Pallet Racking-Teardrop, Keystone, Warehouse Rack & Shelving, New-Used. Columbus, Ohio

Selective Pallet Racking

Industrial Pallet Racks are the most popular, functional and cost-effective type of Storage Rack in the industry. It is generally considered the best solution for general bulk storage as it can store a variety of items. While there are several different types and styles (most of the more unusual ones are proprietary to their specific manufacturers) of Selective Pallet Racking Industrial, like Keystone, Penco Slotted, Lyon, Ridg-U-Rak Slotted, etc., the most common type is Teardrop Style. Teardrop Style Pallet Racking has been the industry standard for decades and continues to be the most popular and readily available type of Pallet Rack on the market.

Pallet Racking three basic components: Beams, Uprights and Wire Deck Panels. 

a bit about each…

PALLET RACK BEAMS

Pallet Rack Beams come in a wide range of different lengths, heights and capacities. Each Beam length comes in different weight capacities. Beams capacities are rated “per pair”, not individually. Beam weight capacities are calculated as a combination of the height and length of the Beam. The most standard size Beam (by far) is 96”L… the perfect length to store two standard sized skids (48” x 40”) side-by-side. One easy way (though not definitive) to determine the style of your Rack is the color. Generally, Teardrop style Beams are generally orange in color and Keystone is yellow.

• Standard in-stock Beam lengths: 48″, 60″, 72”, 96″, 108″, 120″, 144″ and 168″ lengths

• Standard in-stock Beam heights: 2.75″, 3.66″, 4″, 4.5”, 5″, 6″ and 6.5″ heights

• Standard Beam capacities up to 9,100 lbs.

The number of connection points (or “fingers” as they are commonly referred to as) on the end connector plates is determined by capacity (three being the most common on Beams less than 5,000 lbs. capacity). 

New Beams all come with safety clips which vary in design from Manufacturer to Manufacturer (some are designed like a spring, some with a sliding pin and others like a clip). These safety clips prevent the Beam from becoming disconnected from the Upright in the event that a fork or skid raises the underside of the Beam which could dislodge the entire shelf. Safety clips SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED in every Pallet Rack application. A standard nut and bolt can be used where no safety clip currently exists.

Infinite Adjust Beams

We also sell a less common style of Beam… the “Infinite Adjust Beam”. These are standard looking Beams that do not include any connection points (or fingers). Instead, they are bolted directly to the Upright columns using nuts and bolts. These versatile Beams can be used on most any type, style or brand of Racking. The connection plates on these Beams are slotted, to allow for upward to downward placement when mounting to the Upright columns. These are Beams are generally designed for pitched or sloped applications, more commonly used on Pallet Flow or Carton Flow Rack or any application that requires a pitched or sloped type shelf. While we don’t sell these type of Beams for general use NEW, we most commonly see these Beams appear on the USED market.

PALLET RACKING UPRIGHTS

FULLY WELDED UPRIGHTS

Pallet Rack Uprights, like Beams come in a wide range of different heights, depths and capacities. They are constructed in both open and closed (heavier weight capacities) tubular column designs with open style being, by far the most common as they are less expensive. Uprights have traditionally always been fully welded… vertical and horizontal crossmembers have been welded to the Upright columns. Fully welded Uprights have been around for decades, due to their durable and effective design, little has changed. Pallet Rack Uprights also come in a wide range of styles, with Teardrop Style being the most popular and realistically, the only style we sell any more.

TEARDROP AND ADDITIONAL STYLES

While we primarily sell Teardrop style day to day, we also carry and can source older or more proprietary types, with the most common including… Republic “Keystone Style” (this style was also manufactured by multiple, if not all companies throughout the years), Ridg-U-Rak “Slotted”, Unarco “T-Bolt”, Speedrack, Studibuilt and Penco’s proprietary design. Many of these more unique styles are no longer being manufactured, but many times we can find additional or add-on components on the USED market. One easy way of identifying Teardrop Style Uprights is they are generally green in color. While this is not a definitive way of identifying them, it works in the majority of cases. We have created a handy PALLET RACK IDENTIFICATION GUIDE to help you identify exactly what style of Upright you have!

IN-STOCK SIZES

• Standard in-stock Upright Heights: 96”, 120”, 144”, 168” and 192” and 240” heights

• Standard in-stock Upright Depths: 24”, 36”, 42” and 48” heights

• Standard Upright capacities up to 30,000 lbs.

Standard column dimensions are: 3” x 1 5/8”, 3″ x 2.69″ (Interlake-Mecalux Bolted) and 3” x 3”. Upright columns are both open (similar to a “U”) and closed in design. Due to the design of the closed tube Upright, they have greater capacities but are generally more expensive.

