We recently wrote about the pallet racks you’ll want to use if you want the densest storage capacity in your warehouse. While dense storage is good, it’s not right for every warehouse and should only be used when it can actually benefit your operation. To find the right pallet racking, you need to take into consideration a number of factors such as what you are storing and how often you need to access it. For most warehouses, the answer to their storage needs is the standard selective pallet rack. This is the most common storage solution in warehouses in Illinois as well as the rest of the world. These pallet racks are great for warehouses that handle a high number of SKUs and need nearly constant access to all of their inventory, most likely to fulfill orders rapidly. But that’s not the only kind of warehouse that exists, and a lot of warehouses store inventory that they don’t need access to 100% of the time. If that’s the case for your facility, then you might want to consider installing double deep pallet racks.

Discover the Advantages of Double Deep Pallet Racks

What are double deep pallet racks?

Double deep pallet racks place two pallet racks together. This increases your storage capacity by eliminating an aisle space, giving you more storage density in the same square footage. It’s an easy way to increase your storage capacity without the expense of expanding your facility; most warehouses can move to a double deep pallet racking system by simply rearranging their facility, doubling up pallet racks, and ordering a few pieces of additional racking. Double deep pallet racks can be built in virtually any size to meet almost any storage demands, so a facility can get the customized storage that they need. Plus, as your inventory changes, it’s easy to convert your double-deep pallet racks back to single-row pallet racks, giving you some flexibility when it comes to your storage needs.

How do they work in a warehouse?

The idea behind double deep pallet racks is that you’ll be able to store seldom-needed items at the back of the rack with high-demand items in the front. When your pickers need to access the items in the back, they’ll be able to access them by moving the front product out of the way (most likely with a pallet jack or forklift) and getting the items out of the back. This is also a useful way to manage duplicate inventory without taking up too much of your storage space. Keep in mind that when you use double deep pallet racks, you’ll only have access to about 50% of your inventory at any given time because have of it is stored behind the other half. That’s why this system is ideal for warehouses that have a large amount of inventory that they don’t need to access all of the time.

Use Double Deep Racking With Your Current Racking System

You can use the double deep racking method with a number of pallet racking systems. Make your drive-thru pallet racks double deep or eliminate aisles by making your selective pallet racking double deep. You’ll be able to increase the density of your storage and keep seldom-needed items out of the way. Just make sure it’s the method that’s going to work for your warehouse; if you need constant access to all of your inventory, moving to a double deep system could actually slow down your productivity because your team will need to move items out of the way more often. It may be ideal to add to an aisle or two of your warehouse, though, especially when you need to store a large number of items long term.

The Pros and Cons

Pros

  • It can increase your pallet storage capacity by 10% or more
  • Makes 50% of your SKUs easily available for pick and pack
  • Uses more of your floor space for efficient storage instead of aisle space
  • You can convert between single row and double deep as needed

Cons

  • 50% of your inventory will be harder to access
  • You may need specialized equipment to reach pallets that are further back
  • Can slow productivity when you need to access back pallets
  • It can be difficult to see pallets in the back

Looking For the Ultimate Warehouse Storage Solutions?

We have them. There is an infinite number of ways that you can set up your warehouse, but our warehouse design experts and warehouse consultants can help you find the setup that’s optimized to the needs of your warehouse operation. Our team can help you find the right configuration of equipment to improve warehouse productivity and lower your costs. Get in touch with us today to purchase your double deep, selective pallet racks or other warehouse equipment. Call us at 800-851-4995 or use the form on our website and one of our project managers will be in touch with you right away!