Wire decking is a pallet racking accessory that acts as a foundation for storing and protecting inventory. Pallet rack wire decking offers a versatile storage solution.
Finding cost-effective, straightforward storage solutions for your warehouse is always a key consideration, and pallet rack wire decking helps fulfill many warehouse storage needs. There are many benefits of wire decking, including improving worker safety and allowing for improved space utilization in warehouses.
With wire-decking, you get a cost-effective option that can maximize storage and improve inventory management.
What Is Wire Decking?
Wire decking is made using a metal mesh that fits snuggly between various rack beams. There are various types of pallet racking wire decks that offer different solutions depending on the layout of your warehouse and beams, your inventory management needs and the type of goods you need to store.
Thanks to versatile designs and diverse options, incorporating warehouse wire decking is an excellent way to store loose loads like cases or other non-palletized items and prevent goods from falling through the rack. You can also use wire decking to support broken pallets or pallets with odd sizes, adding an extra layer of support and security to your pallet racking system.
What Are the Benefits of Wire Decking?
Wire decking is advantageous on many fronts, from being a versatile storage option to meeting safety requirements and being a cost-effective storage option.
Enhancing Warehouse Safety
For any warehouse, safety considerations take top priority. Keeping safe and staying compliant with OSHA warehouse safety guidelines is vital. One of the primary benefits of wire decking is its ability to be safety-compliant. Wire decking enhances warehouse safety through its open metal design in several ways:
- Prevent falling items by securing racks.
- Meeting fire safety requirements thanks to a design that maximizes ventilation, reducing the risk of fire.
- Helping maintain the structural integrity of heavy wooden pallets by preventing bowing.
- Supporting broken pallets and pallets in poor condition.
- Stabilizing the rack by adding an extra layer of support.
Maximizing Space
A significant part of managing a warehouse is making the best use of the space. Wire decking saves space, as it can be used as an alternative to bulky solid decking. Various wire deck designs also help you obtain high storage density — using wire decking gets palletized goods higher off the ground.
The versatility of wire decks is another part of maximizing space. You can store a wide range of materials easily without taking up much more floor space. Depending on the wire decking you use, you can store loose and oddly shaped loads securely. There are also wire decking accessories that provide unique storage options should you need them, including carton stops that provide division between cartons, freestanding dividers and hanging dividers that hook onto the top of the deck.
Improving Visibility and Inventory Management
Inventory management has a domino effect across the warehouse. Optimizing inventory management can even increase your warehouse’s profitability by improving organization, and therefore, productivity.
With wire decking, you can easily organize storage spaces and increase workflow since the system provides much better inventory visibility. Because of the open design, you can easily see all your goods and take quick stock. The open design also allows for better organizing — with one quick look, you know you can stack by load capacity, type or dimensions and group similar items together more effectively.
Increasing Durability and Maintenance
One of the most outstanding features of wire decking is how robust and long-lasting the solution can be. Wire decking from a reputable manufacturer is made from high-quality material that does not easily bend or break under the weight of your goods.
Maintaining your warehouse racking systems is essential to ensure their longevity, and thankfully, caring for wire decking is also a breeze. Wire decking can be much easier to move around than heavy wooden pallets when cleaning them. You can use a soft brush to get to every nook and cranny of the mesh frame or use a pressure washer in an appropriate environment to reach every part of the structure.
Another important part of maintaining your wire decking is preventing corrosion and oxidation, especially if your warehouse is prone to humid conditions. Consider an anti-corrosive treatment to extend the life of the wire decking. Daily wipe-downs, where possible, also help you maintain the wire decking. Always ensure cleaning products and disinfectants are metal-friendly and non-corrosive.
The Cost Advantages of Wire Decking
When you look at the benefits a storage solution offers, cost is always an important consideration. Wire decking is a cost-effective storage option in the following ways:
- Pallet racking wire decking can optimize floor space and improve storage, allowing your warehouse to store more goods and be more profitable.
- Wire decking has lower maintenance costs compared to wood pallets alone, which can lose their structural integrity under different conditions, including holding heavy loads and being in humid warehouses.
- Wire decking helps managers improve inventory invisibility, which can increase workflow when stacking, unstacking and stock-taking.
Selecting Wire Decking for Warehouse Storage Racking
No matter your storage needs, there are wire decking designs and solutions to meet those requirements. The different pallet rack decking options are:
- Drop-in flush decking: This is a flat surface and low profile design that is easy to install and ideal for use with different beam styles. Drop-in flush decking is a great choice for organizing smaller items more efficiently.
- Waterfall wire mesh decking: Waterfall wire mesh decking has extra panels that “waterfall” over the front and back of the deck, making it a good option to secure larger items and stop them from falling. This design is easy to install and maintain.
- Step channel decking: Step channel decking is one of the best solutions for warehouses storing heavy goods thanks to its durable construction and large load capacity. The design incorporates a series of channels, creating a ledge that adds an extra level of stability, security and support.
- Flared channel decking: Flared channel decking is an excellent good choice if you need decking that fits various beams. The flared design adds a wider support structure, making it a versatile solution.
- Inverted channel decking: As the name suggests, inverted channel decking runs upside down, providing a flat surface top that suits oddly shaped goods such as tires. Inverted channel decking is usually together with other types of wire decking for a truly optimized space.
Custom Warehouse Wire Decking Solutions With Tennessee Rack
Wire mesh decking is a customizable, cost-effective and safety-compliant warehouse storage solution, making these storage systems an excellent addition to your warehouse. Through a trusted rack storage provider, you can also enjoy custom wire decking solutions tailored to your warehouse’s unique requirements.
At Tennessee Rack, we design and install custom rack storage systems and offer racking installations to suit your warehouse’s needs. We are committed to offering quality services, including striving to fulfill most orders within 48 hours. Fill out our form to request a free quote, or contact us at 615-722-4281 to speak to our knowledgeable consultants and find your ideal warehouse storage solution.
