Drive-In Rack in Bellevue, WA

Drive-in rack within a compact footprint

Bulk storage within flex buildings

Bel-Red specialty distribution and Wilburton medical-supply operations can need reserve pallets beside smaller order lines. Separating the bulk buffer from daily picking helps prevent deep storage from swallowing the shared working space those activities require.

Conventional single-entry lanes follow LIFO: the accessible front pallet is removed before the one behind it. FIFO requires a different operating arrangement. Drive-thru racking provides opposite loading and withdrawal faces, but both must have working aisles and consistent lane assignments; open ends alone do not control stock age.

Where chilled specialty goods justify a cooler or freezer installation, compare usable density with the access demanded by dated inventory. Few SKUs and substantial repeat balances favor deep reserve. Mixed release statuses or fragmented batches can leave many positions unavailable even while the layout looks compact on paper.

Installation is coordinated through scheduled, experienced crews whose work we manage around the agreed site sequence. Load rails and truck guide rails receive distinct attention during the scope review. Pushback is worth comparing when the driver should stay at the rack face instead of entering each lane, although it also normally uses LIFO.

Identify repeat holdings

Use ordinary on-hand balances to distinguish genuine bulk reserve from assorted items that happen to arrive together on one delivery.

Document pallet contact

Inspect edge boards, underside construction and loaded deflection, recording the bearing area available for the proposed support-rail arrangement.

Reserve the approach

Draw the loaded turning movement outside the lane and retain room for square entry without displacing packing or pedestrian circulation.

Review working elevations

Compare rail heights with mast extension and load dimensions, checking clearance throughout lifting as well as straight travel into storage.