Guide to Pallet Racking Uprights

Guide to Pallet Racking Uprights

When it comes to optimizing warehouse storage, pallet racking systems are indispensable, and at the heart of these systems are the unsung heroes known as pallet racking uprights. These vertical pillars provide the structural support and stability needed to safely store and organize goods in warehouses of all sizes and types. We’ll explore the critical role of pallet racking uprights and their various characteristics and considerations.

The Foundation of Pallet Racking Systems

Pallet racking uprights, also referred to as vertical frames or upright columns, are the vertical components of a pallet racking system. They are typically placed at regular intervals along the length of a racking system and serve as the primary load-bearing structure. Uprights play a vital role in the overall stability and safety of the racking system. Here’s why they are so crucial:

1. Vertical Support:

Pallet racking uprights provide the vertical support needed to bear the weight of pallets and goods stored on the racking system. They transfer the load to the floor, ensuring the safe distribution of weight.

2. Connection Points:

Uprights feature slots, holes, or other connectors that allow for the attachment of horizontal beams, cross braces, and other components. These connections ensure the integrity and rigidity of the entire racking system.

3. Adjustability:

Many pallet racking systems are designed to be adjustable in height. Uprights offer multiple slots or holes at various intervals, allowing users to change the height of the horizontal beams to accommodate different pallet sizes and inventory requirements.

Characteristics of Pallet Racking Uprights

Understanding the characteristics of pallet racking uprights is essential when selecting the right system for your warehouse. Some types of pallet racking such as Cantilever or Teardrop use uprights specifically designed for those types of pallet racks. Here are some key considerations:

1. Height of Uprights:

Uprights come in various heights to match the vertical storage capacity needed in your warehouse. Ensure that the upright height is compatible with the maximum height of your stored pallets.

2. Depth:

The depth of uprights determines the depth of your racking system. It should match the depth of your pallets and the layout of your warehouse.

3. Load Capacity:

Each upright has a specified load capacity. It’s crucial to select uprights that can support the weight of your heaviest pallet loads. Overloading can lead to structural failures and safety hazards. For example, Drive In racking generally use structural uprights because they need to support heavy loads and withstand the impact of forklifts driving in and out of the storage bays while Push-back racking systems and Pallet flow racking systems commonly use structural uprights to handle the weight. 

4. Configuration:

Pallet racking systems can have single-sided or double-sided upright configurations. The choice depends on the layout of your warehouse and whether access to pallets is required from one or both sides.

Safety Considerations

Safety is paramount in any warehouse, and pallet racking uprights play a significant role in ensuring it. Here are some safety considerations:

  • Regular Inspection: Periodic inspections of uprights for signs of damage, such as dents, bends, or corrosion, are essential. Damaged uprights should be repaired or replaced promptly to prevent accidents.

  • Proper Installation: Ensure that pallet racking uprights are installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and that they are securely anchored to the floor.

  • Load Distribution: Distribute loads evenly on each level of the racking system to prevent overloading and instability.

Pallet racking uprights provide the foundational support needed to create efficient and organized storage systems. Understanding their characteristics, load capacities, and safety considerations is vital for selecting and maintaining a pallet racking system that meets your warehouse’s specific needs. Properly chosen and maintained uprights contribute to a safe, functional, and space-optimized warehouse environment.

For all your pallet racking needs, reach out to Simply Rack today! Whether you’re looking for expert guidance, tailored solutions, or Quick Ship convenience, we’re here to help. Contact us now at 512-869-2803 or visit our location at 8560 North IH 35 Service Road, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States. Your optimized warehouse storage journey starts here with Simply Rack.

Racking Beams: Types and Characteristics

Racking Beams: Types and Characteristics

Racking systems are the backbone of efficient warehousing and storage facilities, and racking beams play a pivotal role in this infrastructure. They provide support for pallets, boxes, and various types of goods, ensuring that your inventory is stored securely and can be accessed with ease. We will explore the different types of racking beams and their characteristics to help you make informed decisions when setting up or optimizing your warehouse storage.

Types of Racking Beams

There are many factors to consider when choosing racking beams including load capacity, length, compatibility, durability, adjustability, safety features, and cost. 

