Streamlined warehouse management depends primarily on making the most of storage space and ensuring accessibility to goods. Two widely-used approaches for accomplishing this balance are drive-in and drive-through pallet racking systems. Both systems provide distinct advantages and meet different warehouse demands, but they share a common goal of increasing storage density by reducing aisle space. Understanding the distinctions between these systems is vital for businesses aiming to improve their warehouse operations.

Drive-In Pallet Racking Systems

Drive-in storage solutions are characterized by their deep storage lanes that enable forklifts to drive directly into the rack structure to retrieve palletized goods. These systems are designed for high-density storage of homogeneous products with a low turnover rate. Drive-in racks include continuous rows of rails and uprights, with each lane holding multiple pallets situated one in front of another.

The key feature of drive-in solutions is that they have a single access point at the rack face, where forklifts enter and pick up pallets. This layout enables a last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory plan, where newly loaded goods are selected first, making drive-in racks best suited for stocking goods without expiration dates.

Drive-Through Pallet Racking Systems

Drive-through pallet racking solutions resemble drive-in systems but they have ingress and egress points on both ends of the rack instead of just one. This enables lift trucks to enter from one aisle to store or retrieve pallets and exit from the other side. In contrast to drive-in solutions, drive-through designs enable a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory plan, where the oldest goods are picked first. This makes them suitable for warehouses with rapid product turnover or for businesses that value stock rotation.

Increasing Warehouse Storage Density

Both drive-in and drive-through racking systems excel at optimizing storage density by cutting down on the need for aisle space. Typical pallet racking systems require spacious aisles for lift truck operability, but drive-in and drive-through systems can reduce the number of aisles needed in a facility. By enabling lift trucks to pick goods from inside the rack structure, these systems make more efficient use of available capacity throughout the facility.

Minimizing aisle space results in increased storage capacity within the same footprint. Warehouses can maintain a larger volume of goods without growing their physical space, making drive-in and drive-through racking systems cost-effective solutions for businesses looking to boost their storage capacity.

Choosing the Right System

When selecting between drive-in and drive-through racking options, warehouses should take into account factors such as inventory attributes, turnover rate, and inventory management demands. Drive-in racks are ideal for storing greater numbers of homogeneous goods with low turnover, while drive-through options are ideal for facilities with a greater inventory turn rate or those that value inventory rotation.

Drive In / Drive Through Rack Near Me

To find out more about your options, reach out to a warehouse equipment expert at Raymond West today.

Raymond West's Orange County service area includes Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Orange County Material Handling Equipment Supplier

Orange County, CA
(714) 790-9300