Choosing the Correct Pallet Rack System For Food & Beverage Warehouses

With all of these components to consider, it may seem challenging to maximize efficiency and safety within your warehouse space. Different food industries may have varying objectives too. For example, fast turnaround, long-term storage of food, etc. – each posing its unique issue.

Unique challenges. Much of this involves a supply chain that provides ample room and pallet rack systems to maximize space and efficiency. Racking thus provides that much-needed organization to facilitate accessibility and space-saving within the warehouse. We have identified some of the challenges that you may face when storing food and beverage are following:

1. Cost: The Need to Reduce Costs and Maximize Productivity.
2. Dealing with SKU Proliferation
3. Maximize Storage (Pallet Positions)
4. FIFO Requirements
5. Food Sanitation

Ambient Vs. Cold Storage Areas

Since most operations have both types of storage and production areas, should they be treated differently for a rack design? Generally, the same principles apply for both ambient and cold storage. But, there can be important rack considerations that are different such as having your rack galvanized for certain types of coolers or wash down areas. Another example is that freezer racking should be heavily reinforced and designed to prevent rack and product damage as operators tend to be operating at a higher speed.

Rack types for the Food and Beverage Industry

Our experience has shown that High Density Rack systems are the prevalent style of rack. Pushback, Pallet Flow, Mole Systems, and Drive-in are used in both ambient and cold storage environments. Selective rack will always have its place as well to take advantage of all of the available space in a plant or the applications of small lot size per SKU.

Criteria for Rack System Design

The following is a list of criteria that we take into consideration when designing a Food and Beverage warehouse:

1. Is FIFO Required
2. # SKUs
3. Total Pallet Positions needed
4. Pallets per SKU
5. Sanitary Requirements
6. Open Product? I.e. Drip pans required
7. Temperature
8. Forklift type
9. Space allowed for storage
10. Guarding /Reinforcement Needed

By properly planning and choosing a proper pallet rack system, you can increase productivity, safety, product damage/loss and reduce the number of errors that come with warehouse performance. We have worked with market-leading companies in a range of Food Industry sectors. We have a wide variety of clients within the Food and Drink Industry.

Ready to get started? Call 800-722-5908 today to speak with a Systems Design Specialist or get a quote.