1. Step Beams

Step beams, also known as box beams or box step beams, are the most common type of racking beams. They feature a rectangular cross-section, with a step or ledge on the top surface. This step allows for easy placement of pallets and provides extra stability by preventing them from sliding off.

Characteristics:

  • Versatile and widely used.
  • Suitable for a variety of pallet types and sizes including Teardrop racking systems 
  • Easy to install and adjust.
  • Can handle significant weight capacities.
  •  

2. Structural Beams

Structural beams are designed for heavy-duty applications and are often used in high-density storage systems. Unlike step beams, structural beams have a closed, tubular shape, which enhances their load-bearing capacity and resistance to deflection.

Characteristics:

3. Wire Mesh Decking

While not technically beams, wire mesh decking is an important component of pallet racking systems. They are wire grids that sit on top of the beams, creating a solid surface for non-palletized items or cartons.

Characteristics:

  • Provides additional safety by preventing items from falling through.
  • Ideal for storing cartons, boxes, and items with irregular shapes.
  • Many teardrop pallet racking systems incorporate wire mesh decking on top of step beams.
  • Increases visibility and allows for better fire sprinkler penetration.
  •  

4. Box Beams

Box beams, as the name suggests, have a hollow, box-like cross-section. They combine the advantages of both step beams and structural beams, offering good load-bearing capacity with the convenience of step beams.

Characteristics:

  • Suitable for a range of load capacities.
  • Compatible with various pallet sizes.
  • Easy to clean and maintain.
  •  

Racking beams are essential components of any efficient warehousing and storage system. Choosing the right type of beam and considering their key characteristics is crucial for optimizing your warehouse space, ensuring safety, and maximizing productivity. Whether you opt for step beams, structural beams, box beams, or wire mesh decking, selecting the appropriate racking beams tailored to your specific needs is a critical step towards a well-organized and functional warehouse. For all your pallet racking needs, reach out to Simply Rack today! Whether you’re looking for expert guidance, tailored solutions, or Quick Ship convenience, we’re here to help. Contact us now at 512-869-2803 or visit our location at 8560 North IH 35 Service Road, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States. Your optimized warehouse storage journey starts here with Simply Rack.

Racking Protection: Column Protectors & Pallet Stops

Racking Protection: Column Protectors & Pallet Stops

A Deep Dive into Racking Protection Solutions with Simply Rack

Tracy from Simply Racks discusses essential strategies for safeguarding your warehouse racking system. In this episode, she explores the benefits of end-of-row protection and column protection, emphasizing their roles in preventing forklift damage and maintaining structural integrity.

What You'll Learn

  • Why end-of-row protection with yellow bollards is crucial for shielding against forklift collisions and protecting pallets from impacts.
  • How column protection, a metal multiflora option, effectively minimizes damage to the lower 16 inches of uprights by allowing the forklift to hit the product on the column protector first.
  • When single pallet stops come into play, preventing pallets from overextending and hitting walls while ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations for secure pallet seating.

Enhance the safety and durability of your warehouse racking system with SimplyRack’s protective solutions. For all your pallet racking needs, reach out to Simply Rack today! Whether you’re looking for expert guidance, tailored solutions, or Quick Ship convenience, we’re here to help. Contact us now at 512-869-2803 or visit our location at 8560 North IH 35 Service Road, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States. Your optimized warehouse storage journey starts here with Simply Rack.

Listen to the audio version below!

Transcript for the audio/video

Tracy Jackson: Hi guys, this is Tracy from Simply Rack.

Today, we’re going to talk about protecting your racking system. One of the options for row ends is end of row protection, which are the yellow bowlers that protect a forklift from backing in or pallets to be pushed against it. Well, orange option, which is column protection the majority of upright damage is the lower 16 inches of the upright and this metal multiflora option will allow the forklift to hit the product on the column protector before actually hitting the racking system. Yes, it will actually damage the column protector, but better that than the uprights. This is not a save all for the racking. The forklift is obviously a lot larger and heavier, but it certainly does help, especially since the end of row protection protects the bollard, where the bollard protects you upright excuse me and is anchored with three-quarter inch anchors per end of row and they connect here in the middle. So, for instance, these are 42 inch deep uprights with a 12 inch push base, so this is a 48 inch deep end of row protection, matches perfectly in the middle and looks great.

