wasted. And the surface is made of anti-slip treatment, and the periphery is wrapped with edge treatment. The base plate is strong, light in weight and strong in steel, with stable packaging performance; it is also waterproof, moisture-proof and rust-proof, with no need for fumigation, high temperature sterilization or anti-corrosion treatment, in line with international environmental regulations.

steel pallet
steel pallet

2. Plastic pallets.

Plastic pallets are made by using PE\PP and other thermoplastics, plus some additives to improve the performance, processed by injection molding, blow molding and other processes. It has been widely used in machinery, electronics, food, medicine, garment and other industries. Compared with wooden pallets, plastic pallets are good in integrity, hygienic and clean, easy to wash and disinfect, light in use, have no nails, acid and alkali resistance, no mold and other characteristics, and their service life is 5-7 times that of wooden pallets.

plastic pallet
plastic pallet

3. Wooden pallets.

It is a pallet made of natural wood, which is the most widely used pallet now. Wooden pallet is the most widely used and most abundant in the world, because of their cheap price, high bending strength, good rigidity, large bearing capacity, easy to repair, high accuracy, not easy to deformation, reinforced with high-strength screws, no nailing, and good solidity. Good resistance to low and high temperatures, a wide range of applications.

wood pallet
wood pallet

So what pallets should be configured on the racks in storage?

1. Heavy duty racking, heavy duty racking is typical of the use of metal pallet racking. A typical set of this type of racking can have 2-3 metal pallets placed side by side for stocking needs. This type of racking is also often called pallet racking. There are a few things to keep in mind when using metal pallets for heavy duty racking. Firstly, it is necessary to determine the position between the metal pallets with proper space in order to facilitate the operation of the forklift; secondly, it is necessary to try to place the metal pallets neatly on the beams of the racking and to deal with the relationship between the goods and the metal pallets in order to avoid safety accidents and other occurrences. The bottom foot of the pallet racking must be installed with ground expansion screws to ensure the stability of the pallet racking.

2. Shuttle racking is an automated racking system, in the shuttle car is placed on top of the depth of the position of the pallet storage, plastic pallets are the main type of pallet used, in the cargo position and through the similar to the through racking. The basic principle of shuttle racking is that the racking and the shuttle car can be moved from a simple unit that can be moved around the warehouse. The racking with the shuttle car running inside is controlled by a central console at the front end. The forklift forks up the racking (including the shuttle) and places it on the central console of the designated racking. The forklift then places the inbound pallet on the shuttle to start the storage operation. When it is time for the forklift to store the next pallet, the shuttle transports the pallet quickly and steadily to its designated storage location within the rack.

pallet storage
pallet storage

3. The use of through-racking pallets, through-racking is the master of using pallets. Because the through racking is a kind of racking that is not separated by a channel and is continuous for the whole building, it uses pallets that are also continuous, which also reduces the obstruction and maximizes the ability to store goods. In use, pallets can be arranged in one way versus two ways. One-way (against the wall area) the total depth of the shelf is best controlled within 6 pallet depth, two-way (the middle area can be picked up on both sides) the total depth of the rack area is best controlled within 12 pallet depth to improve the efficiency and reliability of forklift access. As for the choice of metal pallets, or plastic pallets, we can combine their own comprehensive consideration in determining.

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