Key Takeaways:
- Multiple pallet racking brands in one warehouse usually become a problem at inspection and maintenance time, when older or unsupported systems can no longer be repaired, rated or certified.
- Warehouses with mixed-brand racking are better served by a provider that can inspect, maintain and support multiple major brands rather than just one system.
- The best long-term approach is usually to standardise gradually around the most reliable and supportable brand already in the warehouse, so maintenance becomes simpler and compliance is easier to manage.
I Have Multiple Brands Of Pallet Racking In My Warehouse
When you have multiple brands of pallet racking in one warehouse, the biggest complication usually does not show up until annual inspections and maintenance come into play.
Because there is an annual inspection requirement (AS4084:2023), and because maintenance is inevitable, older warehouses with a variety of different brands can become difficult to manage. Sometimes those older brands can no longer be properly repaired or maintained. In some cases, you cannot get the components anymore. In other cases, they are no longer able to be rated, and if they cannot be rated, then a compliance certificate cannot be issued against them. That is when the warehouse can become a very expensive and difficult maintenance programme, particularly if the racking is no longer compliant. That was the situation with Empire in Rocklea, where the racking was not compliant with Australian Standards and had to be effectively replaced.
Who Should I Contact For My Annual Pallet Racking Inspection?
That is why, when you have multiple brands of racking, you need to deal with a company that is not tied to just one system. Because QLD Storage Systems is not a franchise, it does not have a particular relationship with just one brand. QLD Storage Systems can provide and support racking across four or five of the major brands in Australia, including Colby, Dexion, Schaefer and Macrack. That support covers inspections, repairs and maintenance, additions or relocations, which is a real advantage for warehouses across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the wider South East Queensland market. While it’s not ideal mixed-brand systems are more common than they should be.
Fixing The Multiple Racking Brand Issue
If someone is adding more pallet racking into a warehouse that already has a couple of different brands, my inclination is always to look at what they have most of in terms of a brand, and if it is a reliable brand that we know we can support, we would advocate for more of that particular brand. So over time, instead of being 30/30/30 with three different brands across the warehouse, you are moving more towards 60/20/20. As you keep changing and modifying the warehouse over time, you are slowly expanding the footprint of the most reliable brand in that building. That brings the cost of maintenance down, and you generally get a better outcome overall. Contact the team at QLD Storage Systems today today.
About Mennolt Regtien
Mennolt Regtien brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the storage and pallet racking industry in Australia, backed by a broader career spent helping businesses grow, improve productivity and solve operational challenges. Before moving into pallet racking and storage systems, he spent around 10 years consulting to small and medium businesses on growth and development, and earlier worked in venture capital and startups, including helping Australasian companies expand into Asian and US markets.
His experience helps him look beyond the racking itself to understand each client’s wider business goals, identify operational issues quickly, and recommend storage solutions that support both efficiency and future growth.
