Definition
A warehouse racking system with horizontal arms extending from vertical columns, designed for storing long, bulky, or irregularly shaped items. Cantilever racks are used in the pallet and lumber industry to store raw lumber, finished pallet components, and other long materials that do not fit well on standard pallet racking. The open-front design allows easy loading and unloading with forklifts.
Related Terms
Racking
The practice of storing loaded pallets on elevated warehouse racking systems (pallet racks). Racking places unique demands on pallet strength because the pallet spans across the rack beams with its load weight concentrated on the supported edges rather than distributed across a flat floor. A pallet's racking capacity is typically its most demanding load rating, and not all pallets are suitable for racking. Rackable pallets must be specifically designed and rated for this application.
Selective Rack
The most common type of pallet racking, providing direct access to every pallet position from the aisle. Selective racks consist of upright frames connected by horizontal beams, with each beam level holding one pallet deep. While selective racking has lower storage density than deep-lane systems, it offers maximum flexibility and first-in-first-out (FIFO) access to all pallets. It is the default racking choice for operations with diverse product SKUs.
Drive-In Rack
A high-density warehouse racking system where forklifts drive directly into the rack structure to place or retrieve pallets on rails along both sides. Drive-in racks maximize storage density by eliminating aisles between rows, making them ideal for large quantities of identical products. Pallets used in drive-in racks must have precise dimensions and strong bottom decks, as the rails support the pallet by its bottom deck boards rather than its stringers.
Warehouse Management System
Software that controls and optimizes warehouse operations including receiving, putaway, picking, packing, and shipping of palletized goods. A WMS tracks pallet locations, manages inventory at the pallet level, and directs material handling equipment. Pallet standards (dimensions, labeling, barcode/RFID) must align with WMS requirements for accurate tracking. Modern WMS platforms integrate with automated handling systems, conveyor sortation, and transportation management systems.
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