Blog

We frequently receive requests for weight and capacity charts for both NEW and USED Pallet Rack Uprights and Beams. Understanding pallet racking load capacity is crucial for ensuring safe use of pallet racking systems in warehouse storage environments. For all NEW equipment we sell, weight ratings are always provided, both during the quoting phase and on the final invoice. Access to a pallet racking load capacity chart can clarify these ratings.

Pallet Rack Beam capacity is determined by beam length, profile height, and design, and the rating is always measured per pair of beams.

While we cannot supply weight and capacity ratings for USED or existing racking, we have included a general capacity chart to assist with weight and capacity estimations. This pallet racking load capacity chart, created by Husky Rack & Wire, is available on their website and can serve as a useful reference.

*Unless your Pallet Rack is new and manufactured by Husky Rack & Wire, this chart is for estimating purposes only.

Another question we get frequently… “CAN WE CERTIFY USED OR EXISTING PALLET RACK?” Unfortunately, we cannot certify used or existing pallet rack systems (no one can!). We understand this may be frustrating, but without knowing the original manufacturer, date of manufacture or the specific gauge and type of steel used in production, certification is simply not possible.

Ever wonder how large industrial suppliers like ULINE, Grainger and Global Equipment can list their products so cheaply online? It all comes down to a clever marketing tactic—freight charges.

Here’s the catch: when you buy from these retailers, you’re not allowed to arrange your own shipping. You’re required to use their freight service, often at significantly inflated rates. This is where they make their real profit—not on the product itself, but on the back-end shipping costs. In many cases, you’ll find the freight costs more than the item you’re purchasing!

While this strategy isn’t necessarily dishonest, we believe it borders on being deceptive—and most customers don’t even realize it’s happening.

At Midwest Material Handling, LLC, we do things differently…

• We’re completely transparent with our pricing—what you see is what you pay.

• Unlike ULINE, Grainger and Global, freight is a non-income-generating component of our business, we encourage you to choose your own shipping method to save money. Or, work with our 3PL’s to ensure the least expensive and shortest transit times available.

• We provide full part numbers, model details, and manufacturer names with every quote—information many competitors withhold to keep you in the dark.

With over 30 years of experience, our business is built on honest pricing, transparency, and good old-fashioned customer service.

Ready to work with a team that puts YOUR needs first?
Contact the professionals at Midwest Material Handling, LLC today!

Dayton, Ohio- We recently completed a somewhat unique job… Galvanized Structural Pallet Racking. Galvanizing Pallet Rack is not something we do every day. The City of Dayton Ohio requested a storage system to be installed an an area that has high humidity and moisture. The right side of this picture was open to the outside weather. These Racks were to be designed to have a weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. per shelf. As a result of the extreme weight capacity requirements and the 108″L Beam length, Structural Pallet Rack was the best option. This Racking system was custom manufactured by Bulldog Rack in nearby Weirton, WV.

Wire Mesh Deck Panels

As you will note in the photo, we were also asked for a Wire Mesh Deck Panel instead of the the usual bolt-on Steel Cross Bars which are most often used in Structural Pallet Rack. We had the Engineers at ITC Manufacturing design and build a 5-channel “Waterfall” Wire Deck with a 5,500 lbs. capacity per panel (10,000 lbs. total weight capacity) compatible with Structural Pallet Rack. In addition, they galvanized the panels to ensure a totally galvanized end product.

Post Protectors

As you will also note, every Upright column was protected by an 18″H Steel Post Protector. Post Protectors are the most simple and most cost effective protective equipment to protect Pallet Rack Uprights from being damaged by skids or forklift operator error. Incidentally, the lower left part of the photo shows 1 of 20 Pipe Bollards we furnished and installed throughout the facility.

Willoughby, Ohio– Occasionally, we get a call from a Customer who has a shipping container (or a few!) that need to be offloaded by a forklift but are resting directly on the ground. In this unique application, the top of container deck is ~6″-8″ off the ground. If the container were still on the trailer (at 48″H), this would be a relatively straightforward Yard Ramp application but the container on the ground presents a unique challenge to unload safely with the use of a forklift.

Shipping Container Ramps

Allows the user to safely navigate the transition from ground to the bed of the shipping container. These Shipping Container Ramps, which are a part of our broader material handling equipment line, feature a full width stiffener to provide strength and to bump up against the container.

