What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (often called pushback rack) is a high density pallet storage approach that configures pallet lanes anywhere from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets sit on linked shuttles that are pushed up a gentle gradient as pallets are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the racking system.

When goods are eventually unloaded, the pallet abutting the foremost pallet glides back down the slope to the front slot.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Push back racking is perfect for certain applications, but isn’t suitable for all warehouses. There are several benefits and drawbacks to investigate.

Higher Density Storage

Given that push back pallet racks can hold between 2-6 pallets in any given position, they can reclaim somewhere from 1-5 aisles, which represents a sizable chunk of warehouse real estate.

Less Forklift Travel

With a reduction in aisle number, forklifts don’t have to travel as far, increasing efficiency and reducing wear and tear on equipment. Reduced lift truck movement also greatly increases safety within the warehouse. Reduced forklift traffic is an easy way to guarantee a lower number of safety infractions.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack offers a nearly perfect mixture of product selectivity and storage density. In contrast to drive-in rack, where entire rack bays are usually a single SKU, pushback rack features direct access to a larger selection of pallet slots from the face.

LIFO Configuration

In contrast 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) style of approach. Last In First Out is not a good option for products with an expiration date, because items that are stored early will often sit for quite a long period of time as products are loaded and removed at the front of the lane.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

Push back racks utilize a set of rails sloping in the direction of the aisle and a set of nested shuttles which ride on these rails.

The first pallet is placed on the highest cart by a forklift. When another pallet is positioned, the lift truck driver pushes the original pallet back and places the second pallet on the adjacent cart. The very last pallet loaded in the lane rests on the rails.

As goods are retrieved, shuttles loaded with pallets glide down the rails. Workers pull each pallet in succession until the lane is exhausted, or add pallets, refilling the lane.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

If you’re in the market for a push back racking system, get in touch with a racking expert at Raymond West today. Our storage design engineers can help you find a system that is ideal for your operation.

Raymond West's Spokane branch services Spokane, Airway Heights, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Coeur d'Alene, Medical Lake, Cheney, Pullman, Moscow, Moses Lake, Yakima, Wenatchee, Lewiston, Clarkston, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Walla Walla and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Spokane Material Handling Equipment Supplier

11002 E Montgomery Dr #100
Spokane, WA 99206
(509) 728-6000