Drive-In Rack
Drive-in Pallet Racking is a high-density storage system — you can store up to 80 percent more pallets in drive-in than with selective pallet racking. While selective rack is ideal for medium-density storage of varied products, drive-in rack is perfect for high-density storage of like products.
Just like it sounds, forklifts drive directly into the rack in which like products are stored several pallets deep. Thanks to this depth, your need for aisles is reduced, which can lessen your squared footage requirements by 35 percent, or in some cases, even more, compared to a standard selective racking configuration. The only thing limiting your storage depth in drive-in` pallet rack is the size of your warehouse facility.
Advantages of Drive-In Pallet Rack
- Maximum pallet storage
- Virtually unlimited depth of storage
- More efficient use of space
- Utilizes density over selectivity
- Cost-effective storage strategy
- Can be integrated with pushback pallet rack to form a combination system
How Drive-In Pallet Racking Works
Drive-in racks allow a lift truck to enter the rack system from one side to pick up or pull out pallets. The loads are supported by rails attached to upright frames, and lift trucks are driven between uprights to reach pallets. When storing inventory, the driver pulls into the opening and places the pallet onto the rails mounted at the back of the racks. When retrieving, the driver removes the loads at the front first. Because material is stored and retrieved from the same entry point, the first material put in this system is the last to come out. This procedure is known as a “Last-In, First-Out” (LIFO) method of storage, which works well when shelf life is at a minimum or not a significant concern.
Drive-in rack systems are typically placed against a wall or are otherwise closed at one end of the system, making for tighter packing of goods to optimize storage space. Pallets can be stacked on rails as high as the pallets racks can go, or as far up as the lift forks can reach.
Applications
Drive-in pallet rack storage is especially popular in cold storage applications (colors, blast freezers, beverage industry) because of the need to store as many pallets as possible in as little expensive freezer space as possible. However, if the products are time-sensitive and require rotation, drive-in may not be the best storage type (unless they have very rapid turnover).
Let Us Help You Design Your Next Storage System
Ready to optimize your storage with a high-density drive-in pallet rack system? We offer new or used drive-in components. We can build your drive-in system from scratch or work with your existing pallet rack. Whichever direction you decide to go, our goal is to help you find the ideal, most cost-effective drive-in rack system that will optimize your warehouse for the highest efficiency.
