What Is Push Back Racking?
Push back racking (sometimes called pushback rack) is a high density pallet storage scheme that allows pallets to be stored anywhere from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets sit on linked carts that travel up a gradual slope as products are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the rack.
When pallets are later pulled, the pallet abutting the foremost pallet glides back down the incline to the nearest slot.
Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages
Push back racking is excellent for certain operations, but isn’t suitable for all warehouses. There are several advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Higher Density Storage
Since push back pallet racks can hold between 2-6 pallets in any particular position, they can reclaim between 1-5 aisles, which can be a sizable amount of warehouse real estate.
Less Forklift Travel
When aisle numbers are reduced, lift trucks don’t have to travel as far, increasing efficiency and reducing wear and tear on equipment. Reduced forklift movement also makes a safer environment inside the warehouse. Reduced forklift traffic directly correlates to fewer accidents.
Greater Selectivity
Push back rack gives warehouse managers a nearly perfect mixture of storage density and selectivity. Different from drive-in rack, where whole storage bays are usually a single SKU, pushback rack provides straightforward access to a larger selection of pallet slots from the face.
LIFO Configuration
Dissimilar to pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) variety of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) style of plan. LIFO systems are not ideal for items with an expiration date, because products that are stored early may sit for long periods of time as goods are loaded and removed from the rack face.
How Does Push Back Racking Work?
A pushback rack system includes a set of tracks declining in the direction of the aisle and a collection of nested shuttles which travel on these tracks.
An initial pallet is placed on the top cart by a forklift. When a second pallet is loaded, the lift truck operator pushes the first pallet back and positions the second pallet on the second cart. The last pallet positioned in the lane rests on the rails.
As push back rack is unloaded, shuttles of unit loads glide down the tracks. Workers remove each pallet sequentially until the lane is exhausted, or add pallets, filling the lane back up.
Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale
To learn more about push back racking systems, call a racking professional at Welch Equipment now. Welch Equipment’s system design professionals can help you develop a solution that is ideal for your application.
