What Is Push Back Racking?
Push back racking (also called pushback rack) is an extremely efficient pallet storage scheme that configures pallet lanes from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets rest on nested carts that are forced up a modest incline as units are added, or “pushed back” from the front of the rack.
When goods are eventually removed, the pallet abutting the front pallet glides back down the incline to the nearest slot.
Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages
Pushback racking is ideal for many operations, but isn’t suitable for all warehouses. There are several benefits and drawbacks to consider.
Higher Density Storage
Because push back pallet racks can store between 2-6 pallets in any given position, they can recover between 1-5 aisles, which represents a sizable chunk of warehouse real estate.
Less Forklift Travel
With a reduction in aisle numbers, forklifts don’t have to travel as far, reducing equipment wear and increasing efficiency. Diminished forklift traffic also greatly increases safety within the warehouse. Fewer trips directly correlates to fewer accidents.
Greater Selectivity
Pushback rack offers a nearly perfect blend of selectivity and storage efficiency. In contrast to drive-in rack, where entire storage bays are usually one SKU, push back provides straightforward access to a much greater number of pallet slots from the rack front.
LIFO Configuration
Dissimilar to pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) type of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) type of plan. LIFO systems are not generally suitable for items with an expiration date, because products that are added first will often sit for long stretches of time as goods are added and depleted from the aisle.
How Does Push Back Racking Work?
Push back rack configurations include a pair of rails slanting toward the aisle and a collection of interlinked shuttles which move on these rails.
The first pallet is placed on the uppermost cart by a lift truck. When another pallet is positioned, the forklift operator forces the primary pallet back and places the next pallet on the second cart. The last pallet positioned in the lane rests on the rails.
In the unloading process, shuttles of unit loads glide down the tracks. An operator can remove each pallet in turn until the lane is exhausted, or add pallets, replenishing the lane.
Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale
To learn more about push back racking systems, get in touch with a warehouse storage expert at Welch Equipment now. Welch Equipment’s warehouse design professionals can help you find a system that is ideal for your operation.
