Although selective pallet racking is the most basic type of pallet racking it doesn’t mean that it’s not extremely useful in many situations. Selective pallet racking may not have the storage density of some other types of pallet racking, but sometimes storage density can be sacrificed in order to have easier access to all pallets.
All in all, as the name would suggest, selective pallet racking is useful when high selectivity is desired. A prime example of this situation is when there is a large variety of different SKUs with a lower volume of each pallet. In a situation like this, there’s no advantage to use a type of pallet racking that is able to store pallets multiple pallets deep.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Efficient And Simple
Since selective pallet racking only stores goods in a single row, it’s easy to access every single pallet across the warehouse. Multiple pallets can stack up to 12 metres high but warehouse staff can still get to each one. There’s really no simpler way to store pallets.
There’s an added efficiently here because a warehouse worker or a forklift driver can get to everything without having to think about stock rotation or weighing up the pros and cons of a first in, first out system versus a first in, last out system.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Naturally First In, First Out
Since there’s no way to put one pallet in front of another, selective pallet racking is automatically first in, first out. Compared to, for example, drive-in pallet racking, there’s no pallet “at the back.” If there’s no worry about stock spoilage, the extra storage density of drive-in pallet racking may be worthwhile, but if a particular product can’t be sitting in the warehouse for two long, the high selectivity, first in, first out status of selective pallet racking is a big plus, even if it’s not as dense as something like drive-in pallet racking.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Highly Selective
It’s all in the name! We’ve talked a lot about how everything is easily accessible with selective pallet racking, but it is the main advantage of this type of racking. Yes, with something like narrow aisle pallet racking all pallets are also accessible, but specialised equipment is often used for this type of racking, making it a little less easy to have access to everything. For situations where fast and easy access is needed to every single pallet in the warehouse, selective pallet racking can’t be beat.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Versatile
Selective pallet racking creates a good base for a variety of uses, but it can also be customised to suit different heights, pallet sizes, layouts, and materials handling equipment. Beyond customisation, it works well for a number of applications for basic warehouse storage.
While other types of pallet racking also have their advantages and disadvantages, very often these other types of pallet racking have specific applications. This means they lack the versatility afforded by selective pallet racking.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Cost Effective
Since selective pallet racking is a standard kind of pallet racking, it’s also often the most cost effective storage solution for warehouses. Sometimes the efficiencies afforded by denser pallet storage make up for the extra cost, but in situations where there may not be savings in efficiency, the money saved with the installation of simpler selective pallet racking can be quite attractive.
With this in mind, selective pallet racking can usually be configured to use existing materials handling equipment and rarely needs any specialised equipment beyond standard forklifts. This ensures further money saving.
Selective Pallet Racking Is Fast And Easy To Install
Whether it’s because you’re fitting out a new warehouse or adding more racking to your existing one, it’s important that the job gets done quickly in order to minimise business downtime. Since selective pallet racking isn’t as complicated as other types of racking, it’s not difficult to install. Of course all types of racking should be installed by a professional and then inspected and certified as per AS4048:23, but it’s usually a relatively fast installation, especially for an experienced team.
Is Selective Pallet Racking Right For Your Business?
Selective pallet racking has its advantages in a variety of storage situations, but it’s not the perfect solution for everything. Determining the right kind of pallet racking for a warehouse setting depends on the size of the warehouse, the potential layout configurations, what’s being stored in the warehouse, how quickly stock moves in and out of the warehouse, and more. These are all the things that need to be considered before determining the type of pallet racking to be used. Feel free to contact us if you need advice on the type of pallet racking for your business.
