Pallet rack is available in both structural and roll-formed steel. Watch this tutorial to learn the differences of each including how they are constructed and ideal uses (2-minutes, 47-seconds).
Welcome to this edition of Total Warehouse Tutorials. This week we will be discussing the differences between structural and roll formed rack.
As you may know, pallet rack is available in both structural and roll-formed steel. But what does this mean and how do you know which is best for your operation? In this tutorial you’ll learn the differences of each including how they are constructed and ideal uses.
The main difference between these two is how they are made: structural steel is formed while still hot, whereas roll-formed steel is formed after it’s cooled. The outcome of these processes is two different types of rack with different ideal uses and benefits.
As mentioned, structural steel is hot rolled, it’s components are then welded together. This process gives it unique attributes that allow it to hold very heavy loads. This strength also allows it to better withstand forklift impact and harsh environments such as outdoor storage and freezer storage.
Structural steel racking is formed with an open back and is therefore easy to keep debris-free. This makes structural steel rack ideal for food storage applications.
In structural style racking beams are bolted to the uprights. This beams-to-frame connection contributes to the overall high capacity capability of structural rack systems.
Structural steel rack can be designed as a selective system, a flow system, a push back system, a cantilever system, and drive-in and drive-though systems.
Roll formed steel rack is cooled and coiled while flat then sent through a roll forming machine that shapes it into various components. This cold roll process can produce many different shapes, making it ideal for various engineered solutions such as catwalk systems.
Roll formed rack is a less expensive option than structural and is ideal for most standard warehouse storage applications. Roll formed rack is highly adaptable and allows for easy adjustability, reconfiguration, and relocation.
Roll formed rack is most commonly manufactured as teardrop style, as seen here. Roll Formed beams are completely closed and uprights are formed as a “C” channel, which is only slightly open in the back.
Beams are attached to uprights by inserting their corresponding teardrop shaped connectors into the upright teardrop shaped holes and secured with safety locks.
Like structural, roll formed rack can be designed as a selective system, a flow system, a push back system, a cantilever system, and drive-in and drive-though systems.
That’s all for this edition of Total Warehouse Tutorials. I hope you join us for our next edition on selective pallet rack.
Pallet rack is available as both structural steel rack and roll formed steel rack. The main difference between these two is how they are made: structural steel is formed while still hot, whereas roll-formed steel is formed while cold. The outcome of these processes is two different types of rack with different ideal uses and benefits.
Structural steel rack is hot rolled, it’s components are then welded together. This process gives it unique attributes that allow it to hold very heavy loads. This strength also allows it to better withstand forklift impact and harsh environments such as outdoor storage and freezer storage.
Structural steel racking is formed with an open back and is therefore easy to keep debris-free. This makes structural steel rack ideal for food storage applications.
Structural rack beams are bolted to the uprights. This bolted beam-to-frame connection contributes to the overall high capacity capability of structural rack systems.
Roll formed steel rack is cooled and coiled while flat then sent through a roll forming machine that shapes it into various components. The steel is then sent through a machine that ‘rolls’ it into shape. This cold-roll process can produce many different shapes, making it ideal for various engineered solutions such as catwalk systems.
However, roll formed rack is a less expensive option that is ideal for most standard warehouse storage applications. The high adaptability of this type of rack allows for easy adjustability, relocation, and reconfiguration.
Roll formed rack is most commonly manufactured as teardrop style. Beams are attached to uprights by inserting their corresponding teardrop-shaped connectors into the upright teardrop-shaped holes and secured with safety locks.
REB is highly knowledgeable and experienced in designing and installing structural rack and roll formed rack systems. As a systems integrator, we’ll work with you to provide a turnkey system. From design, products procurement, subcontractor management, install, and permitting support, REB handles it all for you.
REB has a talented team of in-house project managers and project designers, all highly experienced in the material handling industry. We’ll work with you to make sure that your system is the best fit for your operation, installed and completed on-time and within budget.
We’d appreciate the opportunity to help you further, whether that be more information or a quote. Fill out the contact form on this page or call (800) 252-5955 to get in touch with a REB representative.
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At REB Storage Systems International, we look at each project as unique. While many have similarities for which we are able to leverage our experience and knowledge, each client has unique needs that must be met.
REB has the flexibility to integrate products from multiple manufacturers based on the requirements of your rack system including pricing and lead time. This combined with in-house system design, planning, and permitting support expertise allows us to provide you with your specific storage solution.
A pallet rack system’s basic function is to help warehouse operators to improve the storage density of their facilities by storing pallets vertically to make use of the vertical space in the warehouse efficiently. Pallet racks can be configured in a wide variety of ways to meet customer’s needs ranging from low density, high selectivity selective systems to high-density pushback, drive in and pallet flow systems.
There are two major core construction materials used to construct pallet rack systems, roll form steel and structural steel.
Roll Form Construction:
Roll form rack is built by taking a coil of light gauge steel (typically 12-16 gauge), run it through a series of roll forming dies that progressively bend the steel to create the final shape, typically a “C” or tube shape. When properly designed, roll form rack systems can support virtually all pallet weights (3,000 lb. pallets are common). The downside to roll form rack is that, due to the thin profile of the steel used to create the members, it is easily damaged.
Roll form rack is the most common type of rack and is used in a wide variety of applications ranging from retail to distribution.
Structural Construction:
Structural Rack is built out of Hot Rolled channel and angle sections that are much thicker and more resistant to damage than equivalent roll form shapes. While slightly more expensive than equivalent roll form systems, end users make the investment for high velocity facilities where history has proven that the rack is much more durable and long lasting.
Structural rack is widely used in the Grocery, Cold Storage, Food and Consumer products segments.
Both methods of construction can be used with virtually any rack configuration, the key driver for selecting one over the other is typically when customers have a higher velocity facility and have found the added investment in structural rack is offset by the increased durability and lifespan.
See the difference here.