What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (sometimes called pushback rack) is an extremely efficient pallet storage approach that allows pallets to be stored from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets rest on linked carts that are pushed up a gentle incline as units are loaded, or “pushed back” from the face of the racking system.

When goods are subsequently unloaded, the pallet immediately behind the foremost pallet glides back down the incline to the front slot.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Pushback rack is perfect for some operations, but isn’t a fit for some storage requirements. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to take into consideration.

Higher Density Storage

Since push back pallet racks can accommodate between 2-6 pallets in any particular position, they can eliminate somewhere from 1-5 aisles, which can be an enormous chunk of warehouse space.

Less Forklift Travel

By eliminating aisles, forklifts don’t have to rack up as many hours, reducing equipment wear and increasing efficiency. Reduced forklift movement also makes a safer environment inside the warehouse. Fewer trips is an easy way to guarantee a lower number of accidents.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack gives warehouse managers a nearly perfect mixture of storage density and selectivity. Unlike drive-in rack, where entire storage bays are generally only one SKU, push back provides instant access to a much greater number of pallet slots from the aisle.

LIFO Configuration

Unlike pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) variety of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) type of approach. This means that it’s not ideal for goods that are perishable, because items that are stored first can sit for quite a long period of time as inventory is loaded and depleted from the rack face.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

Push back rack configurations include a pair of rails declining in the direction of the rack face and a set of nested carts which travel on these tracks.

An initial pallet is loaded on the highest cart by a lift truck. When a new pallet is added, the lift truck driver pushes the original pallet back and positions the next pallet on the adjacent cart. The final pallet loaded in the lane is seated on the rails.

As goods are retrieved, shuttles loaded with pallets glide down the tracks. Workers pull each pallet sequentially until the lane is empty, or supplement additional pallets, filling the lane back up.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

If you’re in the market for a push back racking system, call a material handling professional at Raymond West now. Our system design experts can help you find a solution that is ideal for your operation.

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