Hi guys, this is Tracy with SimplyRack. We’re going to talk about protecting your walls and flue space against the wall. The item that you’re looking at here is called a single pallet stop and connects to the beam through the wire so that it stops the pallet from overextending and hitting the wall. It still allows the pallet to overhang three to four inches so that if you have a 48 inch deep pallet on a 42 inch deep upright, you’re going to have overhang front and back, which is exactly what OSHA wants you to have. You need to have overhang so that the pallet is seated securely on the front and back beam.

If you have a fire code that requires flue space protection, we do have a double where the uprights are back to back. That can be provided as well. When installing the column protectors, you’re going to want to make sure that the column protector itself is not touching the upright. That’s so if the forklift hits the column protector and it bends backwards, as it’s supposed to do, it doesn’t actually crease into the upright and it’s done its job. The single pallet stops, as you can see from the side angle, extend over about three inches and as the pallet hits it, the weight triangles into the beam so that you’re not going to damage the pallet stop for your product.

Guide to Buying Pallet Racking & Bulk Shelving

Guide to Buying Pallet Racking & Bulk Shelving

Expert Tips On Buying Warehouse Storage For Your Business

In this episode, join Tracy Jackson of Simply Rack and Warehouse Equipment as she covers the intricate process of purchasing warehouse storage solutions. From conceptualization to execution, you’ll learn the ropes of efficiently obtaining pallet racking, cantilever, and bulk shelving tailored precisely to your needs, ensuring your storage solutions are as efficient as they are effective. Tune in now to optimize your warehouse space and storage strategy!

What You'll Learn

  • How to effectively purchase warehouse storage solutions, leveraging both consultative guidance and the user-friendly Quick Ship forms
  • Why you should make informed decisions regarding dimensions and load capacities, optimizing your storage for maximum efficiency
  • What essential factors to consider in terms of payment options and delivery methods, ensuring a smooth and tailored acquisition process

Listen to the audio version below!

Transcript for the audio/video

Tracy Jackson:

Hi, I’m Tracy Jackson with Simply Rack and Warehouse Equipment. Today we’re going to discuss the buying process. How do you actually buy pallet racking from us, and what do you need to buy? It shouldn’t just be pallet racking, it could also be cantilever or bulk shelving. We make it very easy to purchase. You can call us and we can discuss your needs of what you’re specifically needing, or we can send you our quick ship form. which is product we stock in our inventory and down, excuse me, cut that. Or you can look at our quickship form, which is product that we stock at our warehouse in Georgetown, Texas.

We can deliver, whichever you prefer. We try and make it as simple as process. We try and make this process as simple as possible for you to get the product you need for your warehouse. The product you need for your warehouse. Okay, first on our quickship form will be the uprights. The uprights are the end pieces and we’ll need to know the depth and the height. The depth is determined by what you’re storing on it. If you’re storing a standard pallet, which is 40 inches wide and 48 inches deep, you’re gonna need a 42 inch deep upright. And then you have to figure where your top shelf level is gonna be. That’ll be limited by your ceiling height or by your forklift lifting height. And we have a large list of items in different sizes and capacities to pick from our quickship list. If you need help determining the size, please contact a sales associate and we can walk you through the process.

Next on the form are the beams. The beams are what create the shelf level. And you’re going to have two dimensions. The width, which will be 48 inches, 96 inches, 108 inches, or 144 inches. Those are the most common sizes. And within that, you’re going to have different capacities. As I said, a standard pallet is 48 inches deep or 40 inches wide by 48 inches deep. If it’s 40 inches wide, you could either use a four foot, eight foot, or 12 foot beam. If you’re using a 48 by 48 pallet, which is not uncommon, but it’s not considered standard, you’ll need a nine foot beam or 108 inches. And we do have different capacities in that as well. please refer to the form. If you want wire decking, you don’t have to figure out the wheel, just let us know you want decking on all shelf levels and we can determine what size you need for that. Then we go down the list to our cantilever. Cantilever is what you store large items such as lumber and pipe on. Cut that. Next is cantilever racking, ragging for large items such as lumber and pipe. We stock a 12 foot tall because that’s the most common around the central Texas area. If you need a taller size, please let us know, but we will need to order it from the factory so there is a longer lead time. The arms we stock are 48 inches, which is what 99% of the world needs for their product. So what we’ll do is have… capacity of 3,000 pounds per arm with 48 inch arms or bases. You can get this product in either single sided or double sided. The columns can be used for both. If you have any questions please reach our sales associates at 512-869-2803. The next item is double rivet bulk shawling. That’s for lighter hand stack items. that’s more sturdy than what you buy out of a box at Home Deep over Lowe’s. It’s industrial quality. We only sell this product with wire decking because that’s what meets fire code in large jurisdictions and municipalities. So wire decking will be your only option. Wire decking will be your only option. If you would like to use a wood surface… You would just need to provide your own wood surface for that, but we do have the front to back supports that will sell you extra to give it extra rigidity. That takes care of the majority of what you’ll need for your warehouse. If there’s any other specific items not listed on that form, or you want to see if we have that product in use, please let us know when you’re applying with the quickship form.

