Considering Pallet Rack Manufactured in China?

A rack is a rack is a rack, right? All are made from steel and perform as expected&#;to hold several pallets filled with products. Well, yes . . . and no. The majority of pallet racks, new or used, do tend to offer exactly what is expected. However, some racking should be avoided at all cost.

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It wasn&#;t that long ago, material handling products coming from Asia, specifically, China were guaranteed to offer one thing and if you were fortunate, possibly a few other benefits. The one thing offered for sure was a very low first cost.

Low first cost . . .at what cost?

Chinese manufacturers had a reputation as recently as five years ago, of providing extremely low-cost products made from steel. Unfortunately, most offered little more than that. Much of the steel used in the manufacture of racks and other products using Chinese steel was lower quality than the steel specified for use from domestic and other rack manufacturers. The steel quality on beams often varied. One beam could meet requirements for a rack here in the United States while another would fail.

Quality control in previous generations of this foreign pallet racking was equally spotty. Finishes may have been uneven. Dimensions were likely uneven or inconsistent. Most products sold in the United States often experienced delays in the supply chain. This meant if you planned to have a system installed in six months and the rack was coming from China, your rack system may not arrive when required. The same for replacement parts. What appeared initially as a great saving of money often costs more in the long run.

One more issue many still believe is happening today is the flooding of the market with large quantities of racks in an attempt to drive down the price, putting many American rack manufacturers at financial risk. Many domestic manufacturers filed what is known as a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of steel racks coming from the People&#;s Republic of China. This petition was filed in June of . No word on findings have been reported as yet.

Now before continuing, it is important to state that there are good companies in China that see the value and long-term importance of delivering a quality product. Some currently attempt to do business here and compete on a level playing field.

The challenge is finding a racking supplier able to deliver the product you want, within your price range that meets the level of durability you need. Actually, that should be your approach when purchasing anything from any company. As the Latin saying goes, caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware. Here are a few tips to consider when purchasing pallet racking.

Verification

Verify the product you are considering meet acceptable standards. RMI, or the Rack Manufacturer&#;s Institute is an independent organization that sets the standards for performance for everything rack related. It specifies testing for racking and performs research to ensure racks work as stated.

The organization issues what is called the &#;R-mark.&#; The R-mark appears on all rack products since indicating the rack components and its design are in accordance with the RMI specification for that product. They set the quality standard and the mark is available for member and non-member alike. So, when looking for racking, make sure to look for the R-mark. It&#;s your assurance the rack will perform as expected.

Because we emphasized concern over Chinese racking, it is important to note that there are three Chinese manufacturers who that for sure comply with RMI standards.

Check it out thoroughly

Contact us to discuss your requirements of rack china. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Always do your due diligence. In other words, don&#;t take the salesman&#;s word about the rack you intend to purchase. Inspect it yourself, particularly if purchasing used equipment. Look for obvious signs of wear or abuse. If there is more than you are comfortable with, walk away.

The savings you gain now could become a headache in the future.

Pallet Rack Inquiry

The only constant is change in today&#;s global economy. Many companies and operations are waiting with bated breath to see which way the prevailing tariff winds will blow. Warehouses are especially on edge about all of this, considering how international supply chains and manufacturing has become. One area of concern coming up is that of pallet racks. In the past, a facility could take the chance on a lower-cost imported with the understanding that although the quality isn&#;t the same, costs may be lower. Now, with tariffs looming, what should you look for in thinking of replacing foreign rack?

What factors to consider?

What low-cost rack gets you

Chinese manufactured rack almost certainly was lower-cost&#;.in the past. With the tariffs on Chinese steel and other components sinking in, that just isn&#;t the case anymore. And we don&#;t know where the trade contention may end. So, let&#;s look at what you&#;re getting for the lower-cost (or used to be cheaper) option:

1. 1. Lower-cost steel means lower quality: Many overseas manufacturers use sub-standard steel or steel of unknown quality. This means you aren&#;t sure which rack will pass requirements and which won&#;t until you receive it or start loading it. It&#;s hard to understand what you have from many of these manufacturers, and you&#;ll have little recourse if the rack you buy is inadequate.
   2. Inaccurate dimensions: With quality control and manufacturing tolerances being lower as well, there&#;s a chance for uneven or inconsistent dimensions.
   3. Shipping and fulfillment delays: Delays and loss of time when ordering from China could cost you even more than the initial savings. Either your rack or the replacement parts ordered could experience untold amounts of extra time that you can&#;t afford.
   4. Lack of certifications: Most imported rack lacks RMI (Rack Manufacturers&#; Institute) certification.
   5. Replacement parts may be&#;irreplaceable: When you purchase a rack system and want to add to it later, buying imported racks may mean that replacement beams, uprights and other components aren&#;t always available in a few years. They may not match in terms of connectors and tight dimensions.
   6. Seismic considerations: If you are in an area with seismic issues, almost no Chinese racks will suffice. You won&#;t be able to get the kind of engineering and design support you need.

The bottom line: imported rack tends to be less reliable, less verifiable as safe, and a riskier purchase when it must bear thousands of pounds of valuable inventory. Since pricing is unstable at the moment (and may continue to be in the future), there are few advantages.

Why domestic?

So, you&#;re watching Chinese pallet rack pricing increase, and you&#;re thinking about how the low-cost factors might not be benefits for your operation. But what does domestic rack get you?

Peace of mind, first and foremost, and a better rack overall. American manufacturers follow strict guidelines and use high-quality steel to make their pallet rack. Rack that meets RMI standards offers certain safety features and load-bearing capacities, which means superior strength and longevity to store products in your warehouse. These features combine to offset what can be a higher upfront cost. When you realize that the rack will last longer and offer safer conditions for your employees, the higher cost seems worth it.

As an example, take the Steel King SK pallet rack. SK racks employ a fully welded tubular upright, giving you superior impact resistance, and a stronger frame for a safer and more functional rack. It also includes industry-standard teardrop connections, meaning it&#;s interchangeable with the majority of rack systems. These features just highlight how going domestic for your pallet rack can see early ROI.

One final benefit of using domestic rack is that when you need assistance, you usually get it fast. That could mean the difference in finding a part in time or watching your investment falter. Leaving that to chance is never what a warehouse operation wants.

See also

Tags: ROI, Pallet Rack

Evan Fleishacker

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