BOLTED Pallet Rack UPRIGHTS

More recently, Interlake-Mecalux has introduced a new “bolted design” which has become quite popular. These Uprights incorporate the horizontal and vertical cross members (which are constructed of galvanized steel) to be bolted to the roll formed columns. One unique aspect of this design is it allows for the user to easily repair the Upright by simply replacing the single damaged column. From a cost perspective, bolted Uprights are priced similarly to a 3″ x 1 5/8″ all-welded Upright with the lower capacity.

Pallet Rack Upright Weight and capacity ratings

One confusing question we get often is relating the the weight ratings on Pallet Rack Uprights. Capacities for all sizes vary from Manufacturer to Manufacturer based on their individual methods of load testing.

For example, one Manufacturer may rate the capacity of a similar 3” x 1 5/8” Upright at 15,600 lbs. and another at a 19,130 lbs. capacity (and others in between). Even though the design may be the same on both, a major factor in these differing capacity ratings is Vertical Beam Spacing. Vertical Beam Spacing (or VBS) is the spacing between Beams or shelves on a rack. Generally, load ratings are determined at a 48″ (which is the size of a standard pallet) VBS. The higher the VBS, the lower the rated capacity. Conversely, the lower the VBS, or the closer together the shelves are, the higher the rated capacity.

One additional difference in the capacity ratings for Uprights is the gauge of the steel and the simple number of “bends” the manufacturer uses in the manufacturing process.

Most manufacturers post a chart of load ratings at different vertical beam spacings. Click here for an example of a Ridg-U-Rak Upright capacity chart (note the significant increased capacities with an additional “bend” or “turn” at the end of each Upright).

Standard Upright depths (front-to-back) are 24”D, 36”D, 42”D and 48”D. Of course, any size (height, depth and capacity) of Upright can be ordered, the drawback is an often times lengthy lead time!

PALLET RACKING WIRE MESH DECK PANELS

The design and manufacture of Wire Mesh Deck Panels has come a long way in terms of design and construction in the past 20-30 years. Decades ago, wood was commonly used to create a support for skids (most Pallet Racking Beams have a 1 5/8” step on the inside of them to support the wood) but as technology has increased, the cost to manufacture them has decreased significantly. Years ago, Wire Decks were laboriously hand welded. The advent of robotic welding was a game changer in the Wire Deck manufacturing process… decreasing cost and increasing production.

We often tell customers when they ask about using wood to create a shelf (generally 2″ x 6″ or 2″ x 8″) that what you are essentially doing is “de-rating” the capacity of the Beams to the unknown load ratings of the wood (which we estimate at roughly 800 lbs. per shelf).

This coupled with the cost of wood increasing, Wire Deck Panels have become a better functioning, safer and more economical method to support product on Pallet Rack shelves. Wire Decks come in two basic designs, a “channel deck” and a “flared deck” design. We will talk about the various types and styles below…

There are a range of different Wire Decking solutions to accommodate every application. The different types of Deck Panels include…

Standard U-Channel (and Inverted U-Channel) Deck

Often referred to as Waterfall Wire Decks or Decking, these Decks are designed for standard 1 5/8” step Pallet Rack Beams. The have a “waterfall” design (generally 1.5” outside waterfall) as they lap over the front and back of the Beam. This feature keeps the Deck from sliding or moving during loading. Wire Deck Panels have support channels welded to the bottom of the wire which supply the load bearing capacity. 

Most decks include three support channels to get the standard 2,500 lbs. capacity. Higher capacity decks wider than 52” (58″+) include four support channels per deck. Step channels provide greater strength than flared channels. In some applications, such as food storage, inverted channels are used to prevent product from catching in the body of the channel.

Flared Channel Waterfall Deck

These decks are used primarily on Box Beams (many older beams had a box design and did not include an inside step) where no inside step exists or beams with different size steps, which is more common than you might think. The channel of the deck is “flared” and simply rests on top of the beam.

Structural-Flared Deck

Similar in design to U-Channel Decks, these are designed for use on Structural Pallet Rack Beams (C-Channel Beams) and come in both a standard channel and a flared channel.

Flat-Flush Deck

These unique Wire Decks do not have the waterfall feature; the deck ends at the inside edge of the beam (the top of the Beam is exposed). Flush decks can be made with an inside waterfall or flat flush edge where the end wire comes to the inside edge of the beam. The Decks are commonly used on lower levels and for hand stacking and order picking applications.

Solid Steel-Perforated Rack Decking

These solid steel Rack Decks are a unique combination of a Wire Mesh Deck Panel and a more costly Corrugated Steel Deck. What makes these Steel Decks attractive is their standard 3,000 lbs. capacity. They are available in a wide range of sizes to fit any upright depth and beam length.

They are all-welded and  constructed of 14 gauge steel with 12 gauge reinforcing channels to fit 1-5/8” step beams, have a powder coated finish and feature 1-1/2” waterfall on front and back edges.

