What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (sometimes called pushback rack) is an extremely efficient pallet storage scheme that configures pallet lanes anywhere from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets rest on linked carts that travel up a modest slope as units are loaded, or “pushed back” from the front of the racking system.

When pallets are eventually unloaded, the pallet abutting the foremost pallet slips back down the gradient to the front position.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Push back racking is ideal for certain applications, but isn’t a fit for every warehouse. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to investigate.

Higher Density Storage

Because push back pallet racks can store between 2-6 pallets in any particular position, they can reclaim somewhere from 1-5 aisles, which represents a sizable chunk of warehouse space.

Less Forklift Travel

By eliminating aisles, forklifts don’t have to make as many trips, saving time and equipment wear. Reduced forklift movement also improves safety by a significant factor inside the warehouse. Less travel is an easy way to guarantee fewer safety infractions.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack gives warehouse managers an ideal mixture of selectivity and storage efficiency. Unlike drive-in rack, where whole bays are usually a single SKU, pushback rack features instant access to a much greater number of pallet positions from the rack front.

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) type of storage. LIFO systems are not a good option for items that are perishable, because goods 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 racks utilize a set of tracks pitched in the direction of the aisle and a series of nested carts which ride on these rails.

The first pallet is loaded on the uppermost cart by a forklift. When a new pallet is loaded, the forklift driver nudges the primary pallet back and places the second pallet on the second cart. The final pallet positioned in the lane is seated on the tracks.

As goods are retrieved, shuttles loaded with pallets slide down the rails. Workers pull each pallet sequentially until the lane is exhausted, or supplement additional pallets, refilling the lane.

Push Back Pallet Racking For Sale

If you’re in the market for a push back racking system, contact a warehouse storage professional at Raymond West now. Our storage design professionals can help you develop a system that is ideal for your application.

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

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