Storeroom Flow Racks for FIFO Inventory

First-In, First-Out (FIFO) can work wonders for your business — provided that you’ve got a reliable system to enforce rotation. Without that system, storerooms will accumulate obsolete stock at the back of the shelf, no matter how frequently you remind your employees of your new FIFO policy.

The challenge for many facility managers is that static shelving fights against FIFO. To reach the older stock, workers must either reach over new stock or manually shift every box forward whenever a shipment arrives. That process often gets skipped during busy shifts.

Storeroom flow racks solve this problem by making FIFO the path of least resistance. Here’s everything you need to know about selecting flow racks to automate your inventory rotation.

Gravity-Fed Inclines for Automatic Rotation

In basic terms, flow racks move inventory without human intervention. Gravity feeds products from the rear loading zone to the front picking face.

While you can find spring-loaded pushers (common for retail setups), gravity-fed inclines are simpler and have fewer points of failure. In general, they’re also much less frustrating for the people who are actually doing the picking.

• The Benefit: Gravity-fed racking eliminates the dead-space effect of static shelves, where empty spaces remain at the back. As soon as a picker removes an item from the front, the next unit slides into place.
• Implementation: High-quality systems use durable PVC rollers or low-friction metal slides.

Product to Consider: Gravity Flow Racks

Designed for high-density carton flow, Gravity Flow Racks feature angled compartments with PVC rollers. They are stackable up to two units high and allow for seamless rear-loading and front-picking, automating the rotation of boxed inventory or bins.

Dual-Entry Design to Separate Workflows

To strictly enforce FIFO, your storage infrastructure should physically separate the stocking process from the picking process. A dual-entry design allows materials to be loaded from the back (the charge side) and retrieved from the front (the discharge side).

• The Benefit: Dual-entry prevents stock clerks and pickers from obstructing each other in the same aisle, which can improve throughput overall. It also makes LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) virtually impossible, since the new stock is blocked by the old stock until the old stock is cleared.
• Implementation: Look for open-backed units or mobile cages specifically engineered for two-sided access.

Product to Consider: Mobile Security Cages

The BHS Mobile Security Cage combines the security of a cage with the efficiency of a flow rack. It features four gravity-flow shelves and is designed for dual-entry access, ensuring that high-value or sensitive inventory remains secure while enforcing FIFO protocols.

Mobility for Flexible Layouts

Modern supply chains are dynamic. Your storeroom layout may need to change occasionally, either due to seasonal demand or for another reason. While traditional flow racking is often bolted to the floor, mobile flow racks offer a distinct advantage for smaller storerooms or the so-called “supermarket” areas on assembly lines.

• The Benefit: Mobile units allow you to reconfigure your picking lines without specialized labor or downtime. They also facilitate easy cleaning and reorganization of the facility floor.
• Implementation: Heavy-duty industrial casters are essential to support the weight of fully loaded racks without damaging floors.

Product to Consider: Flow Through Racks (FTR-C)

Ideal for battery stock and heavy components, the FTR features inclined shelves that naturally feed product to the front. Its heavy-duty welded steel frame and phenolic casters provide a mobile, high-capacity solution that integrates easily under existing pallet racks or as a standalone display.

Ready to outfit your operation?

Don't let static shelving stall your inventory flow. Call the BHS sales team at 1.800.BHS.9500 or visit our Industrial Shelving page to discuss a custom solution for your facility.