Drive-In Racking

HIGH-DENSITY PALLET STORAGE | PRODUCT 04

Product Overview

Drive-in racking is a compact storage system in which forklifts enter dedicated rack lanes to place and retrieve pallets on continuous support rails. By replacing multiple operating aisles with deep pallet lanes, the system can significantly increase storage density in warehouses with large quantities of a limited number of SKUs.

A standard single-entry arrangement generally operates on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis. A drive-through arrangement can be designed with entry and exit at opposite ends to support first-in, first-out (FIFO) flow, provided the building depth, forklift operation, and project requirements are suitable.

Key Benefits

• High storage density: removing intermediate aisles can increase storage capacity by approximately 30%-50% compared with conventional selective racking, depending on the layout.
• Efficient for repeat SKUs: deep lanes are well suited to large batches of full pallets with similar dimensions and turnover patterns.
• Lower entry cost than shuttle systems: a practical choice when high density is required but automation is not the priority.
• Cold-store efficiency: fewer aisles can reduce the volume of refrigerated space devoted to travel paths and improve space utilization.
• Configurable inventory flow: choose single-entry LIFO or, where the site permits, double-entry drive-through FIFO.

Structure & Configuration

• Forklifts enter each lane and place pallets on side support rails rather than on front-facing load beams.
• Lane depth, number of levels, rack height, pallet clearances, and rail type are engineered for the pallet and forklift combination.
• Typical project heights are often kept within approximately 8-10 m, subject to engineering, building conditions, and local requirements.
• Typical pallet loads are often around 1,000-1,500 kg, although the final permitted load must be confirmed for the project.
• Each lane is normally dedicated to a single SKU or batch to keep loading and retrieval sequences manageable.

Ideal Applications

• Cold stores and temperature-controlled warehouses
• Food, beverage, feed, and packaged raw materials
• Bulk finished-goods or reserve-stock storage
• Operations with few SKUs and many pallets per SKU
• Inventory profiles where LIFO is acceptable or drive-through FIFO can be planned

Options & Accessories

• Single-entry drive-in or double-entry drive-through layout
• Custom lane depth, levels, pallet clearances, and support rails
• Cold-store-compatible finishes and project-specific materials
• Entry protection, guide features, and upright impact protection where required
• Integration with warehouse signage, lane identification, and fire-protection planning

Planning & Safety Notes

• The system is not ideal for many low-volume SKUs, strict batch access, case picking, or operations that require direct access to every pallet.
• Forklift drivers work inside the rack lanes, so clearances, guidance, operator training, visibility, and impact protection are critical.
• Continuous lane construction provides less transverse stiffness than selective racking and requires careful engineering and installation.
• Fire codes, sprinkler coverage, compartmentation, egress, floor conditions, and local authority requirements must be confirmed early.

Request a Custom Solution

To receive a project-specific recommendation: Tell us your pallet dimensions, pallet weight, number of SKUs, pallets per SKU, turnover method, building height, and forklift type. We can compare drive-in and drive-through layouts for your capacity target.