Locking chains with a specially designed keeper allow you to easily lock it into the holes in the container. After the keepers are in place, taking up the slack in the chain is simple and quick with the sturdy grab notch bracket welded to the sides of the Container Ramp. The result is a safe, sturdy loading ramp locked firmly to the shipping container.

You can now load and unload your container safely! Standard shipping Container Ramps are available in 15K, 20K, 25K and 30K capacities. These Container Ramps also come in a range of different sizes (60″W is the most common though 72″W is also available).

An option exists for refrigerated containers which are slightly taller in height. An optional 14” Lip is available.

OPTIONS

• All-steel welded construction
• Standard capacities from 15,000 to 40,000 pounds
• Fold down lift loops
• Full width stiffener bumps up against the container for stability
• Locking chains included to lock ramp into place
• 4″ tall curbs on each side serve as runoff protection
• Widths starting at 60″

Call the professionals at Midwest Material Handling, LLC and allow us to use our 30+ years in business to design the correct piece of equipment for any unique application!

Many customers ask why pallet rack prices sometimes increase even when demand seems steady. One major factor that can influence rack pricing is the cost of steel.

Pallet rack systems and wire deck panels are manufactured primarily from steel. When steel prices increase due to tariffs or other market pressures, manufacturers often have little choice but to adjust pallet rack prices to reflect those higher material costs.

Steel tariffs can affect both domestic and imported steel, which means the impact can be felt throughout the warehouse storage equipment industry.

Why Steel Prices Matter for Warehouse Racking

Pallet racking is a structural product designed to support heavy loads in warehouse environments. Because of this, rack components such as uprights, beams, and wire deck panels are manufactured using significant amounts of structural steel.

When tariffs increase the cost of imported steel or change the balance of global supply, steel mills often raise pricing. These increases eventually work their way through the supply chain and influence the price of finished products like pallet rack systems and wire decking.

As steel costs rise, manufacturers typically adjust their pricing to keep up with the higher cost of raw materials.

How Tariffs Influence Pallet Rack Prices

Tariffs placed on imported steel can reduce the amount of foreign steel entering the United States. While the intention is often to support domestic steel producers, the result can be higher steel pricing overall.

For companies that manufacture pallet rack systems, higher steel costs can lead directly to increases in pallet rack prices and wire deck prices.

Because rack manufacturers rely heavily on steel, even moderate changes in steel pricing can affect the final cost of warehouse racking systems.

What Warehouse Buyers Should Expect

When steel markets experience volatility due to tariffs, trade policy, or global supply changes, pricing adjustments in the pallet rack industry often follow.

Warehouse operators planning expansions or new storage installations should be aware that pallet rack prices can fluctuate with steel costs. In some cases, purchasing rack equipment before a major steel price increase can help control project costs.

Working with an experienced distributor can also help buyers evaluate both new and used pallet rack options when steel prices rise.

Planning for Rack Price Changes

Steel pricing has always played a role in the cost of warehouse storage equipment. Tariffs, global supply shifts, and manufacturing costs can all influence pallet rack prices and wire deck prices over time.

Understanding how these factors affect the rack market can help warehouse managers plan projects more effectively and avoid surprises when pricing changes occur.

For companies planning new storage installations, monitoring steel pricing trends and working with knowledgeable rack suppliers can make a significant difference when evaluating long term warehouse storage investments.

Plain City, Ohio– Occasionally, though not often, we will get a call for Pallet Rack to be installed on an uneven or unlevel surface. In applications where the concrete is old, cracked or uneven, steel shims can be utilized to help level the base. It is imperative that Pallet Racking be installed on flat or level surfaces. So simplistic in design, steel Shims can help!

Shims come in a range of different styles. It is important that you pick the correct pallet rack shim plate to match the brand of upright and size of the footplate. Upright footplates can vary in design, as a result, it is very important to use only factory approved shims, as the are specifically sourced for the design of the Uprights.

Depending on the severity of the base, there may be a need to use more than one shim. If that is the case, there are very specific guidelines to follow as to how many are safe and how to secure them in place to prevent shifting.

• Shim stack cannot exceed six times the diameter of the largest anchor bolt.
• Shim stack that is less than two times the anchor’s diameter does not require locking shims together by welding or installing a second anchor.
• Shim stacks between two times but less than six times the diameter of the anchor must be locked by welding or adding a second anchor. If shims are not welded or secured with a second anchor, they can spin out, causing rack instability.
• Shim stacks may require longer anchor bolts.

