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Pallet Rack Types & Styles
How to Identify Pallet Rack Shelving, Warehouse Racks and Pallet Racking Systems
SJF Material Handling Equipment carries a wide variety of selective pallet rack brands and styles to suit your individual home, distribution center or warehouse racking needs. We also carry many industrial racking accessories and warehouse shelving equipment components to add to or customize the individual needs of each storage area.
Pallet racking is a material handling storage rack systemdesigned to store products and materials on pallets in horizontal rows and on multiple levels. Pallet racking is made up of horizontal cross beams that attach to vertical upright frames - thus creating industrial shelving to support palletized material that can be easily accessed by forklifts.
One of the most popular types of pallet racking is "teardrop" pallet rack. Tear drop racks are made by several manufacturers in the USA, including Wireway Husky Racks, Steel King, Interlake Mecalux, Hannibal, Ridg-U-Rak, Speedrack and more.
Optional accessories like wire decking, column protectors, row spacers, storage bins, racking protectors and safety guards are often purchased in addition to heavy to light duty pallet rack. Kits are also a popular alternative, as they contain all the component parts to make up starter units or add on units. Kit capacities vary and are available to provide storage shelving for light duty, medium duty and heavy duty warehouse racks.
A pallet rack starter section/bay is made up of horizontal uprights and multiple beam levels that often utilizes wire mesh decks on top of roll formed step beams. This configuration creates wire shelving levels that can be used for picking rack and provides users a warehouse storage system tailor-made for storing pallets of raw materials.
The main components used in a pallet racking system are upright frames and beams, or cross beams. Uprights and columns are very customizable and come in many different sizes to fit almost any storage neads.
Pallet Racking Upright Frames
Pallet rack uprights (aka upright frames) are the vertical supports in a pallet racking system. To build a pallet racking structure, two upright frames are needed on each side to support horizontal beams.
The system can be added on to in the future and once the first structure is in place, only one additional upright is needed per bay to add on to a current rack system. Upright frames come in various heights and post sizes depending on the height, strength and weight capacity needed and are highly customizable.
Click above to see a short video on how to measure uprights.
Pallet Racking Beams
Pallet rack beams are the horizontal weight-bearing support that connects the upright frames to each other. Beams are available in many combinations of different lengths, heights and gauges and are dependent on the size of the racking needed and the weight and dimensions of the items stored on the racks.
They also come in either a step style or box style, which allows the use of optional over-the-top or drop-in supports or wire decking. Pallet rack beams can be adjusted to whatever height from the ground is needed and can be easily removed and readjusted to a different level for future changing needs.
View a short video explaining measurements and capacities for pallet rack beams.
Bolts, clips or fasteners - Depending upon the warehouse shelving brand, sometimes bolts, clips or fasteners are required to assemble the rack.
Optional Pallet Racking Accessories:
Once the pallet warehouse racks are constructed, there are many different accessories or components that can customize the pallet racking system to fit the individual needs of the storage area. Here are a few examples of different accessories that can be added:
Pallet rack wire deck (aka wire decking) is used to add a rack-supported wire mesh layer of open shelf support over the horizontal beam levels so that individual items don't fall through when not stored directly on pallets. Wire mesh decking is available in both galvanized and powder coated wire decking finishes.
In addition to stocking a wide variety of warehouse equipment, SJF Material Handling employs highly trained crews that specialize in pallet racking installation and pallet rack repairs, as well as installations and removals of cantilever racking, selective pallet racks, structural pallet racking systems, drive in pallet racks, carton flow racks, gravity conveyors, powered conveyors and other material handling and warehouse equipment.
Listed below are some of the most common brands and types of warehouse racking systems found today. If you have a rack style or brand not on this list, please contact us at (320) 485-4974 (direct sales line) or (800) 598-5532 and we'll be happy to help you identify it.
*For informational use only. All images, text and data are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced without written permission from SJF Material Handling Inc. All rights reserved.
Pallet Rack Identification Guides
Because warehouse shelving pallet rack is such a large part of SJF's business, we have made available several identification guides and resources to assist you in choosing/identifying the warehouse shelving or pallet rack shelving you have or are looking for.
Need some help with warehouse storage layout and other options? Visit our pallet rack quote tool.
Industrial Racking is Available in These Conditions:
USED AS-IS – Most Economical
This material is sold "As-Is, Where-Is". Units are overall straight and structurally sound but have not been cleaned, prepped or repainted in any way. Often this material will still have stickers or labels on it from previous use but still retains all the capacity and structural integrity of reconditioned or new pallet rack and is priced accordingly.
RECONDITIONED – Best Seller Since 1979
Reconditioned warehouse shelving pallet rack is used rack that goes through SJF's legendary five-step refurbishing process (see below), the end result being rack with the look and durability of new but at a cost that is considerably less.
SJF's Five-Step Refurbishing Process
Initially, all old stickers, tags, etc. are removed from the surfaces.
Each item is thoroughly inspected for structural damage and/or missing components which are repaired or replaced as needed.
Each item is then cleaned and prepped for paint using ultra high-speed cobalt brushes specifically designed to remove rust and residue without compromising the structural integrity of the metal.
Once prepped, items are painted using a specially formulated paint which is heated and applied electro-statically, utilizing a state of the art bond and paint system.
Freshly-painted materials are staged for cool down and curing before being sorted, segregated, banded, packaged and palletized for shipment to our clients.
Brand New & Fresh from the Factory
At SJF, we handle several of the most popular brands on the market. We stock used INTERLAKE racking in addition to carrying a full line of parts, components and accessories for STURDI-BILT, UNARCO, UNEX, PENCO, SPEEDRACK, REPUBLIC, STEEL KING, HILINE, RIDG-U-RAK, FRAZIER, FRICK-GALLAGHER, MECALUX, T-BOLT, PALTIER, PREST, STRUCTURAL and other major brands. To purchase new racking online, please visit the new pallet rack pages in our online store where we feature complete tear drop starter units and add on units priced in several popular sizes.
SJF has a large material handling dealer network available to us to find whatever pallet racking you are looking for. We handle all major brands, makes, models, sizes.
If you need it, we can find it.
SJF also offers pallet rack services such as installation/tear-down, relocation, rack repair and more. Not sure if it's static or selective pallet rack you need? Check out our rack systems page to see which type of storage rack system is right for your business. You'll see many of our most popular warehouse racks including general and furniture cantilever rack, lumber racks, bar racks, pick modules, carton flow & pallet flow racks, carpet racks, pushback racks, coil racks and more.
In addition to selling warehouse racking, SJF also buys used or unwanted pallet racking. Visit our Equipment Wanted Page for details.
Frequently Asked Questions about Warehouse Pallet Racking
Warehouse rack costs can vary greatly depending on the type of rack, size and weight capacities needed. New standard capacity warehouse rack uprights can start anywhere from $66 and on up to $260 or more each. New standard capacity warehouse rack beams can run from $40 to $150 per shelf or more, which includes 2 beams.
New SJF warehouse pallet racking can also be purchased as a full starter or add-on pallet rack kit, which includes everything needed (including hardware) to build a free-standing section. Starter kits run anywhere from $335 to $600 for a full bay. Add on kits run anywhere from $250 to $500 for an adder bay.
Another popular option is to purchase used warehouse racking from a reputable dealer. Many times, this industrial shelving is in mint condition and can save you quite a bit of money by buying used. Check out our used racking page pricing for up-to-date current pricing on used warehouse racking systems.
When selecting a rack storage system, it is best to understand the full range of racking systems available as well as each of the features and benefits. There are many styles and types, including:
Call or email one of our solutions specialists for help - they are familiar with all the different solutions available and will be happy to review your project and provide you the most efficient and cost-effective solutions available.
Rack bays are the areas in between the two outside supporting structures that contain the stored products or goods. A racking system could be comprised of a single bay or several bays connected together.
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Pallet Racking Systems Shipping Locations - We Ship NATIONWIDE
SJF Material Handling Inc. ships warehouse racking systems from multiple locations:
