Effective racking is important for all kinds of warehouses, distribution centres, and other facilities. It must be able to support the goods and ensure efficient use of the space. Plus, it must be accessible and durable. Metal tubing, particularly high strength steel, is a great option for many rack systems. Services like tube expansion can help too, making it easier for tubing to fit together to allow fast assembly and disassembly.

If you’re looking for pallet racking solutions in particular, you will eventually need to decide whether to choose welded or knockdown models. We want to have a look at them here to explore the differences as well as the respective advantages.

What are they?

Pallet racking systems are specifically designed to support pallets of goods. They are generally incredibly tall so they maximise the vertical space in the facility, increasing the capacity for goods.

The two options here are knockdown (or bolt together) and welded. The first has sections you fix together with bolts or other kinds of fasteners. On the other hand, with the latter installers weld the parts in place. In both cases, you can use different kinds of metal tubing. Tube expansion can deliver bespoke joints.

Why use knockdown pallet racking systems?

There are a number of interesting advantages with this kind of racking. Firstly, it is quicker and easier to install; simply bolt sections together in whatever configuration you want. This provides more flexibility too so you can use them in various properties and reconfigure if necessary.

Generally there are cost advantages too. Most notably, it is cheaper to repair racks that suffer damage. All you need to do here is unbolt and remove the damaged section, replacing it like for like. It is much cheaper than having to get an entirely new rack.

When to choose welded pallet racking systems?

The stand out advantage with this kind of racking is the strength and stability. Weld joints can be much stronger than bolts or other fasteners as long as the welding is high quality. As a result, if you need to support heavier loads, it can be the best option.

If you’re making an investment you want it to pay off for the long term, welded pallet racking is a good choice. It can withstand daily wear and tear in fast, challenging environments thanks to the impressive durability.

Do you need reliable tube expansion services?

Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd is a company you can rely on any time you need to adapt metal tubing. We’ve got the kind of experience only possible with decades in the industry working with different materials and equipment. It’s a great asset, and ensures we can provide the best services for our clients.

So, speak to us today about any needs. We can provide tube expansion and reduction to help create reliable joints for different applications. Plus, we can offer bending, drilling, and much more. If you need a combination of services, we can arrange it to give you even more value.