Starting from scratch with a new warehouse set up or upgrading an existing warehouse is a complex task with many variables which will depend on the items you store, the type of forklifts you use and even things like the lighting installation in the warehouse.
To help you with the decision-making process we’ve created this guide for warehouse managers to help you through the decision-making process.
Longevity and Price
Price will ultimately be a big part of any decision-making process, but it should not be the most important one. Choosing a cheap pallet racking system may prove to be a false economy in the long term. With some things, you really do get what you pay for and pallet racking systems are one of them.
Similarly, you should consider the expected life span of the system and consider the long-term plans for the business in terms of growth. Will the pallet racking system you are considering scale up to meet future business expansion plans?
Upgrading the pallet racking system of a warehouse is a major investment for any business. It is therefore essential at this stage to carry out a thorough cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the most cost-effective solution for your needs. You should compare at least two options for the pallet racking system upgrade.
Safety
The very nature of warehousing and distribution operations means that it has as an industry, one of the biggest risks of injury for workers. Choosing the right pallet racking system for your warehouse can play a significant part in the safety of your warehouse staff. For more information on warehousing safety and choice of pallet racking systems, we recommend you check out the HSE Warehousing pages.
Type of Products Stored and Access Required
If your product types allow you to choose a double deep racking system, (storing pallets in pairs) you will be able to maximise the efficiency of the storage space you have available.
Also, you will need to consider the access required to the products. Will the lower shelves be accessed by order pickers on Low-Level Order Pick trucks, or will all products be added and removed from the pallet racking system by fork lift?
Warehouse Lighting
Lighting can often be a guiding factor to how high your pallet racking installation can be. Consideration should be given to the position and height of existing lights. It is essential for warehouse safety to keep a good lighting source in place.
Whilst it might be possible to move some lighting to suit the new pallet racking system, a completely new lighting installation could soon push the cost of the warehouse upgrade beyond the budgets.
Use a Warehouse Installation Specialist
Whilst you may be a time served warehouse and distribution centre manager, you can still benefit from the advice of a warehouse installation specialist. We spoke to one such company, Acorn Warehouse Solutions about the benefits of their services, they told us “a warehouse specialist has to keep themselves up to date with all the latest safety regulations, industry innovations and will always see your warehouse through fresh eyes. This means you get the best, up-to-date advice from an independent perspective.”
We hope that our guide to choosing the right pallet racking system for your business has given you some helpful pointers for your warehouse refit or upgrade. If you have recently completed your warehouse improvements and would like to share your experience, please leave us a comment here on the blog. As always, thank you for reading our article, if you have any questions, please leave us a comment.