Let’s say that there are two companies, A and B, that have decided to invest in some new pallet racking for their warehouse facilities. Company A decides to use structural steel, while Company B goes for the roll-formed pallet rack. Which option is the best one?
Management typically decides which one will be better – the rolled steel or structural steel pallet racks. Both appear to be excellent choices, which is why growth, usage, and conditions should be addressed rather than the type of pallet racks being used. You should also consider the types of items you currently have stored in your warehouse. How much do they weigh? Are the items small or large? Are they bulky? Are they light?
Both of these pallet racks, when used correctly, serve an important purpose and will be a wise investment that will pay for themselves over time. What you really need to determine is which type is better for your facility based on your inventory.
Structural Steel Pallet Rack
Structural steel pallet rack uses heavy-gauge steel and welded connections to offer added upright frame and beam strength that can hold between 6 tons and 25 tons. The more weight a rack can hold, the less likely it will be for the rack to give way. You want the racks to be as sturdy as possible to avoid injuries to other warehouse workers as well as prevent damage to your items.
Heavy structural steel also prevents severe damage, especially on footplates and corners, to help keep the racks upright. An occasional light bump or two from a forklift shouldn’t affect the rack’s overall structural integrity.
Say that your company decides it needs racks for outdoor use. Maybe the products require storage that is free from contaminants. Structural steel racks contain an open c-channel that doesn’t trap foreign materials easily, which makes them effortless to wash down. All sections of the racks also can easily have a galvanized coating to withstand harsh weather and rust which makes them the best solution for outdoor use.
Roll-Formed Steel Pallet Rack
Similarly, roll-formed steel pallet rack can be useful for numerous reasons. This type of pallet rack is constructed from continuous bent steel on a coiled roll that is thinner than structural steel and can hold light to medium-weight items. Bear in mind that these types of racks may not be appropriate to use with extremely heavy items.
There are different varieties of roll-formed steel pallet racks to choose from. Fully-enclosed and open-back tubular racks are the most common. They can become damaged more easily, which is not as much of an issue for structural steel racks due to the amount of steel used and the design. However, the fully-enclosed roll-formed, tubular design offers better impact resistance.
With roll-formed steel pallet racks, cost, weight, and flexibility are important factors to take into account. They take less time to set up than structural steel racks because of the connecting system. Using a rubber mallet, the teardrop connections are used to snap beams quickly in place as well as set the safety clips, while structural steel racks require bolts to connect the beams and frames together which can take longer to set up and dismantle. Roll-formed steel racks also offer the flexibility to make changes depending on the different types and sizes of products you have.
Additionally, the racks weigh significantly less to allow for enhanced flexibility in moving them from one spot to another. If a company decides to relocate their business to a new warehouse facility, roll-formed racks can easily be dismantled and shipped to a new location for less money than heavier steel structural racks.
Cost-wise, roll-formed steel pallet racks are less expensive than structural steel. If the items you have don’t weigh a whole lot, this choice would be a better option. You don’t need structural steel pallet racks to store light items.
| Structural Steel | Roll-Formed Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight capacity | 6–25 tons | Light to medium |
| Assembly | Bolted connections | Teardrop/clip connections, which are faster to assemble |
| Best for | Heavy loads, outdoor use, and washdown environments | Cost-sensitive layouts, frequent reconfiguration, and lighter loads |
| Damage resistance | High - resists forklift impact | Lower, though fully enclosed tubular design improves resistance |
| Relative cost | Higher | Lower |
| Relocation | Heavier and costlier to move | Lighter and cheaper to disassemble or ship |
Determining the best pallet rack system for your application can be quite daunting. Both roll-formed and structural steel pallet racks have a lot to offer if they are properly used. A qualified pallet rack professional like Stein Service & Supply can help you answer any questions you might have about these two different types of pallet rack.
