What Is Push Back Racking?

Push back racking (often known as pushback rack) is an extremely efficient pallet storage system that configures pallet lanes from 2 to 6 units deep. Pallets sit on linked shuttles that are forced up a modest incline as units are added, or “pushed back” from the face of the rack.

When pallets are eventually removed, the pallet adjacent to the first position pallet glides back down the slope to the nearest position.

Push Back Rack Advantages And Disadvantages

Pushback racking is excellent for many applications, but is not a fit for some storage requirements. Here are some of the favorable and possibly unfavorable aspects to take into consideration.

Higher Density Storage

Given that push back pallet racks can accommodate anywhere from 2-6 pallets in any given position, they can eliminate between 1-5 aisles, which represents an enormous chunk of warehouse real estate.

Less Forklift Travel

With a reduction in aisle number, lift trucks don’t have to rack up as many hours, reducing equipment wear and increasing efficiency. Diminished lift truck traffic also makes a safer environment inside the warehouse. Reduced forklift traffic is an easy way to guarantee fewer safety infractions.

Greater Selectivity

Pushback rack provides an excellent mixture of product selectivity and storage density. In contrast to drive-in rack, where entire rack bays are typically a single SKU, push back provides direct access to a larger selection of pallet slots from the aisle.

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. LIFO systems are not ideal for products that can expire or spoil, because items that are loaded early may sit for long periods of time as goods are added and removed from the aisle.

How Does Push Back Racking Work?

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

An initial pallet is added on the highest cart by a lift truck. When a new pallet is added, the forklift driver pushes the original pallet back and sets the second pallet on the second cart. The very last pallet positioned in the lane sits on the rails.

As goods are retrieved, carts of products slide down the tracks. Lift truck drivers pull each pallet in succession until the lane is clear, or add 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 racking expert at Raymond West today. Raymond’s system design engineers can help you find a solution that is ideal for your application.

Raymond West's Fresno facility serves much of the Central Valley, including Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia, Tulare, Lindsay, Hanford, Lemoore, Los Banos, Santa Nella, Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Kettleman City, Coalinga, Avenal, Mendota, Kerman, San Joaquin, and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Fresno Material Handling Equipment Supplier

2935 S Elm Ave #101
Fresno, CA 93706
(559) 264-7500