What is Logistics Warehouse Racking?
Logistics warehouse racking is an essential requirement for numerous enterprises operating in this sector. Logistics warehouse racking systems not only store merchandise and support inbound/outbound operations but also help enterprises reduce transportation costs. Among numerous current racking models, which type should logistics warehouses use? Explore detailed information with Vinatech Group.
Logistics warehouses preserve and store products, finished goods, and raw materials during production processes. They aim to supply customers immediately upon demand. Therefore, logistics warehouses are indispensable components in supply chains.
Without logistics warehouses, enterprises may face numerous merchandise-related issues. Before understanding which racking type logistics warehouses should use, we must recognize how warehouse importance impacts storage issues and ensures merchandise safety.
Logistics Warehouse Racking Role
Below are indispensable roles of logistics warehouse racking in supply chains:
- Enterprise Proactivity: Enables stability across multiple aspects—stable inventory sources, flexibility with available warehouse merchandise, customer supply whenever needed.
- Rapid Delivery: Ensures merchandise reaches consumers quickly and timely, creating competitive advantages versus other enterprises.
- Proper Preservation: Maintains merchandise properly, delivering best quality to users, ensuring sustainable enterprise reputation.
- Cost Savings: Helps enterprises save transportation costs, production costs, input costs, and incidental expenses while enhancing production efficiency.
- Circulation Efficiency: Saves merchandise circulation costs, manages merchandise loss issues effectively, conserves warehouse facility resources.
Suitable Racking Models for Logistics Warehouses
Warehouse racking systems in logistics facilities play pivotal roles, directly impacting operational efficiency and warehouse merchandise optimization. Depending on storage requirements and merchandise categories, enterprises may select appropriate racking types.
For logistics warehouses, enterprises can select among three following industrial warehouse racking types:
Selective Racking
Selective racking is the most commonly installed model in current warehouses due to flexible design and diverse storage capability with load capacity up to 3,000kg/level. Additionally, they support rapid, safe inbound/outbound processes.
Selective racking works with most forklift types, achieving up to 100% pallet accessibility with wide, ventilated aisles enabling quick inbound/outbound processes. Maximum racking height reaches 13m, ensuring maximum warehouse height utilization.
Double Deep Racking
Double Deep racking comprises systems constructed from two back-to-back Selective rack rows, creating 4-rack rows saving aisle space while optimizing warehouse area. This racking type suits logistics warehouses with large load capacity, accommodating frequent merchandise on single rack levels while maintaining flexibility.
With heavy-duty Double Deep racking, merchandise accessibility reaches 50%, reducing inbound/outbound time and limiting pallet damage. Racking features flexible structure, easy modification, and tier spacing adjustment matching pallet height.
Drive-In Racking
For logistics warehouses seeking appropriate racking types, the answer is Drive-In systems. This heavy-duty racking type features uniform pallet dimensions and quantities. With high storage density, this model eliminates most aisles through tight placement, saving up to 90% warehouse space.
Drive-In racking operates via LIFO method (last in, first out). Racking features sturdy construction with bolt assembly enabling convenient relocation, installation, and tier spacing modification matching usage requirements.
VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) Racking
VNA racking sees minimal logistics warehouse usage, primarily in certain high-ceiling facilities. By maximizing warehouse height while minimizing aisle width, this racking type’s merchandise capacity exceeds Selective by over 40%.
Despite possessing nearly all Selective racking advantages, VNA rarely sees usage. One reason: racking requires specialized forklifts. Meanwhile, forklift pricing creates significant investment cost pressure. Additionally, narrowed aisles considerably impact inbound/outbound speeds. When selecting this logistics warehouse racking type, exercise caution calculating capital sources and circulation capacity.
Medium-Duty Racking
For logistics companies handling small merchandise requiring manual packaging and loading before customer shipment or export, storage on racking systems becomes necessary.
Medium-duty racking stores merchandise with load capacity under 500kg. Suitable for e-commerce warehouses with medium and small-weight merchandise. This arrangement maintains warehouse orderliness, enabling easy shipping control.
Logistics Warehouse Storage Methods with Pallet Systems
Currently, three common pallet types exist in transportation warehouses: steel pallets, plastic pallets, and wooden pallets. Some warehouses combine multiple different pallet types.