Since COVID- There just hasn’t been a lot of used material on the market. Everybody’s growing and not a lot of people going out of business. If they move, it’s about the only time we get to purchase used material and it’s limited. But the price between new and used right now is small because of the demand for used. You’re really almost paying the same price for used material as new. And again, we have it at our facility in Georgetown, Texas. Once we send you the quote, if it all looks good, you’ve confirmed it with your sales associate and you want to place your order, just let us know. What we’ll do is we’ll have accounting send you an invoice and you can pay that invoice, excuse me, you can pay the invoice online. There’s a review and pay link within the order and you can pay up to a hundred thousand dollar invoice through the bank transfer. We do have a small limit for credit cards, and we do charge 3% for the credit card processing fee. If you want that charge added, we can certainly do it added to your invoice and then turn on the credit card payment issue. If you would like the credit card cut, if you would like the credit card option to pay with, just let your sales associate know we’ll add the 3% charge to your order. and accounting will turn on the link to use a credit card. However, bank transfers are free through the form, as well as we can provide our wire or ACH instructions, if you would rather do it directly. Another option would be paying by check.

If you would like to pay by check, please scan the front and back of the check in color. and email it to our accounting department. They can electronically deposit that check to speed up the process versus waiting for it to be overnighted or mailed by the postal service. We do have delays like everybody else in getting mail, and oftentimes the checks are lost. To eliminate that problem, we do electronic deposits. Once you pay, our orders are sent to the warehouse where we pull and prep them. If you’re paying for delivery, once paid, you go on the next delivery slot and installation slot if you’ve selected installation as well. And then, or if you didn’t select either installation or delivery, we just put you on the pickup schedule and you’ll show up with a flatbed trailer or semi, whatever is appropriate for your pickup and we’ll schedule that about two to three days later. If you have any questions… My name is Tracy Jackson, or you can speak to any qualified sales associate here at Simply Rack and Warehouse Equipment at 512-869-2803. Thank you.

How to Install a Cantilever System: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Erect a Cantilever System: Step-by-Step Guide for Safe and Effective Installation

Installation Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Erecting Your Cantilever System Safely and Efficiently

In this episode, we will be discussing the safe and effective installation of a cantilever system, using a step-by-step guide. You’ll learn how to build the column, base, and arm levels on the ground before standing them up with the use of forklifts. We’ll also cover the importance of installing the X-brace in the middle for stability and why it’s best to do it on the ground rather than in the air. Don’t miss out on this valuable information to ensure a successful and safe installation of your cantilever system.

What You'll Learn

  • How to build the columns, bases, and arm levels of a cantilever system on the ground
  • The importance of installing the X-Brace in the middle and starting with the two center horizontals for stability
  • Why it’s safer and easier to install the X-Brace on the ground rather than in the air

Listen to the audio version below!

Transcript for the audio/video

Tracy Jackson: When erecting the cantilever system, you’re going to build the trees on the ground. So you’re going to take your column, add your base, your arm levels, and get those completed for each column base arm assembly. Then you’ll use two forklifts to start the first set bay and stand them up and install the X-brace in the middle. If you’re adding units on from there, say attaching one unit to the next, you will just need one forklift to stand it and then have personnel to install the X-Brace. It’s much easier to do it on the ground and only install the X-Brace than doing it in the air. One other note is when installing the X-Brace, always install your two center horizontals first. Not the ones on the bottom or the top, just for stability