Charleston, WV- We were contacted by a long time Customer in the Charleston, WV area inquiring about large volume Steel Hopper that they wanted to replace. This particular Hopper was damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced. These large volume Hoppers are commonly used in the mining industry. It was located in a large coal mine in Western West Virginia.

What was unusual about this existing hopper (which was primarily used for waste removal within the mine) was its large size and heavy capacity. What we replaced it with was a Jesco Industries Large Volume, Low Profile, Super Heavy Duty Structural Base Hopper constructed of 7 GAUGE STEEL. This HD Hopper had a 10 cubic yard capacity and 10,000 lbs. weight capacity. The Hopper measured 91″L x 135″W x 70″H…135″ wide and 91″ long-WOW!

We also added an optional lid (steel piano hinged split lid). This was the largest Steel Dumping Hopper we have ever sold… the Hopper with Lid weighed well over 3,600 lbs.!

We serve a wide range of Customers in a wide range of industries with often times really unique applications. Every project is uniquely different. Contact the experts at Midwest Material Handling, LLC with any Steel Dumping Hopper application from large to small-common to unusual!

WORTHINGTON, OHIO– We recently got a call from a large Ohio based Manufacturer of industrial products with a bit of a unique Pallet Rack protection application. This customer recently purchased an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and requested Post and End-of-Aisle Protectors for their Pallet Rack. The big issue was these Column Protectors could not extend into the open shelf space as every inch was needed for the AGV to operate there.

We supplied them with Handle-It 12″H Steel Column Protector with optional HD steel Rack Protector Extender, which was custom cut to 28″L. Not sure if it is clear in the photos but these Column Protectors only extend into the shelf space by an inch, at best, allowing the AGV to operate in and out of the Rack sections as designed. Like all of the Pallet Rack protection products we sell, we also furnished concrete anchors (1/2″ x 3.75″ and 3/4″ x 4.25″) for installation. The finished product came out great and has been incredibly effective. These were furnished and installed throughout the entire distribution center facility.

These Corner Protectors are also effective for use at building wall corners and guard doorways.

We get pictures like this sent to us all the time… “Our Leveler is down and we need this part ASAP”!

One of the more unique services we provide is the sale of Wholesale Dock Leveler, Dock Seal and Dock Shelter parts including Vehicle Restraint Parts. At the end of the day, Dock Levelers really are relatively simple devices. Like all mechanical equipment and in addition to the harsh way these devices are used, parts wear out and need to be replaced. So many Dock repair companies will come out, charge you a small fortune to evaluate a repair and say the entire Leveler has to be replaced. This is RARELY the case when just a few simple parts will put the Leveler back in service in a relatively short period of time! With a little time and willingness to repair the Leveler yourself, time and money can be greatly saved.

We supply dock leveler replacement parts for most major manufacturers including: Blue Giant, Serco, DLM, Overhead Door, Rite-Hite, Kelley (Kelley-Atlantic for older units), Poweramp, McGuire, Penta-Lift, Pioneer and Vestil Manufacturing.

OUR SPECIALTY… allow us to put our 31+ years of experience to work to help you identify those hard to find parts! As an Authorized Blue Giant Distributor, contact us with any Blue Giant Loading Dock Equipment part application!

Common Dock Leveler Replacement Parts

• Main springs

• Lip kick out springs

• Snubber springs

• Hold down boxes

• Dock bumpers

• Hydraulic pumps

• Hydraulic cylinders

More times than not, Dock Levelers have no Manufacturer serial plate on them which makes identifying what you have and who made it a challenge. Call us and let us put our 30+ years of experience to work to provide complimentary advice and help identify what you have as well as provide part numbers and parts costs. Additionally, most parts can be shipped in overnight air for the more time sensitive repairs.

Need Help Identifying a Dock Leveler Part?

Many dock levelers lose their manufacturer serial plate over time, making it difficult to determine the correct replacement parts. If you are unsure what component has failed, send us a photo of the dock leveler and we can often help identify the correct replacement part.

With more than 30 years of experience working with loading dock equipment, we regularly help customers identify springs, hydraulic components, hold down boxes and other worn parts so the leveler can be repaired quickly.

Submit a dock leveler parts request and our team will help identify the correct replacement components.