What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (also referred to pushback rack) is an extremely efficient pallet storage scheme that allows pallets to be stored anywhere from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets rest on linked carts that are forced up a gentle slope as units are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the rack.

When products are subsequently removed, the pallet adjacent to the foremost pallet slips back down the gradient to the nearest position.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Pushback racking is ideal for many applications, but is not a fit for every warehouse. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to consider.

Higher Density Storage

Because push back pallet racks can accommodate anywhere from 2-6 pallets in any particular lane, they can reclaim somewhere from 1-5 aisles, which represents an enormous chunk of warehouse square footage.

Less Forklift Travel

When aisle numbers are reduced, forklifts don’t have to make as many trips, reducing equipment wear and increasing efficiency. Reduced lift truck traffic also greatly increases safety inside the warehouse. Less travel directly correlates to fewer collisions.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack gives warehouse managers an ideal mixture of storage density and selectivity. In contrast to drive-in rack, where entire bays are generally only one SKU, push back offers direct access to a larger selection of pallet slots from the face.

LIFO Configuration

Dissimilar to pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) style of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) type of approach. LIFO systems are not a good option for items that are perishable, because goods that are loaded first can sit for quite a long period of time as inventory is added and depleted from the rack face.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

Push back rack configurations include a set of tracks declining in the direction of the rack face and a collection of interlinked shuttles which move on these rails.

The first pallet is placed on the highest cart by a forklift. When another pallet is positioned, the lift truck driver forces the original pallet back and sets the second pallet on the next cart. The last pallet positioned in the lane rests on the tracks.

As goods are retrieved, shuttles of unit loads advance down the incline. Lift truck drivers pull each pallet sequentially until the lane is empty, or add pallets, filling the lane back up.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

For more information on push back racking options, get in touch with a racking expert at Raymond West today. Our system design professionals can help you develop a solution that is perfect for your operation.

Raymond West's Nogales facility serves Santa Cruz County and Pima County, including Nogales, Patagonia, Tucson, South Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and surrounding areas

Raymond West | Nogales Material Handling Equipment Supplier

480 N Mariposa Rd C
Nogales, AZ 85621
(520) 281-4125