Portable Racks Prove a Flexible Warehouse Asset

Versatile portable racks provide a wide range of flexible storage solutions for warehouse professionals.

By: Craig Heil, Contributor

Portable racks optimize storage by utilizing vertical space effectively, offering a versatile layout and seamlessly adapting to evolving requirements. Image courtesy of Steel King.

Selective pallet racking is a versatile, efficient storage system that enables direct access to pallets, making it ideal for operations with diverse inventory needs. It adapts to various warehouse layouts and load requirements while optimizing vertical space usage.

However, fixed pallet racks may not always be the best solution, particularly when inventory levels vary significantly, temporary storage is needed, workflows require rapid adjustments, or when the entire rack and all its contents needs to be moved to another location.

To address these types of scenarios, products are stored on pallets, which are sometimes stacked multiple pallets high. However, this approach is both inefficient and potentially dangerous. It limits the effective use of vertical storage space, as standard pallets can only be stacked to a certain height without compromising stability or risking damage to the goods.

A portable rack, however, offers a versatile and cost-effective storage solution. Modern portable racks are designed to provide strong structural support, allowing several thousand pounds of materials to be stacked on each level, up to six levels high, without requiring attachment to a wall. When not in use, portable racks can be dismantled for convenient and compact storage.

Portable racks optimize storage by utilizing vertical space effectively, offering a versatile layout and seamlessly adapting to evolving requirements. These racks are an excellent addition to most warehouses due to their mobility, robust stacking capabilities, straightforward assembly and disassembly, and compact storage when not in use.

COMMON WAREHOUSE SITUATIONS

There are a wide range of common warehouse situations where portable storage racking has proven beneficial to industry professionals. This includes:

Fluctuating Inventory Levels

Warehouse inventory levels can vary significantly based on factors like seasonal demand, business cycles, and marketing campaigns. For instance, e-commerce facilities often experience a surge in order volumes during peak seasons, making it essential to have adaptable storage solutions such as portable racks to handle fluctuating inventory efficiently.

Portable racks provide scalable capacity, allowing managers to increase storage as needed without requiring investment in permanent infrastructure. When more storage is required, extra racks can be added to meet demand without disrupting the overall operation.

Overflow Storage

Special projects or transitions between stock rotations may also lead to a short-term need for overflow storage that portable racks can readily provide. For instance, portable racks can be temporarily utilized during an inventory audit to hold products being counted. This optimizes storage capacity without requiring any changes to the warehouse layout.

Modern portable racks are designed to provide strong structural support, allowing several thousand pounds of materials to be stacked on each level, up to six levels high, without requiring attachment to a wall. Image courtesy of Steel King.

Temporary Events

Portable racks can also facilitate storage required for temporary events such as trade shows, where stock, equipment, or materials may need to be efficiently organized to ensure ready availability.

In the experience of one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of racks, Steel King, one client utilizes portable storage racks to organize materials for book fairs. Specifically, three metal book carts are securely housed within a portable storage rack. When it is time for a scheduled book fair, the carts are retrieved and transported to the event location. The portable rack can be taken down, moved, and stored if needed.

Improve Warehouse Workflow

Portable racks offer exceptional flexibility, allowing adjustments between different rack configurations to align with warehouse workflows without incurring high costs for installation or dismantling.

In warehouses with complex or high-volume picking processes, such as e-commerce fulfillment centers or distribution hubs, portable racks can be moved to more convenient areas, improving accessibility and minimizing picking/storing time.

Transportable Rack

Portable rack can be used to protect products and materials during storage, handling, and transport, facilitating movement through the production process all on the same rack.

For example, in tire manufacturing a portable rack can be packed with tires and stored in a distribution center. The same rack can be used for secure, stable shipment to the dealer, and even used at that location for storage, if desired.

Portable racks are ideal for multi-step manufacturing processes or tasks that involve frequent relocation of components or products. They can be moved to a new location without the need to unload the items first, saving time and effort.

SELECTING PORTABLE RACKS

While portable racks have numerous potential applications, choosing models with specific features is essential to maximize their advantages.

For optimal capacity and safety, the rack should be specifically engineered to ensure portability while effectively handling vertical loads. Additionally, it should be designed for easy disassembly and compact storage, requiring minimal space when not in use.

To meet the need, one OEM designed a portable rack that is engineered for portability, stacking, and protecting loads during storage, handling, and transport. This type of rack, which is stackable six units high with a 4,000 lbs. capacity for each, acts as its own pallet, eliminating the need and cost of wood pallets while allowing you to take full advantage of the building height. Vertical posts allow the rack to be stacked without load-on-load contact, reducing product-crushing damage. The rack is fully supported by steel corner columns to further protect inventory. Consequently, during in-plant handling or in shipment, the rack can be safely stacked much higher than wooden pallets, utilizing overhead space more effectively.

The portable stacking rack can be dismantled for convenient, compact storage when unused. Changing the rack layout is simple, with no expensive installation or dismantling costs. The rack is designed with removable corner posts that allow it to be shipped and stored very densely.

Almost every industry or operation has a use somewhere in their facilities for portable storage racks. The OEM, for example, has provided portable racks for manufacturers in many industries ranging from aerospace, automotive, electronics, and heavy machinery to lumber yards, dry storage warehouses, and book dealers. WMHS

Craig Heil is Container Sales Manager for Steel King Industries, Inc., a leading provider of pallet rack and portable storage rack. For more information, visit: www.steelking.com