Warehouse racking is a common storage method in warehouses around the world. If you work around a warehouse, you probably use racks (or pallet racks) to store and protect your inventory.

Now, warehouse racking isn’t as easy as it sounds!

To help with this, there is a plethora of tips, tricks, and tools you can download, read, and follow when it comes to warehouse racking and storage. Unfortunately, there are so many "best practices" out there, that it can be difficult to know exactly how to proceed and which ones really matter when it comes to maximizing your warehouse storage potential, employee safety, and inventory protection.

That’s why we felt it was important to take some time and prepare a cheat sheet of the top warehouse racking and safety tips we’ve discovered over the years! After all, we've been in this business for over 50 years!

How to Maximize Storage & Inventory with Warehouse Racking

1.  Create a Pallet Racking System for Your Warehouse

The first step you need to take in order to maximize your storage and inventory potential through warehouse racking is to create a pallet racking system that is specific to your products, employees, and warehouse.

Ask the question - what are the best practices for your warehouse and what will make the most sense for you and your team? 

Consider the weight of your products. It is standard to place heavier or more bulky products on lower racks, saving the lighter, more moveable products for the top! This is an important safety measure, but will also protect your products, protect your employees, protect your pallet racks, and allow for more strategic storage from top to bottom.

This can be applied to each individual rack (heavier products on the bottom, lighter on top), as well as your entire warehouse racking system.

Additionally, your pallet racks probably have weight limits. It is important that you and your employees know the weight limits and follow them. If you under-load a rack, you miss out on valuable storage space. If you overload a rack, you risk the potential for the rack to buckle in on itself or tip over. This is obviously an expensive oversight. So make sure to emphasize the importance of this to your team!

Another aspect of any warehouse racking process should be an even product distribution. This is important because an uneven rack can lead to two significant issues:

1. Less storage space due to poor distribution.
2. The entire pallet rack tipping over.

By considering these tips and best practices, creating a system/process, and communicating it to your team, you will increase your storage potential and create a more orderly, safe, and secure warehouse.

2.  Maximize Storage Space with Pallet Rack Safety Panels

Pallet rack safety panels are the best tools for creating an efficient pallet racking system. Why? Because pallet rack safety panels don’t just protect your inventory from harm and your employees from injury. They also allow you to store more inventory in your pallet racks. This is because you’re able to stack materials higher and more strategically without fear of falling products.

Though, as the name communicates, these safety panels are primarily used for the purpose of safety. They also allow you to utilize every square inch of space your warehouse and/or pallet racks will allow by extending the height, and even the depth, of each rack.

Maximize your storage capabilities through warehouse racking. Request a quote here.

3.  Get Started on Warehouse Racking Today!

Maximizing your warehouse racking process will benefit your business and your employees. Our greatest tip is to get started with this set up in your facility if you don't already utilize it.

At WireCrafters, we value you and your business and are here to help. That's why we offer a Quick Ship option. This means our stock pallet rack safety panels are available to ship within 48-hours of any order we receive. That's how fast you could get started with improved storage and inventory.

Let our team at WireCrafters help provide you with a better pallet racking system – fast! Free design and layout assistance is available! Contact us today to get started.