Pallet Racking Leeds

Standard wide aisle pallet racking

Having been around the longest, wide aisle racking is the most universal pallet racking type favoured for its simplicity, versatility and adaptability. The system can store any product type and even a mixture of different product types at the same time and is highly adaptable to changing needs. Every pallet is visible with direct access from the wide working aisle which gives plenty of room for fork lift truck (FLT) maneuver. Whilst this doesn’t provide storage capacity to the same degree as the more compact solutions, if you’re looking for more density, the racks can be placed back to back creating the double deep racking configuration which takes a percentage of aisle space to double your storage capacity. This is an affordable system offering great space utilisation whilst being simple to use, adjust and install.    

Narrow Aisle or VNA Pallet Racking

A configuration similar to that of wide aisle racking, however the racks of a narrow or VNA racking system are much taller in order to utilise generous height space. At the same time the aisle width is particularly narrow making way for additional rows which makes better use of floor space. Although the system can only operate using the very slim specialist narrow aisle FLT which is more expensive than the standard trucks, the return on this investment can be seen through enhanced productivity.   

Pushback and pallet live racking

These deep storage systems put the entire cubic area to good use by converting all available space into pallet racking storage. Even the fixed working aisles are taken away which creates a single large structure housing multiple rows and levels of deep running lanes of pallet locations. Once the pallet enters a tunnelled lane it is able to travel further into the lane on fitted rollers with the gentle assistance of gravity promoted by the slight tilt of the structure. On the push back racking system the pallets loaded push the existing pallets further into the lane and when picked those pallets move forward again, however this first-in-last-out (FILO) method would be unsuitable if your goods have a limited shelf life. The pallet live racking system however, does offer assisted stock rotation through the first-in first-out (FIFO) method simply by the collection of pallets from the opposite side they were loaded. The pallet live system requires two accessible sides rather than one which means slightly less storage capacity than the push back system; however the system still offers up to 80% floor space utilisation.

Drive-in/drive-through racking

This ultra dense storage system is again a single large structure housing multiple storage lanes, however rather than rely on rollers and gravity to move the pallets within the structure, the FLT travels the length of the tall, open lanes to place and pick the pallets. Rather than beams the pallets are aligned and placed onto rails which run the length of the lane and sit on either side and at every level. The drive-in/drive-through system is far less busy with specialist components than other high density systems, making it a more affordable solution. The drive-in system enables entry from one side and works on the FILO basis; however the drive-through system is entered from both sides and works on the FLFO basis and at a much faster pace.   

Shuttle racking

This high density storage structure is similar to that of the pushback and pallet live systems but without the tilt or roller because the pallets are transported through the deep lanes using a radio controlled shuttle. The operator simply places the pallet onto the shuttle which sits on the lip of the lane and then the shuttle takes it to where it needs to go, drops it off and the returns to the lane entry. Again, by incorporating two access sides the shuttle racking system can work on the FIFO method, however if the FILO method is preferred there’s an opportunity for even more storage. The shuttle does need a little time to travel so to help speed up the process, many who operate this system use additional shuttles.

Mobile racking

By using standard racking and placing them onto a mobile base you have mobile racking which means numerous rows can be closed together to form a compact system. To access a pallet the racks open to create a temporary aisle, however it’s important to note that only one aisle can be created at one time. Mobile racking is ideal when handling low turnover goods or those of high value or delicacy as the tightly closed structure protects the pallets from outside elements, risk of damage and even theft.

This useful chart indicated the capabilities of each pallet racking system: