Push Back Pallet Rack

Store substantially more product in the same space as conventional warehouse racking systems with Push Back Pallet Racks.

Store virtually any pallet by using push back pallet racking systems.

For many warehouse storage racking systems, selective pallet racks will normally work. This allows one to three pallets to be placed side by side on a shelf level. Aisles are big to allow access of people and fork trucks during the stocking and picking procedures. Drive-in rack allows for slightly greater space utilization (from about 35% with selective rack up to 50%). Some draw backs are that these push back pallet racks are “first in, last out” and they tend to require only one SKU in each bay. There is also the greater chance of forklift damage as the trucks drive into the rack to place the pallet.

Another method for configuration of the warehouse space is to use a double reach system. This allows two to six pallets to be placed on each shelf level. A special forklift truck is needed to reach the back row of pallets and as such the aisle must be wider. The stocking and picking procedures tend to be a little slower with this method; however there is greater space utilization over normal selective rack.

Push back pallet racks offer the same storage density as drive-in & drive-thru warehouse racking systems but greater selectivity. All loads are stored and retrieved from the aisle. Loads in each lane rest on a cart on a rail that slopes gently toward the front. When a new load is deposited into a lane, it ‘pushes back’ the one already at the face and all those behind. Then, when that load is picked, the contents of the lane all move gently forward again, hence the term “push back rack”.

The objective of push back racking systems is to eliminate honeycombing or empty pick faces. Obviously, the ideal application for Push back Racks will be where all loads in a lane are identical and first-in/first-out stock rotation is not crucial.

How Push Back Racks work: Pallets are placed by forklift on nested carts riding on inclined rails. Each pallet is then pushed back by subsequent pallet loading, exposing the next cart. When removing product, the forklift takes out the front pallet, allowing the pallets on carts behind it to roll gently to the front of the rack. The nested carts make placement and retrieval easy.