Is this an English lesson in analogies, or a blog about pallet rack? Could be either, or both!  Back in the day, the English portion of the SATs included analogies. Analogies are simple phrases comparing two things, for example:

Wall Ties, Row Spacers, Wire Decks and Column Protectors are to Pallet Rack, as Pickles, Onions, Lettuce, Tomatoes and Ketchup are to a Burger.

I bet you didn’t think a lesson in English grammar could be so helpful when designing your warehouse. It’s actually less about grammar and more about not forgetting the small stuff. You could order a hamburger without mustard or ketchup, but how good is that going to taste? The same principles apply to a rack system. Yes, a burger comes with a bun and a patty but what about the condiments? Does your system require pickles or onions? What about tomatoes? Translate this to rack and you have Wall Ties, Row Spacers, Wire Decks and Column Protectors. These may seem like typical condiments but, when designing your warehouse they are actually the main ingredients and should be considered with every purchase to ensure a safe and happy workplace.

So let’s get back to the analogy about Wall Ties and Row Spacers. What exactly are they and why do you need them?

Wall Tie: A wall tie is used on the pallet rack to connect the rack system to the wall behind the racking. The wall ties connect to the upright frame with nuts and bolts.

Row Spacer: Row spacers are used in a flue space between the uprights to stabilize the rack system or provide clearance for building columns or other obstacles. Row spacers bolt onto each upright and connect the uprights together.

pallet-rack-wall-tie-row-spacer

So remember, whether you are ordering a burger or a pallet rack system, be sure to include the small stuff. Because the small stuff is to a pallet rack system as the condiments are to a burger. Okay, okay…couldn’t resist just one last analogy.