- Wooden Pallets: Wooden pallets have the lowest pricing among pallet types. However, usage has many limitations: low load capacity, only accommodating medium and light-weight merchandise. Pallets easily affected by temperature or high humidity.
- Plastic Pallets: High load capacity and low pricing constitute this pallet’s outstanding advantages. Plastic pallets also suit outdoor product storage. However, long-term, they become brittle and deteriorate from sun and rain exposure.
- Steel Pallets: Steel pallets (metal pallets) possess numerous outstanding advantages—rigid steel materials with large load capacity. Pallets achieve antibacterial properties, good outdoor environment resistance. Suitable for both warehouse usage and outdoor work when needed. Selecting these pallets contributes to more convenient logistics warehouse operation consolidation. High durability with extended usage time reduces long-term operating costs.
Supporting Equipment for Logistics Warehouse Racking
Beyond selecting appropriate storage pallets, auxiliary equipment helps warehouses operate quickly and more optimally. These equipment types include:
Hand Trucks
Hand trucks see selection by numerous enterprises. Because forklift investment quantities are limited, we cannot completely handle or transport products in/out of warehouses using forklifts. Additionally, in warehouse arrangement and management, numerous loading and transportation activities occur outside where forklifts cannot reach.
Forklifts
Forklifts are indispensable auxiliary equipment in any logistics warehouse, assuming roles transporting merchandise in/out of storage systems. Depending on racking structure, select appropriate forklift types. Example: Drive-In racking requires long-reach forklifts retrieving deep interior merchandise, while VNA must use vehicles moving well in narrow spaces with high reach.
Merchandise load also greatly impacts forklift selection decisions. Electric forklifts meet nearly all enterprise requirements alongside simple operation and maintenance. For extremely heavy products, diesel forklifts become mandatory.
Mobile Ladders
Mobile ladders are tools supporting movement up/down logistics warehouse racking levels. Although merchandise loading operations occur mostly via forklifts, each logistics warehouse should separately equip ladder vehicles for lower level usage.
Smart Storage Solutions in Logistics Warehouses
Smart warehouse models currently represent logistics warehouse storage solutions many enterprises implement. This model integrates automated AS/RS racking systems (Automated Storage and Retrieval System)—automated merchandise storage and retrieval systems comprising multiple combined components: racking frame systems, automatic retrieval operation robots, and remote control components.
AS/RS racking systems typically serve warehouses with large storage volumes requiring rapid, continuous, safe inbound/outbound operations. Moreover, these racking systems provide optimal inbound/outbound production lines for logistics enterprises, cutting labor costs and operating time.
With height optimization capability and complete warehouse space utilization, racking systems fully automate with remote control devices or AI-operated equipment, thereby ensuring merchandise and operating personnel safety.
Automated AS/RS Inbound/Outbound System Types:
- Semi-automated warehouse racking combined with Autosat robots
- Fully automated warehouse racking with Supercap robots
- Auto Mover: Automated warehouse pallet inbound/outbound robots
- Stacker Crane: Automated crane systems for pallets up to 3,000kg
- Miniload Racking: Automated systems retrieving small and medium-sized warehouse merchandise
- AGV self-propelled vehicle systems transporting merchandise on warehouse slide rails
Currently, Vinatech Group represents one of the units implementing smart warehouse models optimizing logistics warehouse merchandise storage.
With 14 years of experience manufacturing and setting up logistics warehouse projects, Vinatech Group delivers capabilities combining all three racking lines creating professional logistics warehouse systems increasing merchandise storage capacity, providing flexibility in merchandise inbound/outbound processes while enhancing warehouse operational efficiency and productivity.
Vinatech Group – Vietnam’s leading warehouse racking and smart storage solution provider
Hotline: +84 86 758 9999
Email: info@vinatechgroup.vn
Website: vinatechgroup.vn
Offices:
- Hanoi: 15F TTC Building, 19 Duy Tan St., Dich Vong, Cau Giay
- Da Nang: 219-223 Pham Hung St., Hoa Xuan, Cam Le
- Ho Chi Minh City: C2-7 N7 Road, Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, Cu Chi
