Pallet Rack and Installation Secrets…

The PR Skate, LLC is making its LD (lite duty) Pallet Rack Moving System available for rent.   As production costs continue to rise, the PR Skate realizes that the cost of purchasing the system out right may not make sense for the occasional rack move.

 The PR Skate believes there is value in the rental program both for the PR Skate and its rental customers.  The cost of use is dramatically reduced through the rental program, with a weekly rental price of $600.00 or $1800.00 for the month.  The cost of the rental is a true value when considering the labor saved in the remodel project.

 Rental Program

The United States Patent & Trademark Office issued patent # 7,311,487 on December 25^th, 2008 with all 17 claims intact. Below is an abstract of the patent:

Apparatus and method for repositioning warehouse shelving units

Patent Information:

The PR Skate, LLC is please to announce that we have partnered with UniRak to better serve our clients pallet rack needs.  UniRak has proven to be a great ally in providing storage solutions in a dependable and timely manner. 

I discovered some newly installed pallet rack at a big box store while on my lunch break.  The store is going through a very large remodel and contractors were everywhere.  I was shocked to find such a blatant safety issue.  I found pallet rack that was stocked with merchandise while the upright was not anchored and shimmed with pieces of wood. 

It amazes me how any installer would risk their company, insurance, and safety of others by allowing a safety issue such as this.  I also found other runs of pallet rack unanchored and yet loaded with merchandise. 

As retailers remain open for business during a remodel, it is important for everyone (Installers and Retailers) to make the safety of store personnel, contractors, and the shoppers their number one priority.

Some one, somewhere should have some explaining to do.  What happened to “Safety First”? 

The PR Skate, LLC is looking for new partners to fill requests for pallet rack made by our customers.  In marketing our Pallet Rack Skate Moving systems and internet exposure from the major search engines, the PR Skate has experienced many requests for pallet rack and accessories. 

If you or your company is interested in partnering with us in this area, contact us via our contact page.

Besides beam deflection, one should consider using a safety pin or bolt in pallet rack beams.  Many pallet rack manufactures have built in safety pins into their beams for customer convenience.  The problem with these pins is that there is still a chance to fail. 

Many companies are now using additional safety bolts or pins in the side holes in the beam flange.  When using bolts, use grade 5 bolts for the shear factor. 

Safety pins and bolts are meant to improve safety and discourage beam uplift from forklifts and or other forces.

Pallet rack safety should be a major concern for facility managers.  Damage and abuse happens daily in many facilities and safety inspection should be a priority.  When inspecting pallet rack, it is easy to see visible damage from pallets and forklifts but beam deflection is often over looked.

Beam deflection is when the beam is over loaded and is stressed from the load.  When this happens it is pretty easy to detect.  The beam will literally smile at you.  Happy beams are not good when it comes to pallet rack.

For safety concerns look for smiling beams when inspecting your pallet rack or storage system.  Reduce the stress on the beam by removing some of the weight.

The other day I went with a co-worker on an inspection.  We looked at pallet rack that is exposed directly and indirectly to the elements of weather.  We were looking for corrosion or decay in the form of rust.  The rack we were looking at was not galvanized, just painted.  To no ones surprise we found rust on the footplates and lower part of the upright.  We also find rust forming and corroding the beams.

  Pallet rack that is stored outside for just a short time will start to corrode.  On many installation jobs in the past, we would store the material outside until needed.  As we need more rack and beams we would bring it in.  On jobs where the weather was rainy we would find water collecting inside the beams.  This water penetrated the beams at the seams or where the beams were welded to the bracket.  When we would pick up a beam, water would drip or run out of the beam.  The problem was that the water was rusty, very rusty. 

We need to remember that the inside of the beam is not painted and most likely not coated with and corrosion prohibitors.  In the picture above we can clearly see rust and corrosion forming on the outside but what about the inside.  Rust and corrosion is a hidden danger.  If corrosion forms inside of a beam it goes undetected until the beam fails.  If a beam fails it is too late.

If you need storage outside or in the elements, the best thing to use is galvanized pallet rack or cantilever.  It may cost a little more but it will cut the corrosion liability.  Rust and corrosion in ordinary pallet rack and cantilever brings a whole new perspective on buying used pallet rack, especially if it is stored outside.

Many companies and organizations across North America are searching for ways to cut capitol costs in their facilities.  One way they have been doing so is by purchasing used pallet rack to increase storage space or even to replace rack that has been damaged.  As many assume that they are saving money by purchasing used pallet rack, the long term costs could be astronomical. 

When new pallet rack is purchased and installed for the first time it is typically engineered for the particular seismic zone and load ratings that the facility requires for their storage needs.  With used pallet rack,  engineered history of the particular pallet rack is not usually known.  The used rack  could be a liability rather than an asset. 

 What you don’t see (inside the beams or frames) could make the used rack a liability.  If buying used pallet rack, care and due diligence must be taken to make a wise purchase.