What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (often called pushback rack) is a high density pallet storage scheme that allows pallets to be stored from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets ride on nested shuttles that are forced up a gentle gradient as units are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the rack.

When products are later removed, the pallet abutting the first position pallet slips back down the incline to the nearest position.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Push back racking is excellent for certain applications, but is not a fit for every warehouse. There are several favorable and possibly unfavorable aspects to investigate.

Higher Density Storage

Because push back pallet racks can store anywhere from 2-6 pallets in any particular position, they can eliminate somewhere from 1-5 aisles, which can be a significant amount of warehouse real estate.

Less Forklift Travel

When aisle numbers are reduced, forklifts don’t have to rack up as many hours, saving time and equipment wear. Diminished forklift traffic also improves safety by a significant factor inside the warehouse. Fewer trips is an easy way to guarantee a lower number of accidents.

Greater Selectivity

Push back rack offers an ideal blend of product selectivity and storage density. In contrast to drive-in rack, where entire storage bays are usually one SKU, push back features straightforward access to a much greater number of pallet positions from the aisle.

LIFO Configuration

In contrast to pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) type of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) style of storage. This means that it’s not generally suitable for items with an expiration date, because products that are stored first will often sit for long stretches of time as products are loaded and removed from the aisle.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

A pushback rack system includes a set of rails declining in the direction of the rack face and a collection of interlinked shuttles which move on these tracks.

The first pallet is added on the uppermost cart by a lift truck. When another pallet is added, the lift truck operator forces the first pallet back and sets the second pallet on the adjacent cart. The last pallet placed in the lane is seated on the rails.

In the unloading process, carts of products slide down the incline. An operator can remove each pallet in turn until the lane is exhausted, or introduce new pallets, refilling the lane.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

If you’re in the market for a push back racking system, call a warehouse storage professional at Raymond West now. Raymond’s system design professionals can help you find a solution that is ideal for your application.

Raymond West's Calexico facility serves Imperial County and Yuma County, Including Calexico, Brawley, El Centro, San Luis, Yuma and surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Calexico Material Handling Equipment Supplier

285 Rood Rd
Calexico, CA 92231
(760) 768-8700