Corrugated Steel Decking

Corrugated Steel Rack Deck sits flush with the top surface of the pallet rack beam, creating a smooth flat surface for product to easily slide on and off. Sizes are available to fit any standard rack. It is also used attached to the floor for elevated bottom-level storage.

Corrugated steel decking is considerably stronger than wood and wire. It provides a seamless, solid support from the front all the way to the back of the rack bay for even the longest stored items. Corrugated Decking is the preferred method for extreme heavy capacity applications as it has the highest rated capacities available for standard Pallet or Cantilever Racking.

Solid Rack Decking is perfect for use in cantilever rack as well. It is often used to provide a stacking surface between the cantilever arms for storage of everything from lumber to furniture to fabric. Solid Rack Decking is available in a plain, stainless, galvanized or painted finish.

Light Duty Wire Decks (for Wide Span or Rivet/Boltless Shelving)

Generally, a flat type of wire decking, light duty decking is a superior replacement for particle board and can be used in a wide range of applications. These Wire Decks have an increased capacity than common wood or particleboard. It is constructed of 5-gauge wire and a 2” x 4” grid pattern.

We have an entire webpage page dedicated to Wire Deck Panels, for more information and details… CLICK HERE

MOST COMMON IN-STOCK WIRE DECK SIZES

24”D x 46”W, 24”D x 58”W, 36”D x 46”W, 36”D x 52”W, 36”D x 58”W, 42”D x 46”W, 42”D x 52”W, 42”D x 58”W, 48”D x 46”W, 48”D x 52”W, 48”D x 58”W and 60”D x 46”W.

PALLET RACK ACCESSORIES AND OPTIONS

Contact us for information and specifications on wide range of Pallet Rack accessories and options designed to make your Racking system more efficient, easier and most importantly, safer to use! We have created an entire section dedicated to these unique, optional accessories… CLICK HERE

Let’s talk About Pallet Rack…

Little has changed with pallet racking over the past 50+ years or so. Standard style selective pallet racking has been and will continue to be the most economical solution for bulk storage that exists in our industry. The benefits of this type of storage solution are multiple… not only is it economical, it also allows for a more efficient method to inventory and store goods and creates efficiency when pulling and shipping orders.

The heavy-duty design of Pallet Rack allows for storage of the heaviest type of loads as well as the efficient storage of odd or uniquely sized items. We see common uses of Pallet Racking ranging from light storage of home goods (used as garage shelving) all the way up to heavy capacity steel and coil storage. Pallet rack is also compatible with handloading, forklift loading, stock or cherry pickers or front-end loaders, allowing you to maximize the storage footprint in your building or warehouse space.

IN Stock and Availability

Whether you are looking for just a single Upright, Beam, Wire Deck or a fully engineered storage solution, we are your experienced, single source supplier from start to finish! From concept to layout/design to installation to completion, we are there at every stage of the project. While our regional office and warehouse is centrally located in Columbus and Central Ohio we serve and ship equipment to the entire country. We stock Pallet Rack in a wide range of sizes and capacities. If we don’t have it in stock, our strategic manufacturing partners located in the Central Ohio area does!

One unique feature of Selective Pallet Racking is its adaptability… it can adapt and change as your business needs change. Beam elevations are fully adjustable (on 2″ centers) and can be changed or moved with relative ease. Installation is not difficult as no tools are required to assemble (more on that below).

Uses for Pallet Rack…

Pallet rack is used in a variety of different industries and unique applications. Some of the more common uses are:

• Warehouse distribution, including import/export. These racks, which can be set up in minutes allows for instant storage efficiency for companies that bring in product, store it and ship it back out in a short period of time.
• Retail Applications. Pallet rack is the perfect solution for product storage in retail backroom or stockrooms. This allows for regularly sold merchandise to be stored on the lower levels and less frequently sold merchandise to stored on the higher levels. Steel rolling ladders are frequently used to access product stored on the upper levels.
• Manufacturing. Perhaps one of the most frequent users of pallet racking are manufacturing companies who produce product and need to store them quickly and efficiently prior to shipping. Many times, these companies will also include drive-in rack or pushback racking to the shipping design of their facility.

Is Pallet Rack difficult to install?

Absolutely not! The vast majority of our customers install it themselves. Of course, we offer a wide range of installation services when the size, complexity or the quantity of the components is too large to do it yourself. Generally, all that is needed to install pallet rack yourself is a rubber mallet and nothing more. The beams simply lock into the upright columns. Once you hear the safety pin “click” you have a safe and secure connection. 

One person can do it themselves (for shorter uprights and beams) but a helper is required, especially for taller uprights and longer length beams, particularly the 144”L beam. Anchoring Uprights to the concrete is suggested by all manufacturers, but is not required. Anchoring Uprights to a wall, column or building is NEVER RECOMMENDED.

