E-commerce fulfillment warehouses generally need a different racking mix than bulk manufacturing or FMCG storage. Because e-commerce operations handle many SKUs in smaller quantities with frequent picking, boltless racks and medium duty (longspan) racking are usually the better fit for pick-face storage, while heavy duty pallet racking still has a role for bulk reserve stock. The right mix depends on your order profile, not a single “best” rack type.
Traditional palletised warehousing (FMCG distribution, manufacturing raw materials) is built around bulk quantities of fewer SKUs, moved by forklift, with less frequent access per pallet. E-commerce fulfillment is the opposite in several ways:
This doesn’t mean heavy duty rack has no place — bulk reserve stock (inbound pallets waiting to be broken down into pick locations) still benefits from palletised storage. The point is matching the rack type to the zone, not defaulting to one system for the whole warehouse.
Which racking system is best for e-commerce fulfillment centers?
It depends on the zone: boltless or medium duty racking usually suits pick-face and small-parcel storage, while heavy duty pallet racking suits bulk reserve stock before breakdown. Most fulfillment warehouses in Malaysia end up using a combination rather than a single rack type throughout.
| Rack Type | Best E-Commerce Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
|
Boltless Rack |
Small-parcel SKU storage, active pick shelves |
Easy to reconfigure as SKU count and product mix change; no bolted assembly needed |
|
Medium Duty Rack (Longspan) |
Bulkier or irregular items — apparel boxes, accessories, mixed cartons |
Versatile shelf spacing for non-uniform items that don’t fit standard pallets |
|
Heavy Duty Rack |
Bulk inbound/reserve pallet storage before breakdown into pick stock |
1000–3000KG UDL per level, forklift access, space-efficient for high-volume reserve |
|
Warehouse Racking System |
Full fulfillment layout combining pick-face and reserve zones |
Designed as a complete system rather than a single rack type |
Yes, provided the rack type and load rating match your actual SKU weight and size profile — this is a matter of matching the rack to the use case, not a new-vs-used question.
Boltless racking is generally suited to light-to-medium loads typical of parcel and SKU storage. For heavier bulk pallets, heavy duty rack remains the better fit.
It depends on your budget, timeline, and how settled your warehouse layout is. Used racking can be a cost-effective option for growing e-commerce businesses that need storage quickly, particularly when suitable ready stock is available. New racking may be more suitable when you require specific dimensions, configurations, or a completely customised warehouse layout.
Heavy duty pallet racking is useful when your e-commerce operation stores bulk inventory on pallets, particularly in reserve or back-stock areas. However, using heavy duty pallet racking for every SKU may not be the most efficient option if most products are picked individually from shelves.
Yes, used warehouse racking can be a safe and cost-effective option when it has been properly inspected and is suitable for the intended load and application.
At Hunter & Cycle, we inspect the condition of used racking before selling it to buyers, checking key structural components such as the frames, beams, connectors and overall condition. This helps ensure the racking is suitable for reuse before it leaves our stock.
However, proper use is equally important. Racking should always be operated within its recommended load capacity, correctly installed and maintained. Overloading, impact damage from forklifts or improper installation can compromise the safety of any racking system, whether new or used.
For e-commerce warehouses, the right approach is not simply choosing between new or used racking — it is choosing racking that has been properly inspected and matched to your actual storage requirements.
Yes. Hunter & Cycle can help businesses assess their existing racking, storage requirements, available space and expansion needs to determine a suitable combination of used or new warehouse racking. The objective is to match the rack system to how your business actually stores and picks inventory, rather than simply maximising rack capacity.
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