Warehouse Racking, Not Quite The Straightforward Option It Might Seem.
Your product will depict the type of racking you choose for your warehouse storage, quite often you may need a mixture of warehouse racking or shelving. It could be that certain areas of your warehouse will require access from handling equipment, such as fork lift trucks, these areas may affect the type and amount of racking chosen and the overall construction costs of a new warehouse. For example, conventional counter balance trucks need much wider working aisles compared to that of articulated forklifts.
It is also good to note that the height of a warehouse can affect your construction method. Standard automated warehouses go higher than 25 metres, in this case it is worth considering a clad-rack option as it is more cost effective than conventional construction techniques. In a clad-racking scenario the racking is constructed first and the walls are then fixed to the racking.
There are two options when considering your warehouse racking solutions – new or second hand. Second hand racking may be a tempting option especially when times become tougher in business, but it comes with it’s problems and can often be more of a costly option than buying new. According to research 25% of used racking is unusable due to missing or mismatched parts, improper use from a previous owner, damage from forklifts and other handling equipment, issues arising from disassembly and reassembly. Bearing this in mind, construction of second hand racking could take much longer and could have a serious impact on time frames for your business – costing you time and money.
Another consideration with second hand racking is that it should be thoroughly checked to ensure that the carrying capacity is clearly labelled, many manufacturers use different material thickness in their frames and beams and if the manufacturer has gone out of business getting hold of this information could be extremely difficult.
Choosing a new racking system is a safer and cost-effective way of creating the storage space you require in your warehouse. Extra care should be taken when making alterations to the system as it can potentially weaken the system if not carried out according to the manufactures guidelines. Racking repairs carried out in the future should also be done according to the manufacturers guidelines and if there is an accident a full racking audit must be completed, make sure this is carried out by experienced and qualified engineers.
No matter which option you choose, extra protection should be added to your racking to cut down potential damage. Protection such as column guards, rack net systems or protection posts are all ideal solutions.
Every year there are a significant number of racking accidents, mainly because racking maintenance is neglected. By law it is your duty to ensure your warehouse is a safe place to work, this means that regular racking inspections, prompt repairs and procedures outlining warehouse layout changes should all be documented and carried out on an annual basis.
If you are considering racking as solution for your warehouse storage, why not get in touch to discuss the options available and book in a free site visit.