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How much is your pallet rack really costing you?

Hint: It may be more than the initial purchase cost.

Guard Dawg is a rack end guard that wraps around the uprights, protecting them from impact on both front and side.
Guard Dawg is a rack end guard that wraps around the uprights, protecting them from impact on both front and side.

When shopping for pallet racks buyers may find options in the market that seem similar, but a savvy buyer will know that doing one’s homework up front can pay dividends in the end. From the warehouse environment to the steel gauge to the “recipe” of the steel itself, the true cost of a pallet rack over the life of the system can be difficult to determine.

While the dimensions of the rack components certainly contribute to a rack’s capacity rating, many factors can adversely affect its performance and long-term cost. “It is all about price – pay upon initial purchase or pay much more later to upgrade a sub-standard system to meet requirements,” according to Raymond Weber, Eastern Regional Manager at Steel King.

The dimensions and gauge of steel aren’t the only measures of rack quality. When comparing two seemingly identical rack systems, for example 3-inch columns of the same gauge of steel, there can be profound capacity differences that can lead to frequent repair/replace situations.

Consider the following when making a purchase:

·         How much bracing is designed into the system? Inadequate bracing will affect both capacity and impact resistance.

·         How much weld surface connects your uprights and braces? Frames are only as impact resistant as the welds that hold them.

·         Are upright columns a fully closed tube design or the common open-back configuration? A closed tubular column can withstand far more impact.

“Steel King’s SK2000 roll-form pallet rack system is designed with a closed tubular design throughout – uprights, beams and bracing, giving the rack a 250% increase in front-impact strength and 68% increase in the side-impact strength when compared to common open-back systems,” Weber said.

“This leads to a reduction in damage in the event of a collision and a far less likelihood of rack collapse and product loss or worker harm,” Weber said.

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