Drive in pallet racking: Everything you need to know.
Drive-in racking is a high-density storage solution which helps to maximize the space and height of your warehouse by reducing the forklift operating aisles. Drive-in pallet racking is made with an easy to assemble and reset modular structure that makes it easy to maintain. Drive-in pallet racks can be a great option if you have to store standardized products with a larger number of pallets in the same references. Since loads are stored one in front of the other drive-in racking system is suitable for inventory with a low turnover rate, similar SKUs, and full pallet load selection because access to load is limited. Drive-in pallet racking dimension must be taken into consideration as it is important to get the correct height and width of the facility along with the type and size of the pallets that you will be storing.
Advantages of drive-in racking system
- Increased storage density: Drive-in pallet rack systems have higher storage density in comparison to traditional rack systems as they allow pallets to be stored closer together in fewer aisles. Drive-in rack systems can be ideal for you if you don’t need individual access to each aisle to save you space and reduce the points of inventory access.
- Great control: Drive-in pallet racks offer you the control of your entry and exit points which means that you can also customize your warehouse. The drive-in racking pallet system consists of angled shelves which allows the pallets to move down to the front when loading and unloading systems including flow-through or push-back racks.
- Cost-effectiveness: Drive-in pallet racking cost is more expensive compared to other storage systems however they provide a greater storage density leading to a more effective use of floor space. They can be customized to suit the specific requirements of your business.
Disadvantages of drive-in pallet racking system
- Drive-in racks are not suitable for all sorts of products because of the last-in, first out inventory system.
- There is a higher risk of forklift damage to the pallet racks due to high amount of traffic and tight spacing within the system.
- Accessibility to pallets at the back of the rack may require double handling in drive-in racks.
Difference between drive-in and drive-through pallet racking.
The major difference between drive-in and drive-through pallet racking is the warehouse management systems that they have been designed for. Drive-in racking works with the last in, first out (LIFO) method whereas drive-through racking works with first in, first out (FIFO) method. The structure of the drive-in racking system consists of only one access aisle for forklifts that is used for loading and unloading the pallets. Drive-through racking works with the access of the aisle on either of the two ends, one for the loading and another for unloading the pallets. Another difference between these systems is the space required for the installation. The drive-in racking system can be installed on a small surface space in comparison to a drive-through racking system because both the loading and unloading happens from the same entry point.