Glossary

Racks

Definition

A rack is a storage system used in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities to organize and store goods, materials, and products. It is designed to maximize space utilization and improve the efficiency of handling and storing items. Racks are available in various sizes, materials, and configurations, such as pallet racks, cantilever racks, drive-in racks, and flow racks, to accommodate different storage needs and requirements.

— sennder Team

FAQ

Some common types of racks used in logistics include: - Pallet racks: Designed for storing palletized goods, these racks provide easy access to individual pallets and can be adjusted to various heights. - Cantilever racks: Ideal for storing long or bulky items, such as pipes or lumber, cantilever racks have arms that extend from vertical columns. - Drive-in racks: Designed for high-density storage, these racks allow forklifts to drive into the racking system for easy loading and unloading. - Flow racks: Utilize gravity-fed rollers to automatically move items from the loading side to the picking side, improving efficiency and reducing the need for manual handling.
Racks improve warehouse efficiency by: - Maximizing space utilization: Racks help optimize vertical and horizontal storage space, allowing for more efficient use of available warehouse area. - Organizing inventory: Racks enable the systematic organization of goods, making it easier to locate and retrieve items. - Streamlining material handling: By providing easy access to stored items, racks facilitate faster loading, unloading, and picking processes. - Enhancing safety: Properly designed and maintained racks can reduce the risk of accidents caused by falling or misplaced items.
Some factors to consider when selecting racks for a warehouse include: - Storage requirements: Consider the types of goods to be stored, their dimensions, and weight. - Available space: Assess the warehouse's available floor and vertical space to determine the appropriate rack size and configuration. - Accessibility: Ensure that the selected rack system allows for easy access to items for efficient picking and material handling. - Load capacity: Select racks with sufficient load capacity to safely store the heaviest items. - Adaptability: Choose racks that can be adjusted or reconfigured to accommodate future changes in storage needs.
Example or usage in road freight logistics

A warehouse manager for a food distribution company decides to install pallet racks to store a variety of perishable and non-perishable goods. This rack system optimizes the available vertical space in the warehouse, provides easy access to individual pallets for efficient picking, and ensures proper organization and storage of goods. The pallet racks improve overall warehouse efficiency and streamline the material handling process.

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