For those with larger or more complex installations or the scope of the install is too great to do yourself, we offer a full custom installation and dismantling services. For more information, please see… Midwest Material Handling, LLC Installation and Dismantling Programs

How do you ship Pallet Rack?

One of the costliest parts of purchasing a Pallet Rack system (small or large) is freight/shipping. While the cost difference in NEW vs. USED is comparatively small, the real cost savings comes by having the ability to pick the material up locally. Our central location and proximity to many major neighboring industrial cities allows our customers to pick up material and… SAVE THE FREIGHT!

We stock the most common sized pallet racking and most associated components for same day pick-up and substantial freight savings. The reality of shipping pallet rack (due primarily to its size and unusual dimensions) is it can be difficult to ship and expensive.

For those who cannot pick the material up, we offer local cartage from a local freight vendor who have used for decades. For larger projects, pallet rack can be shipped LTL or for full truckload quantities, we recommend flatbed trucking (tarped or un-tarped). Flatbed trucking is the easiest method to ship pallet rack as it can be unloaded from the sides of the truck in a short period of time. This method of unloading also significantly reduces freight/shipping damage.

We deal with freight every day, it is a (large) part of what we do! We have strategic partnerships with local freight companies and national third-party logistics (3PL’s) companies and have national contracts with all major full truckload and flatbed carriers (like Landstar). Allow us to assist in the freight selection process, we will get it there the most economical way and with as little freight damage as possible.

BUYING USED PALLET RACK… THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES!

From a buyer’s perspective this has always been a difficult and often times confusing decision. Let’s first briefly discuss the advantages of purchasing USED equipment. Obviously, the overriding thought when considering purchasing USED equipment is cost. A secondary, but equally important benefit is the USED equipment is on-site and available immediately, saving time and freight costs.

Now for the reality… Many buyers wrongly think that purchasing USED Pallet Racking and Wire Decking is similar to that of purchasing a used car (for example), that there is a 50% or 60% savings over the cost of NEW. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. 

Let’s discuss why… 

When we are contacted by a seller who has USED equipment available, the vast majority of the time, the racking is still standing and needs to be disassembled. Once we send a crew into disassemble the Rack, we then need to stack, band and prep it for shipment. Once complete, the USED Pallet Rack needs to be shipped, via flatbed to our location. 

Due to its size and length, USED Racking/Wire Decks are generally stored outside, allowing the powder coated finish to begin rusting and oxidizing. One item of note, many buyers have little regard for the discoloration or aesthetic appearance of the USED Racking, they simply want it to work! Add all of that up and the NEW vs. USED savings is somewhere in the vicinity of 15%-20%.

One other very important consideration… historically, we have rarely sold USED Pallet Rack Uprights as they generally have some sort of column damage (probably 4 out of 5 Uprights sustain damage from forklift forks or skids) usually located at the lower 12”-24” of the two front Upright columns. * NOTE: If there is ever a ding or dent in an Upright… BUYER BEWARE! The structural integrity of the Upright has been compromised and the Upright should be discarded. There are disreputable companies and social media sellers out there that will sell them, but we won’t (we won’t sell them and and you should not buy them)!

Our Used Equipment Condition

While we stock and sell a significant amount of USED equipment (primarily Pallet Rack and Wire Decks), the quality and condition of the USED equipment we sell is exceptional. We only sell USED material that has an overall condition rating of 8-9 out of 10, we do not sell anything with any lower condition rating. All of our USED Racking has a condition rating applied to it at arrival and is always furnished and noted on our proposals. Of course, pictures are always available when the Racking cannot be viewed in person or we are shipping it out of area. You can always trust our condition ratings to be accurate and thorough.

Modern manufacturing techniques have improved to the point that, many times, purchasing NEW can actually be less expensive than buying USED. Even more so, the same holds true for USED Pallet Rack purchased at auctions or auction settings, but that’s a conversation for another day. Additionally, another great geographical advantage he have is the majority of our NEW Wire Mesh Deck Panels are manufactured (ITC Manufacturing) right here in Columbus, Ohio! Pick them up and save the freight!

We represent virtually every major Pallet Rack and Wire Deck Manufacturer in the country including… Interlake-Mecalux, Husky Rack & Wire, Ridg-U-Rak, Unarco, Bulldog Rack, Lyon Metal, Penco Products, Steel King, Nashville Wire Products, Nelson Wire, Cogan Wire and ITC Manufacturing.

Allow us to put our 30+ years in business and industry expertise to help you identify, evaluate, design, furnish and install the right storage systems for your specific application!

We stock the most common sizes of Teardrop Style Uprights, Beams and Wire Deck Panels in our Plain City Ohio office, all available for same day pick-up. 

PICK IT UP AND SAVE THE FREIGHT!

All of our Pallet Rack products are proudly manufactured in the USA!