Gravity Flow Racking vs Standard Pallet Racking: What’s the Difference?

Pallet racking is necessary for any warehouse dealing with a large volume of pallets and a desire for safety and efficiency, but not all pallet racking is made equal. If you’re comparing different types of pallet racking or are considering whether it would be worth it for your business to upgrade from standard pallet racking to flow racking, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’ll explain the differences and benefits of flow racking so you can decide which is right for you.

What’s the difference between flow racking and standard pallet racking?

Standard pallet racking are simply like extremely large, industrial shelves for a warehouse. They allow you to store a wide range of pallets to increase efficiency and safety for your team. Think of them like aisles in a shop – you can go up and down the aisles to see either side of the shelves.

Gravity flow racking works more like those small shelves you’ll often find in a supermarket storing makeup or herbs and spices – they display many of the same type of product and when someone takes one from the front of the shelf, the other products are pushed forward to the edge of the shelf. All the pallet racks are essentially put together, and rollers move the pallet forward to the front.

What are the benefits of flow racking?

So, why should you choose flow racking over standard pallet racking? Let’s take a look at the benefits:

• It’s incredibly space-efficient – you can double your storage capacity over standard pallet racking. You no longer need to provide access for a forklift to move and manoeuvre between each rack because you only need to access the front and the back.
  
• You can store a large number of the same type of product – flow racking offers an ideal solution for those dealing with high volume/low SKU products.
  
• Travel times are reduced – productivity increases because less time is wasted travelling around the warehouse. All pallets coming in go to the rear of the rack, and any pallets going out are taken from the same place at the front of the rack.
  
• Less likely to damage pallets – you don’t have to deal with the occasional damaged pallet when a forklift accidentally gets too close to it. When the front of every pallet is exposed, there’s a much greater chance that the pallet could be damaged and thus damage the goods inside. Flow racking means that almost all the pallets are secure inside the racking system and so can’t be damaged by passing machinery.
  
• Increased safety – because you have fewer areas where employees can be moving around, you limit high-traffic areas and can better control how your team operate within the warehouse, and limit safety issues.

Should I choose standard pallet racking or flow racking?

Flow racking offers some incredible benefits, but it won’t be right for every application. If you’re outfitting your warehouse on a budget, are working with a large number of SKUs, or need complete access to every pallet you’re housing, then standard pallet racking will be best for you.

However, if you deal with fewer SKUs and have the budget available, the benefits of flow racking can revolutionise your workflows and optimise efficiency, saving time and money. Whether you decide that standard pallet racking or flow racking is right for you, we’re here to help. We’ll talk you through your options and design your pallet racking system to optimise your warehouse and increase efficiency. Click here to find out more about our standard pallet racking options, or here to learn more about our flow racking solutions.