What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (also referred to pushback rack) is a high density pallet storage system that configures pallet lanes from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets sit on nested shuttles that are forced up a modest gradient as pallets are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the racking system.

When products are eventually removed, the pallet adjacent to the first position pallet slides back down the slope to the facing position.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Push back rack is ideal for certain operations, but isn’t suitable for all warehouses. There are several favorable and possibly unfavorable aspects to take into consideration.

Higher Density Storage

Because push back pallet racks can hold between 2-6 pallets in any particular lane, they can reclaim between 1-5 aisles, which represents a significant chunk of warehouse square footage.

Less Forklift Travel

With a reduction in aisle number, lift trucks don’t have to travel as far, saving time and equipment wear. Lower forklift traffic also improves safety by a significant factor within the warehouse. Fewer trips is an easy way to guarantee a lower number of safety infractions.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack gives warehouse managers a nearly perfect mixture of selectivity and storage efficiency. Unlike drive-in rack, where full storage bays are usually one SKU, push back features direct access to a larger selection of pallet slots from the rack front.

LIFO Configuration

Unlike pallet flow rack, which is a First In First Out (FIFO) style of system, push back rack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) style of approach. Last In First Out is not ideal for items that can expire or spoil, because items that are loaded first will often sit for quite a long period of time as inventory is added and removed from the aisle.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

Push back rack configurations include a couple of rails declining toward the aisle and a set of interlinked carts which ride on these rails.

An initial pallet is added on the highest cart by a forklift. When another pallet is loaded, the forklift operator nudges the first pallet back and positions the next pallet on the next cart. The last pallet placed in the lane sits on the rails.

As push back rack is unloaded, shuttles of products slide down the tracks. Lift truck drivers remove each pallet in turn until the lane is exhausted, or supplement additional pallets, filling the lane back up.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

For more information on push back racking options, contact a material handling expert at Raymond West today. Our storage design experts can help you find a solution that is perfect for your operation.

Raymond West's Phoenix facility serves the entire Phoenix Metro area, including Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Goodyear, Tolleson, Peoria and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Phoenix Material Handling Equipment Supplier

2659 E Magnolia St
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 275-2228