System selection, layout direction, supply and installation for warehouses and factories.
SKL Metal Systems supplies warehouse racking systems for factories, distribution facilities and industrial warehouses in Penang, Malaysia. Our range includes selective pallet racking, double-deep racking, drive-in systems, heavy-duty storage, multi-tier racking, cantilever storage and steel structure platforms.
The appropriate warehouse racking system depends on the goods being stored, pallet or item dimensions, maximum load, number of SKUs, required access, stock rotation, forklift operation and available building space. We review these requirements before discussing a suitable system direction, layout scope, supply and installation.
You do not need to select a rack type before contacting us. Providing your warehouse dimensions, storage profile and handling-equipment information allows the available options to be compared against the way your operation actually works.
The quickest way to narrow the options is to start with your inventory and access requirement. Direct pallet access, storage density, manual picking, long-material storage and additional floor space lead to different racking directions.
| Warehouse Requirement | System to Assess |
|---|---|
| Direct access to many palletised SKUs | Selective pallet racking |
| Increased pallet density with suitable reach equipment | Double-deep pallet racking |
| High-density storage for repeated pallet loads | Drive-in racking |
| Heavy, bulky or irregular goods | Heavy-duty storage racking |
| Manual storage and picking across multiple levels | Multi-tier heavy-duty racking |
| Long materials such as pipes, tubing or profiles | Cantilever racking |
| Additional usable floor level | Steel structure platform |
Selective, double-deep and drive-in racking all store palletised goods, but they provide different balances between accessibility and storage density. The correct choice depends heavily on SKU quantity, pallets per SKU, stock rotation and forklift operation.
Selective pallet racking prioritises direct access. Each pallet position can be reached from an aisle without removing another pallet first.
Double-deep racking stores pallets two positions deep and trades some direct accessibility for higher pallet density than a conventional selective arrangement.
Drive-in racking prioritises high-density storage. The forklift enters the storage lane, reducing the need for an aisle at every rack face.
Warehouse floor area alone is not enough to determine the right system. Inventory characteristics, loads, stock movement, handling equipment and building conditions all influence the final layout.
Confirm whether the operation stores palletised goods, cartons, loose products, heavy items, bulky products or long materials. The storage method should follow the physical form of the inventory.
Provide the maximum loaded pallet weight or the expected item and shelf-level loading. Loading requirements influence the rack configuration and should be confirmed before quotation.
The number of SKUs and typical quantity stored for each SKU helps determine whether direct-access or higher-density storage is the more practical direction.
Goods retrieved or replenished frequently usually need different access characteristics from stock that remains in storage for longer periods.
FIFO, FILO, batch handling and other rotation requirements should be understood before a high-density racking system is selected.
Forklift type, reach height, turning requirement, equipment width and operating clearance can affect aisle dimensions, rack height and compatibility with the proposed system.
Clear height, columns, entrances, loading areas, fixed equipment and other obstructions should be included in layout planning. These factors can limit usable rack positions even where sufficient floor area appears to be available.
For additional planning ideas, see our guide to increasing warehouse storage capacity without expanding the building.
Our warehouse storage range covers pallet storage, heavy and manual storage, long-material storage, vertical-space solutions and supporting racking accessories. Different systems can also be used in different zones of the same facility when inventory requirements vary.
For multi-SKU warehouses where individual pallet accessibility and regular stock movement are important.
Selective pallet racking systemFor operations seeking greater pallet density while retaining controlled access through suitable handling equipment.
Double-deep pallet racking systemFor high-density storage where relatively few SKUs are held in larger pallet quantities.
Drive-in racking systemSuitable for large, heavy, bulky or varied goods that need organised storage with practical direct access.
Heavy-duty storage rackingUses available building height to create accessible storage and picking areas across multiple levels.
Multi-tier heavy-duty rackingOpen-front storage for long and bulky items such as tubing, piping, timber and similar elongated materials. Material length, weight distribution, arm spacing and handling approach should be considered during configuration.
Cantilever racking systemA steel structure platform can create an additional usable level within an existing industrial building when the requirement extends beyond additional rack positions. Intended use, loading, access and building conditions need to be reviewed for the specific project.
Steel structure platform
The rack structure should be considered together with the relevant supports and warehouse-protection requirements. Our current range includes:
These products perform different functions, so protection and support accessories should be selected according to the rack configuration and operating environment rather than treated as interchangeable additions. See our racking accessories and safety protection range.
A warehouse racking project should move from the storage requirement to a confirmed layout and project scope before installation begins. We support this process from requirement review through installation and maintenance.
Confirm the goods, dimensions, maximum loads, storage quantities, access needs, stock movement and handling method.
Review usable floor dimensions, clear height, columns, entrances and relevant fixed obstructions.
Compare accessibility, storage density, handling requirements and opportunities to use vertical space.
Consider rack positions, storage levels, aisles, access routes and operational clearances.
Confirm the relevant rack structure, supports, components, accessories and protection requirements.
Define the proposed system, configuration, quantity, installation requirements and agreed project scope.
Coordinate supply and installation according to the confirmed arrangement and site requirements.
Complete the agreed project scope and review maintenance or future changes where applicable.
Yes. Existing material-handling equipment should be included in warehouse racking layout planning. Forklift type, turning requirement, reach height and operating clearance affect both aisle dimensions and the rack height that can be used in practice.
This becomes particularly important with higher-density systems. Double-deep racking requires suitable deep-reach handling equipment, while drive-in racking requires the forklift to operate within the rack lane. The equipment and proposed rack configuration should therefore be reviewed together.
Different warehouse requirements lead to different storage configurations. The examples below show racking applications published within our own project and product materials without assuming project details that are not part of the confirmed scope.
A useful quotation should be based on the actual warehouse, inventory and handling requirements rather than only the requested number of rack bays. The following information helps us understand the application before the system and layout are discussed.
Existing racking can be reviewed when warehouse needs change, but expansion, modification or relocation should not be assumed to be suitable without checking the existing configuration and new operating conditions.
Relevant factors include the current rack condition, loading requirement, component compatibility, proposed layout, site dimensions and future storage needs. Any change should be evaluated against the intended loading and operating arrangement before work proceeds.
SKL Metal Systems has supplied industrial racking and storage products since 2007. Based in Butterworth, Penang, we support warehouse and industrial storage projects with system selection, design and layout direction, supply, installation and maintenance.
Our Penang office is at 30, 32 & 34, Jalan Perusahaan Sungai Lokan 3, Kawasan Perusahaan Sungai Lokan, 13800 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. You can send your project details, drawings and warehouse information through our Penang contact page.
Share your warehouse dimensions, pallet information, required storage capacity and forklift details. We can review the application and discuss which warehouse racking system should be assessed for your Penang project.
If available, send your warehouse floor plan together with photographs showing the existing storage area, columns, entrances and other fixed obstructions. This helps make the initial discussion more relevant to the actual site.
Send Us Your Warehouse Layout Compare Warehouse Racking SystemsIn summary, the right warehouse racking system in Penang should be selected around the goods, loading, SKU profile, stock rotation, required access, forklift operation and usable building space. SKL supplies selective, double-deep, drive-in, heavy-duty, multi-tier, cantilever and steel-platform solutions with site review, layout direction, installation and maintenance support for agreed industrial storage projects.