Above: flow storage installed on pallet rack beams in a distribution center

To increase warehouse productivity, reducing the time it takes for people to execute a task is always going to pay off. One way to do that is to concentrate on picking areas so that people are able to get what they need faster and more efficiently. A common gravity flow application is to mount shelves of flow storage on pallet rack so you can mix & match gravity flow and bulk pallet storage in the same structure for both existing and new rack systems.

Whether you’re adding flow storage to an existing rack system or building it from new, this guide should help you get started.

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How can you turn part of your rack into a different type of storage? What kinds of safety equipment can you install to prevent damage, maintain flue space or eliminate falling items? Let’s take a look at some options.

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Food distribution warehouses face unique material handling challenges, due to both their function and regulatory compliance. Whether you’re operating a dry goods, chilled, refrigerated or frozen operation, the standards of sanitation, health compliance and storage efficiency are similar. What can you do to ensure optimized storage and material flow?

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With 2019 rounding to a close, we at Cisco-Eagle wanted to pretend to be the Pitchfork of the material handling industry and highlight five of the blog posts we’ve produced that we feel are the best. Our staff discussed, argued and analyzed every one (ok, maybe it was just me and maybe I just took some quick glances), and below we present the winners of the 37th annual Top 5 Blog Posts.

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When you want to organize and optimize warehouse space, pallet racks are one of the best places to start, since racks occupy a large percentage of space in most warehouses. Good layouts let you optimize your facility, pick faster and store more. You can produce more, faster and safer.

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Pallet rack is the most common storage equipment you will find in most warehouses and industrial storage applications. On its face, rack is simple to specify, purchase and install, but there are situations where you should consult an expert involving space efficiency, seismic zones, safety, difficult loads and other situations. Let’s look into some situations where professional help is necessary.

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The only constant is change in today’s global economy. Many companies and operations are waiting with bated breath to see which way the prevailing tariff winds will blow. Warehouses are especially on edge about all of this, considering how international supply chains and manufacturing has become. One area of concern coming up is that of pallet racks. In the past, a facility could take the chance on a lower-cost imported with the understanding that although the quality isn’t the same, costs may be lower. Now, with tariffs looming, what should you look for in thinking of replacing foreign rack?

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HVLS fans are an ideal way to make warehouses and other industrial facilities more comfortable and reduce the cost of air conditioning, but they usually can’t be installed above pallet racks, which dominate the floor spaces of most warehouses.

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Buying standard storage racks for quick-shipment from a manufacturer used to be the norm. You relied on stocked inventory, but this is occurring less and less as racking becomes more specialized and regulations stricter. Today’s storage rack systems are generally considered a building-like element, and as such must meet a slew of regulations.  While these emerging ordinances are continuing to evolve, they can generate considerable headaches for even the most seasoned warehouse manager.  You should seek expert guidance from a qualified design professional whenever the racking, foundation, or warehouse infrastructure must accommodate unusual stress, loading, function, or other non-standard factors.

To help you stay up to date with changing requirements and regulation, we discuss how partnering with an expert can help to ensure durable, cost-effective, compliant storage rack with Arlin Keck, an engineer at Steel King Industries, a designer and manufacturer of warehouse storage racks, pallet racks and material handling/safety products since 1970.

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Pushback rack systems provide a unique way to gain more space in a crowded warehouse. They store pallet loads on both sides of an aisle at higher cubic densities, approximately 25% to 65% greater than selective racking. What that means is loads can be stored and retrieved from the same aisle, reducing the number of aisles needed. Freed space, that’s the name of the game with pushback rack.

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