Midwest Material Handling, LLC

Material Handling, Loading Dock Parts & Storage Equipment Specialists

Old-Fashioned Service. Honesty. Integrity... Since 1995

Material Handling, Loading Dock Parts & Storage Equipment Specialists

Old-Fashioned Service. Honesty. Integrity... Since 1995

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

SELECTIVE PALLET RACKING

Selective Pallet Racks are the most popular, functional, safe 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 Beams    Pallet Racking Upright  PAllet Racking Wire Decking

Pallet Rack three basic components:

Beams, Uprights and Wire Deck Panels

For more information and additional details…

Pallet Rack Beams come in a wide range of different lengths, heights and capacities…

Pallet Rack Uprights, like Beams come in a wide range of different heights, depths and capacities…

Wire Deck Panels have had a bit of an evolution…

Pallet Racking Beams

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 (46” 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 Beam capacity (three being the most common on Beams less than 5,300 lbs. capacity). Beams with capacities greater than 5,000 lbs. generally have 4+ connection points.

PALLET RACK BEAM BEAM CAPACITIES

Beam capacities are calculated as a combination of the length of the beam and the overall height of the Beam. Each Beam has a different height (top to bottom). For example, the most common Beam we sell is a 96″L x 4.0″H. Capacity ratings for this Beam vary slightly from Manufacturer to manufacturer (due to testing variances) but generally speaking, this Beam has a rated capacity of 5,100-5,300 lbs. per pair. Increase the Beam height by 0.5″ (96″L x 4.5″L) and the Beam has a rated capacity of roughly 6,100-6,300 lbs. per pair.

PALLET RACK UPRIGHTS

Pallet Racking Upright

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.

UPRIGHT 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: from 15,000 to 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.

Pallet Rack Upright Weight and capacity ratings… how are determined?

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 Deck

PALLET RACK WIRE MESH DECK PANELS

One of the three basic components of a Pallet Rack system (Beams, Uprights and Wire Decks). Wire Decks have had a bit of an evolution… 30 years ago, we exclusively used wood (2” x 6” or 2” x 8”) to support the skids on the Pallet Rack shelves.

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 900 lbs. per shelf on a 96″W x 42″D shelf).

Wood decking evolved into steel “Flanged Cross Bars” which were basically 2” x 4”’s but constructed of steel and featured the ability to Tek screw in the front and back to keep them from moving and secure. These Flanged cross Bars created exponentially greater capacity than wood.

At that time, Wire Deck Panels were being hand welded and were extremely expensive to manufacture as they were built by primarily by hand. As robotic welding technology was introduced and became more common, the cost to manufacture and distribute these Decks came down considerably. Wire Deck Panels have become a better functioning, safer and more economical method to support product on Pallet Rack shelves.

MOST COMMON IN-STOCK WIRE DECK SIZES

  • Standard in-stock 24″D Wire Decks: 24”D x 46”W, 24”D x 58”W
  • Standard in-stock 36″D Wire Decks: 36”D x 46”W, 36”D x 52”W, 36”D x 58”W
  • Standard in-stock 42″D Wire Decks: 42”D x 46”W, 42”D x 52”W, 42”D x 58”W
  • Standard in-stock 48″D Wire Decks: 48”D x 46”W, 48”D x 52”W, 48”D x 58”W
  • Standard in-stock 60″D Wire Decks: 60”D x 46”W
  • Standard in-stock Wire Deck capacities: 2,100 lbs., 2,500 lbs.  and 3,500 lbs.

Welded steel wire decks generally feature 2-1/2″x 4″ wire openings with a powder coated or gray baked enamel finish and heavy gauge steel channel supports. Unlike wood or metal decking, wire decks permit light, air and sprinkler penetration. They are self-cleaning and maintenance free. Wire decks also allow a clear view of upper tiers, minimize dust or debris accumulation and protect employees and products. Most importantly, Wire Decks maintain the capacity integrity of the pallet rack system. Wire decks are easy to install, they just drop into place (no tools required).

We are often asked if skids could potentially “snag” or get caught on the wire as they are slid across the wire to the rear of the wire deck. The simple answer is no… the wire deck is built with the top layer of wire in a  “front-to-back” configuration (the bottom layer runs side-to-side and is welded to the support channels), so product can slide across the wire decks smoothly and with ease.

ADVANTAGES:

  • Ease of installation and maintenance
  • Enhanced safety
  • Improved visibility for inspection of inventory
  • Minimizes dust and dirt build-up
  • Improves air circulation
  • Decreases insurance costs
  • Improves effectiveness of overhead sprinklers
  • Meets fire code standards

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

Flanged Cross Bar Post Protector Steel Steel Row Spacer Steel Wall Tie

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!

For more information and additional details on these optional accessories… CLICK HERE

Pallet Racking

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.

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”, 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 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).

Where is pallet rack used?

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.

One of the unique aspects of Selective Pallet Racking is the ability to put it up wherever you want it, take it down and relocate in a new location. Pallet Rack can change as your needs change.

WE INSTALL WHAT WE SELL! 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!

What Manufacturers DO WE REPRESENT?

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!

Advantages include:

LOCATION

We are a short drive from surrounding cities like Dayton (45 mins. away), Cincinnati (2 hours away), Cleveland (2.5 hours away), Toledo (2 hours away), Marion (45 mins away), Sandusky (1 hour away), Youngstown (2.25 hours away), Akron/Canton (1.5 hours away). Additionally, we are close to neighboring cities and states like Pittsburgh, PA (3 hours away), Indianapolis/Fort Wayne, IN (3.25 hours away), Charleston/Parkersburg/Wheeling, WV (3 hours away) and Detroit, MI (3 hours away). We’ve had customers drive from as far as Denver, CO to pick up Pallet Racking!

Allow our team of experienced professionals to help you create and design a storage rack system specific to your unique application!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Simply measure from the inside of Upright column to inside of Upright column.

Beam capacities are calculated as a combination of the height and length of the Beam.

Yes and no. Most Manufacturers make a proprietary style which is all their own and is not interchangeable with any other brand. Standard Teardrop style is fully interchangeable, regardless of the Manufacturer or when it was built.

96”L is by far the most common. It is the perfect length to store two standard sized skids (48” x 40”) side-by-side.

We have found that the 96”H, 144”H and 192”H Uprights are the most commonly sold.

The 42” depth is by far the most common as it is the perfect depth to store 46″-48”D x 40”W standard size skids/pallets.

3” x 1 5/8” (~13,000 lbs. to 18,000 lbs. capacities) and 3” x 3” (~21,000 lbs. to 30,000 lbs. capacities).

This is an often-asked question… While no specific OSHA requirement like that exists, it is universally recommended by all Manufacturers that the Uprights be bolted to the floor.

We use a 1/2” x 3 ¾-4” Wedge Anchor with washer and nut. For Post Protectors, we use a 1/2″ x 4.25″ Wedge Anchor with washer and nut.

The age-old question… While it is impossible to totally prevent this type of damage from occurring (short of improved forklift operator training), we have found that while many products exist in the marketplace to try to prevent damage, the basic 12”H, 18”H or 24”H Steel Protector works the best! They are probably also the least expensive method to protect Uprights from damage.

Absolutely! Any Upright column post above the height of the lowest Beam level becomes wasted Upright and in turn, wasted $!

Yes. All new Beams include safety clips which vary in design from Manufacturer to manufacturer. For USED Beams we suggest a nut and bolt, which is the safest, most assured way to preventing a Beam from becoming dislodged.

One important, but often overlooked detail is to make sure you include the width of the Uprights in your layout. The vast majority of Pallet Rack Uprights we sell have a 3” column width.

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