Metal Racking

Metal racking is the most common type of shelving system found in warehouses and large retail stores. These are the large shelves that are filled with lots of boxes or products when you visit a hardware store or the supermarket. But the metal racking is much broader than that.

What is Metal Racking?

Metal racking is a storage system or method much like a typical shoe rack. The main difference is the use of steel or metal frames and that these racks are usually taller than a person. The largest metal racking systems are so big that machines such as a forklift and a crane are used to place items in them.

Components of a Metal Racking System

? Pallets – Although not all metal racking systems use pallets, majority do have this component which makes it very common. Pallets, also known as skids, are flat platforms made of wood, steel or plastic. Items for storage are placed on the pallets and the pallets are transported using a forklift.

? Load Beams – Load beams are the metal or steel bars holding the weight of the items. The beams can be step, box or structural beams.

a. Step Beam – A step beam is a beam that allows 2 horizontal platforms for rack storage with an inset step. This is usually used for smaller racking systems for the purpose of shelving.

b. Box Beam – Similar to the step beam but without the inset step. The beam is completely rectangular in shape.

c. Structural Beam – A structural beam is more capable of carrying more load than any beams making it ideal for large metal racking systems that are used to store heavy items such as loaded crates and motorcycles.

? Upright Frames – Upright frames are the vertical structures where the load beams are attached. The 2 most common types are the rolled form uprights and structural uprights. Structural uprights are more capable of handling heavier loads. All upright frames have horizontal and diagonal braces for added support.

Common Types of Metal Racking

? Rivet Racking – Rivet racking is a metal racking system that does not uses pallets or skids. The simplest form is the use of detachable flat surfaces made from steel, plastic or wood for the storage of items. This type of metal racking system is used a lot especially by grocery stores, bookstores and libraries.

? Chrome Wire Racking – Also known as chrome wire shelving, the chrome wire racking system is almost the same as the rivet racking system. The only difference is that it is made entirely of chrome steel.

? Pallet Flow – A pallet flow racking system that uses rollers for easier pallet movement. It is also a system that relies of gravity with a mechanism to slow down movements of the items when it is too fast. Pallet flow racking is commonly used for large storage with racks reaching 4 to 5 meters in height. The name is derived from the use of pallets or skids. These are flat platforms commonly made from wood and used to support large objects for storage.

? Push-back – This is another metal racking system that uses pallets. The term push-back is driven from how this racking system works: The rails are inclined so when a forklift sets another pallet it pushes backward the one before it. And when the first pallet is removed the pallets after it slowly move forward.

? Drive-in Pallet Racking – The drive-in metal racking is a type of pallet racking that allows lifting trucks to drive into the racks. This allows the rack to go deeper and longer than other types since the drive-in feature allows machines like forklifts to reach the farthest pallets. This system is also called the drive-through racking.

Small Metal Racking

Racking systems that are as tall as a person are common not only in stores such as supermarkets and retailers but also in offices. Computer laboratories use metal racking systems to store servers. Companies that manufacture self checkout terminals also use small metal racking on their laboratories to test their machines. Libraries also use racking systems as shelves for books and for storage. Chrome metal racking is also a favourite among retailers since most are available with wheels making the racking system movable. For grocery stores small metal racking systems can be customized to have inclined platforms for produce.

Metal racking systems are also customized and turned into garment racks. It is essentially a metal racking system without platforms. The beams are then turned into a clothes line. A typical garment rack has 4 clothes line since it uses 4 beams.

Metal racking systems are more than just storage systems for large items like steel, large liquid containers and machines. They are also used for smaller tasks like holding grocery items and books. Your office could even be using them for accessible storage facilities.