In the field of logistics, the current warehouses that work with large volumes of goods use increasingly agile and efficient storage systems in order to facilitate not only the tasks of loading and unloading, but also to adopt solutions that guarantee profits, both in time and in profitability for the business.

The plastic pallet is one of the most outstanding storage elements and it is being used increasingly more due to its versatility, as it allows for the transportation of goods of all types of weight and sizes faster and safer than other systems.

What are racks pallets and for what are they used?

A rack is a metal structure or shelf where the loaded pallets are located and with the objective of organizing the goods in deposits in a visible, structured and easily locatable by areas.

There are countless applications where, once the pallet is loaded with goods, it is stored on a shelf until it is shipped. But what exactly is a rack pallet and for what?
These are pallets that support in flection a specific load in shelves of conventional type. this bending or flection requires that the pallet is being contained within limits, in order to guarantee the safety of the stored material.

Main advantages of rack pallets

The fact of being able to locate pallets in racks facilitates in an exponential way the tasks of loading and unloading for the following reasons:

- Better ordering and organization of the material.
- It facilitates goods transfers in a more practical and faster way. It allows for the movement of large quantities of materials in a single load which makes it easier for forklifts to manage. This is why many companies prefer to use pallets to move their goods.
- Greater space saving. One of the advantages of the pallets is that they already have their own support. But if we also add the placement of pallets in racks or shelves according to the organizational needs of each business, it is an ideal solution to take advantage of the vertical space inside the warehouses.
- Time optimization in the distribution centers. Thanks to the use of racks we get to facilitate both the visibility and the accessibility to the goods, this ends up having a direct and positive impact also on time waist reducing when distributing the material. This way, not only the space and costs are optimized, but also productivity and sales are boosted.

Pallet storage systems for use in racks

After explaining some of the advantages that this type of storage provides for companies, it is important to clarify that the pallet must have at least 3 runners to be suitable for racks, be in good condition and depending on the weight and type of load, this last could be reinforced with metallic elements, this way, increase both the load capacity and the security when rack storage. Another factor to consider, is that not all pallets are suitable for rack use, since the capacity varies accordingly to the model used.

Next, we are going to present you some of the most suitable systems for storing pallets and that allow a better space saving. Here are some of them:
- Pallet Flow system. These are structures that allow you to store up to four pallets in a single block. It is a storage system that stands out for facilitating and fastening the material movement. Perfect choice for those industries whose goods are in constant movement.
-  Conventional palletizing systems. It is one of the most versatile systems however it does not have as much storage capacity as other alternatives. It is used mainly in logistics centers with very diverse products and pallets of different sizes. It is advisable for picking operations on lower levels, for installations that contain large volume products or for small warehouses that have mass consumption products and few pallets.
- Compact shelving systems. It is one of the simplest and most economical options, perfect for storing mass consumption products and those in which rotation is not a priority. The advantage is that its storage capacity is superior to that of conventional shelves, however it requires more maneuvering time.
- Dynamic shelving. This type of shelves allows to place a reference in each channel, so its storage capacity is superior to compact ones. The pallets are introduced in the loading aisle, slide to the opposite end and are ready for extraction. This system allows space saving and reduced maneuvering times, which is why they are usually used for high rotation products.

As previously noted, not all pallets can be used in shelves or racks. Among the references of the Nortpalet catalogue we would have the EXPERT pallets (EXPERT 1208-O3, EXPERT PRO 1208-O3, EXPERT 1210-O3, EXPERT 1210-O5 or EXPERT 1210-O6) that belong to the HEAVY range. These pallets are designed to bear high loads with a long-life cycle.

If the pallets are needed for racks but in less controlled circuits, where there is risk of loss or non-return, a more economical alternative are the LOGIC pallets (LOGIC 1208-G3 and LOGIC PRO 1208-G3; LOGIC 1210 -G3 and LOGIC PRO 1210-G3; LOGIC 1210-G5 and LOGIC PRO 1210-G5) from our MEDIUM range. 

If you still have doubts about what type of pallet or system you should use to improve your storage system according to the needs of your sector, Nortpalet has a team of professionals with extensive experience that can offer personalized advice without commitment.