The Complete Guide to Calculate Capacity of Industrial Racking
In warehouses and other storage facilities, storage space is the paramount asset. Making the appropriate use of warehouse space will significantly improve the possibility of storing new products in the facility.
Being able to store more and more products in the warehouse won’t only save money but also smoothes the inventory system. In addition, it also allows the employees to make the process of accessing products faster and easier. Hence, the products will reach the customer sooner. But, this isn’t possible without the involvement of industrial racking as the proper warehouse arrangements or settings matter a lot for managers and business owners.
Therefore, before installing industrial rackings, a warehouse owner should take the time to evaluate how much space they have and where they can place the purchased pallet rackings.
You might be thinking – why only industrial rackings?
Generally, warehouse racking tools are counted as simple and safe solutions for improving the storage efficiency of a warehouse. In peak times, it becomes quite overwhelming for owners to manage everything in a small space. So, they plan to expand the warehouse space. It might sound like an expensive option. Therefore, owners prefer to buy pallet racks for making appropriate use of vertical space.
However, the installation of a warehouse involves several factors. And, the most considerable one is capacity. Let’s take a quick tour over it. Why is it necessary and how should you calculate it?
A Brief About Industrial Racking Capacity
While thinking about installing warehouse racking systems, you probably have to consider – how much weight you can put on racking and how to evaluate the storage capacity of storage racks. Manufacturers first determine the load limits of rackings by considering the merchandise of the structural load-bearing capacity of each rack system component. Each component presents the rack’s integrity.
Generally, evaluating warehouse storage racking capacity is a mathematical exercise more than a theoretical expedition. Manufacturers calculate the load limits and present them in the proven tables. It describes the weight limits for rack components, depending on the physical size and metallurgic composition. These professionals evaluate pallet rack load capacity through this existing information.
How to Calculate Capacity of Pallet Rackings?
Theoretically, it’s quite easy to figure out and determine rack capacity. You measure the overall weight of your combined pallet loads and size your decks, bracing, uprights, beams, and baseplates. Sizing rack components helps in reaching practicality, which further exceeds your rack system’s weight capacity. The responsibility of every rack manufacturer and supplier is to design storage devices that handle the appropriate weight for each piece. This will ensure that each rack component is compatible with its neighboring structure and doesn’t include a weak link.
Estimate Warehouse Space Utilization
Evaluating your warehouse space ensures you keep efficiency regarding space availability. Having a proper percentage of usable storage space provides a brief introduction of – how much space you require for storing industrial rackings. You might not want the exact size of storage racking, you want it to be much lower than that.
For example, if the total storage capacity of the warehouse is 2,000,000 cubic feet. To evaluate the space you’re using, you need to determine the inventory cube size of your warehouse facility. So, follow these below-mentioned steps to evaluate the inventory cube size of your warehouse:
- Estimate the traces of all your pallet racks.
- Evaluate the total vertical storage capacity.
- Multiply the actual capacity of pallet racks by the total number of racks you have.
- You’ll reach the total size of your warehouse’s storage cube.
Let’s suppose you reach the number 500,000 after doing the math and, as discussed above, your total storage space is 2,000,000. Then the total storage utilization percentage would be 25%, which is moderately good.
Calculate Your Warehouse Space Utilization
How 25% is a good utilization percentage?
Generally, having storage utilization of more than 27% or less than 22% would indicate a potential risk in the layout and design of your warehouse.
A storage cube size that is more than 27% will create a hard time for staff to move around, load, and unload items. This will end up in high labor expenses. On the other hand, a utilization percentage of less than 22% signifies that you’re wasting potential storage space due to the warehouse layout. If we again consider the same example that you have 2,000,000 cubic feet of usable storage space, it means the storage space of between 440,000 and 540,000 would be perfect.
Suppose, if we consider the middle value of this range i.e. 490,000, and also consider it as the actual storage cube size for optimal warehouse storage efficiency. In every warehouse, this number will vary. However, if your warehouse has a 490,000 storage cube size, warehouse managers will first design the facility with optimization and efficiency and evaluate the storage cube size you’re utilizing.
How to Maximize the Warehouse Storage Capacity?
Now, you’re aware of the techniques for calculating the storage capacity. However, don’t jump above and below the range of 27% and 22% respectively. Otherwise, you won’t be happy with the evaluated numbers that you actually want for potential storage space.
Hence, it’s recommended to focus on warehouse capacity optimization. Executing small changes to the layout and organization of your space increases your warehouse utilization numbers and saves both money and time.
Below are the quick tips to maximize the storage capacity of your warehouse.
Pick Appropriate Storage Solutions
There are numerous storage solutions you use available for your warehouse that make a direct impact on your storage utilization. For picking the optimal storage capacity, you need to choose racking solutions according to the shape and size of your space facility, plus the types of products you want to install.
Some popular storage racks are pallet racking, mezzanine, mobile racks, flow racks, drive-in pallet racks, stacker cranes, and others.
Rearrange Your Aisles, Pallets, and Racks
Once you become successful in choosing the appropriate pallet racks, it’s time to keep them in an organized way for improving storage utilization. For the best organization, you need to keep all equal size items and storage units together.
Aisles should ve wide enough for your staff and equipment to cross comfortably. Always remember that a well-organized warehouse won’t only improve your storage capacity, cube size, and overall utilization, but it’ll also increase overall efficiency.
Enhance Your Clear Height
Having a clear height of your warehouse leaves a notable impact on the amount of storage space. It might be quite difficult to enhance the vertical space of your warehouse. However, it’s possible to increase the clear height of your pallet racks by removing the unused items hanging from the ceiling.
They might be hanging lights, security systems or cameras, or other items that you either can remove or replace.
Don’t Estimate Warehouse Storage Capacities
Warehouse storage capacity isn’t a number that works on guessing power. So, don’t estimate your storage capacity to determine how much storage space you’re using.
Calculate your usage storage facility and reach an exact number for evaluating the storage capacity and utilization. Take the time to do the math and know your numbers to develop the most efficient warehouse space.
Wrapping Up!
In the end, calculate your warehouse space and storage capacity to furnish your facility with excellent equipment and tools. However, make sure they’re operative smoothly and efficiently.
Buying appropriate storage racking solutions for material tools and machinery handling offer excellent safety and security features with durability and superior quality. Hence, the managers and employees will obtain an effortless experience.
