Engineered High-Density Racking Configurations
UNARCO RACKING engineers Drive-In and Drive-Thru storage racks tailored precisely to forklift kinematics, pallet envelope geometry, and overall facility headroom.
Drive-In Rack
Operates on a Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) rotation. Forklifts enter and exit through the same aisle, maximizing density along solid walls and perimeter boundaries.
Drive-Thru Rack
Configured for First-In, First-Out (FIFO) inventory workflow. Dedicated loading and unloading aisles maintain complete pallet batch tracking and orderly turnaround.
Precision Rail Systems
Heavy-gauge formed steel guide rails and flared entry designs guide lift truck operators safely down deep lanes while providing robust pallet load support.
Structural Rail Options
Hot-rolled structural channel arms and heavy-gauge column reinforcements provide unmatched impact resistance in demanding freezer and harsh warehouse conditions.
Maximizing Floor Cube Utilization with Drive-In Storage
UNARCO RACKING Drive-In and Drive-Thru systems represent the most cost-effective method to compress floor footprint and gain high-density pallet positions. By eliminating conventional access aisles between storage rows, this static racking format allows pallets to be stored up to 20 deep and 6 levels high, converting up to 80% of warehouse volume into active storage.
Each system relies on continuous horizontal steel support rails running the depth of the lane. Lift trucks navigate directly into the racking matrix to place or pick unit loads. Top horizontal bracing, overhead tied structures, and heavy-duty rear x-bracing yield exceptional structural stiffness even under high seismic forces and continuous operational loading.
Space Optimization: Drive-In systems can store up to seven times more product than block floor-stacking and three times more than standard selective rack without requiring facility expansions or building modifications.
UNARCO RACKING incorporates proprietary sloped-leg upright frames and offset bottom columns. This distinctive geometry broadens the entry aisle floor tolerance, providing forklift drivers additional maneuvering room to swing pallets safely and significantly lowering the probability of post impact.
Engineered for High-Volume, Uniform Inventory
Drive-In and Drive-Thru racks are ideally matched for applications where pallets are staged in large batch runs with low SKU diversity.
Cold Storage & Freezers
Cubic thermal efficiency is vital. Minimizing unutilized air gaps dramatically curtails refrigeration energy costs across large freezer rooms.
Food & Beverage Distribution
Facilitates consistent production lot staging and uniform batch control with Drive-Thru FIFO date rotation for perishable goods.
Automotive & Assembly
Enables bulk storage of recurring sub-assemblies, stamped parts, and raw manufacturing components close to line-side feeds.
Agricultural & Produce
Accommodates seasonal bulk peaks and harvest yields with high pallet density during peak processing windows.
Chemical & Drum Staging
Structural channel rails provide high safety factors and dependable rigidity for uniform industrial drum pallets and bulk chemical containers.
Pharmaceutical Logistics
Standardized pallet loads maintained in stable, high-density bays facilitate systematic temperature mapping and strict lot compliance.
Drive-In vs. Drive-Thru System Comparison
Comprehensive engineering evaluation to assist project procurement teams and logistics planners in identifying the right configuration.
| Design Criteria | Drive-In Rack System | Drive-Thru Rack System |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Logic | Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) | First-In, First-Out (FIFO) |
| Access Requirements | Single entry/exit aisle; placed against walls or back-to-back | Separate entry and exit aisles at opposite ends |
| Storage Depth | Commonly 2 to 10 pallets deep (engineered up to 20 deep) | Commonly 2 to 10 pallets deep per flow line |
| Structural Materials | Roll-formed high-strength steel or heavy hot-rolled structural steel | Roll-formed high-strength steel or heavy hot-rolled structural steel |
| Impact Mitigation | Sloped-leg frames, flared guide rails, heavy-duty floor angle guides | Sloped-leg frames, flared guide rails, heavy-duty floor angle guides |
| Standards Compliance | Fabricated to RMI / ANSI MH16.1 specifications | Fabricated to RMI / ANSI MH16.1 specifications |
Plan Your High-Density Storage Project with UNARCO RACKING
Consult with our qualified structural and material handling engineers. We deliver tailored CAD bay designs, seismic calculations, and complete rack drawings for your distribution facility.