Use Pallet Rack Wire Decks To Maximize Shelving Safety

Use Pallet Rack Wire Decks To Maximize Shelving Safety

Wire Deck Options

Wire decking comes in many different sizes and styles because it can be used in many different storage applications. It can be used for industrial shelving storage, pallet rack decking, and shelf dividing.

• Shelving Storage – storage wire decks come in sizes built specifically for our steel shelving sizes including 24″ x 48″ and 36″ x 46″. These decks are manufactured in a flat-screen style, with no support channels.
• Pallet Rack Decking – there are several different wire mesh options used for pallet rack decking purposes, including standard waterfall, inside waterfall, universal flange, galvanized, painted, heavy-duty, light-duty, large grid pattern, and small grid pattern. All of these options were created for use in the proper storage application.
• Shelf Dividers – when used to divide inventory there are clip dividers, hanging dividers, and flue space dividers. Clip dividers have dual attachment clips and tension wire used to ensure rigidity and a tight fit. Flue space dividers accommodate fire codes and can be used as backstop and divider on the wire decking. Hanging dividers hook onto the above decking and fit securely into the decking in the rack below.

Pallet Rack Manufacturers

If you’re in the material handling industry and are familiar to pallet racking, you’re most likely familiar with Interlake Mecalux. There are two distinct types of Interlake selective pallet rack frames: Old style and New Style. The difference in the two is the shape of the punch holes in which the beams connect to the upright frames. The Old Style frames have teardrop shaped holes and the New Style frames have a more angled, rectangular slot that tapers at the bottom. The Old Style is the more popular of the two, because of its ease of assembly and teardrop design. Because most teardrop pallet racking is interchangeable, the Old Style Interlake design offers greater long-term flexibility.

The beam that Interlake manufacturers has a slender locking pin that fits both of these styles, so if both your beams and frames are Interlake, you’re in luck. But if you find yourself with Interlake New Style frames, many beams designed for teardrop pallet rack frames won’t fit. The round-shaped locking pins are too wide for the New Style slots. So, it’s important to know what type of pallet rack frames you have in order to know what type of beams you need (and vice versa). This will come in handy in the event that you need to add on to your existing pallet racking.

Interlake Pallet Racking

The names “New Style” and “Old Style” are part of why it can be so tricky to keep the two straight and remember which styles are compatible. New Style Interlake is in fact not new at all. Instead, it is a name given to a style of pallet rack that was developed some time ago. At the time it was invented, it was definitively new. As of the writing of this article, though, New Style Interlake is no longer being manufactured.

But this doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to find New Style on the market. A lot of New Style Interlake pallet rack was manufactured in its time, and it’s still widely available from companies who provide used pallet rack. If you’re in the market for used pallet rack frames and are quoted Interlake New Style, check to make sure the beams you’ll be using them with are compatible. If they’re not Interlake New Style or shaved pin beams, you might be in trouble when it comes time for installation.

New Style Interlake Pallet Rack vs. Old Style Interlake Teardrop

Interlake now sticks to a teardrop design for its roll formed pallet rack, having long eliminated New Style from the production line. This is good news for those who own beams with round pins, because these round pins, or “lugs” as they’re often called, wouldn’t be compatible with the slimmer, “U-shaped” New Style slots. But this means that what many in the industry refer to as “Old Style” Interlake is what’s being produced and sold right now. If you’re scratching your head, we don’t blame you. But at least you’ll have come away knowing the main differences between the two, and hopefully this knowledge will help you avoid buying incompatible parts down the road.

Are you looking to optimize your storage space? Need a quote on new or used pallet rack? Know what you need, but have questions? No problem! Reach out to us and let us know how we can help, and we’ll be in touch within the day.

Need Help Finding the Right Pallet Rack Capacity?

If you’re not sure how to calculate your capacity requirements, remember, you don’t have to do it alone. If you’d like help figuring out your rack requirements, contact us or give us a call. It’s always best to have a pallet rack expert on your side helping you along the way.

Warehouse Safety Helpful Resource: OSHA Materials Handling & Storage