If you aren’t using pallets to hold your loads, or you are using alternatives like wire containers or unconventional pallets, there are different rules to storing your inventory. Two important pallet racking accessories you should know about are fork clearance bars and skid channels. These parts will make placing the items on your pallet rack beams safer and easier.
We will start with fork clearance bars. These are used in situations where you are storing non-palletized inventory with a flat bottom on your pallet rack. Since there aren’t any pallets and the inventory is flush with the beams, forklifts aren’t able to get underneath to pick up the load. The fork clearance bars lift the flat stock up a few inches off the beam to create separation which allows the forks to pick the inventory up. You need to know the size of the forks on your forklifts to determine how high the clearance bars should be. It creates easier, faster picking with higher efficiency for non-palletized loads. You would use two fork clearance bars per load, and they can be permanently attached or just used temporarily.
Next, skid channels. Skid channels are used in pairs between beams to provide guidance for pallets/containers with feet. They consist of an upside down channel that keeps the feet of the container inside the channel and off the beams. Wire decking and beams are not designed to support point loads, which is when an entire load is coming down on a “point”; in this case, the legs or feet of the object. If you try to place these certain types of pallets or containers on the beams or decking, they could cause the system to fail. Skid channels are also used in pairs to support the load.
So, for non-palletized inventory or items stored on pallets or containers with legs or feet, fork clearance bars and skid channels are your friend. These pallet racking accessories will make your warehouse safer and much more efficient. We can help you out if you aren’t storing your stock on standard pallets. Contact us for solutions.
