Gravity flow racks for pallets

Gravity pallet system of our production is a principle of warehouse organization, in which the pallet is moved in the rack by the force of gravity on a roller conveyor, with an inclination of 4%.

There are two types of gravity racks: gravity racks and drive in pallet racking systems.

• In gravity racks, the pallets are moved from the feeding (loading) side to the pallet unloading side.
• In a packed gravity system, pallets are fed (loaded) and unloaded on the same side.

Gravity racks and drive in pallet racking systems are used in dynamic warehouses, which are characterized by high turnover rates and the need for efficient inventory management.

The compact arrangement of gravity channels – next to or above each other – ensures the highest warehouse capacity and optimal utilization of the building area, compared to traditional storage methods in warehouses.

The gravity flow racks for pallets we manufacture are modular. This expands the possibilities for designing pallet gravity racking to meet the needs of the customer. Our own production allows us to develop standardized solutions and implement them on time.

Easy access to pallets

Compared to traditional racking, our gravity flow racks for pallets are characterized by much more compact storage. All pallets are directly accessible, at the front of the rack. Each pallet moves forward independently. Continuous pallet feeding takes place when there are enough pallets in the rack.

Increased pallet handling speed

The pallet handling time is significantly reduced, which is essential for optimizing logistics processes.

Increased storage space

The compact storage of pallets and the absence of unnecessary aisles between racks leads to an increase in storage space of up to 60%. Thanks to high picking rates, turnover increases. And less time spent moving goods increases productivity, especially in picking and delivery processes.

In FIFO (First In, First Out) storage, goods that are loaded first are also removed first. The individual channels of each rack unit are filled with pallets on the loading side and removed from the opposite side. The discharge side is equipped with a locking mechanism to ensure that the pallets can be removed by the stacker without dynamic pressure. This prevents damage to the goods.

FIFO – First In, First Out. This storage method is traditionally referred to as a “gravity system”. Compared to the usual pallet storage, the FIFO principle has the following advantages:

• easier control of shelf life of goods, batches of products and product series;
• maximum utilization of warehouse space;
• separation of pallet loading and unloading processes;
• no energy costs due to the use of motorized handling equipment;
• accumulation and movement of pallets from the goods receiving area to the production area or storage area;
• significant reduction of technological paths and time of access to the goods;
• picking and feeding of batches of goods according to a specific order;
• automatic date and quantity control.

The LIFO principle (Last In, First Out) means that the last goods in are the first to be removed. Both pallet loading and pallet removal take place on one side of the rack. The pallets are pushed by a stacker into the channel of a gravity flow rack. This type of racking is also referred to as walk-through racks.

LIFO – Last In, First Out

LIFO stacking is characterized by the fact that pallets are loaded and unloaded on the same side. The pallet is loaded into the channel against the inclination. This is why this principle is called “Last In, First Out” – the last loaded unit is unloaded first.

This type of storage is called a “drive in pallet racking system”. The advantages of this principle compared to traditional racking are:

• Space saving due to only one access route for the stacker;
• high utilization of warehouse space;
• constant availability of a pallet on the unloading side of the rack;
• Possibility to work with a wide range of goods.

For safety reasons, we recommend equipping the stuffing channels with brake support rollers. Their number depends on the length of the channel and the weight of the pallets. This prevents uncontrolled acceleration of the pallet and its ejection from the channel. In case of overloading, the pallet does not move in the channel and only starts moving after the channel has been completely emptied.