FAQS

FAQs Racks Component Repair

  • Are guidelines available for repairing or replacing damaged pallet rack components?

    Yes. The best source of information is available at the Rack Manufacturers Institute. They state in their paper on "Design, testing and utilization of industrial steel storage racks". 2007 Edition (RMI07) that..."Upon any visible damage, the pertinent portion of the rack shall be unloaded immediately by the user and the damaged portion shall be adequately repaired or replaced".

  • How far out of plumb can my racks be before I should fix them?

    The ANSI/RMI Specification shows the maximum out-of-plumb ratio for a loaded rack column as 1/2" per 10' of height. Columns whose out-of-plumb ratio exceeds this limit must be unloaded and re-plumbed. Any damaged parts must be repaired or replaced. This ratio could be used for straightness also. In other words, the out-of-straightness limit between any two points on a column should not exceed 0.05" per foot of length (1/2" per 10 feet).

An out-of-plumb or out-of-straight condition will reduce the capacity of a rack column. The reduction can be significant. A rack that is out-of-plumb from top to bottom or a rack column that is not straight is likely to become further out-of-plumb or out-of-straight when loaded.


The out-of-straight limit is given to prevent excessive "bows" or "dogleg" conditions that may exist in a rack column. A column could be plumb from top to bottom, but have unacceptable bow at mid-height or a 20' column could be out 1" from top to bottom, which could be acceptable using a simple top-to-bottom, out-of-plumb measurement, but the entire out-of-plumb could be between the floor and the 5' level. This dogleg condition would be very harmful. This condition could be caused by forklift impact. The column could also become bent and exceed this limit. As rewritten, the specification now prevents these conditions from being acceptable if they exceed 0.05" per foot out-of-straight limit. (Source: MHI)

  • Does it matter if rack frame braces are damaged?

    Yes. The rack frame bracing consists of horizontal and/or diagonal members that join the front column to the rear column. These members are very carefully designed by the rack manufacturer to stabilize the rack frame in the cross-aisle direction and to support each of the individual columns, which are also in the cross-aisle direction. Any damage to these components could jeopardize the stability of the frames and could degrade the strength of the column.

  • Can you repair our brand of racks?

    Probably, yes. Our components are manufactured for your rack brand. These include every roll-formed manufacturer we are aware of, including Interlake, Unarco, Speed Rack, Sturdi-Bilt, Penco, Frazier, Rid-U-Rak, Inca, Mi-Rak, and many others. We also repair structural racks.

  • Can we reduce costs by repairing instead of replacing?

    Yes. You'll save 50% or more over replacing by eliminating most of the tasks associated with replacing damaged racks. Plus, you'll get column protection included. You will need to unload the first load beam level if the rack is damaged.

  • Will your products reduce future maintenance costs?

    All components include built-in protection. The Bully column guard is part of the structure on all EconomaX components. RackmaX components are fabricated from 3/16" and 1/4" tube steel. All light duty (3 x 1.5") rack columns are installed with an additional reinforcing column to eliminate twisting and increase structural stability and the Bully column guard.

RackmedX eliminates costly and time-consuming tasks, including unloading racks (in most cases), purchasing new racks, dealing with expensive shipping costs, and dismantling and installing new racks.

  • What is the difference in EconomaX and RackmaX pallet rack repair components?

    EconomaX components are fabricated to provide excellent protection at economical prices. EconomaX components include the 11-ga Bully column guard (or optional 1/4" wall construction) to protect against impact damage (standard) or angle deflector (optional, no charge) seismic footplates that allow 2 - 4 anchor bolts to be installed to reduce shearing and twisting of the column when impacted. Full perimeter welds assure the column will not separate from the footplate on impact. These (EconomaX) are our most popular rack repair components. They are suitable for all damage and are available 12" to 144" in height.

  • How long does it take to repair a rack column?

    Our crews will repair between 30 to 50 per day depending on the height of the damage. Your maintenance personnel or a dealer installer may need 1 hour per repair.

  • Our safety regulations are very strict. Can you assure me repairs can be made safely?

     Our crews are experienced in manufacturing and distribution environments and respect and enforce your safety rules. We highly recommend you speak to some of our clients.

RackmaX components are designed for maximum impact protection and are especially designed for high-traffic and end-of-aisle locations where rack damage is frequent and recurring. RackmaX components are fabricated with 3/16" tube steel. All EconomaX and RackmaX components include hardware, seismic footplates, X-braces as needed, and color-match paint.

  • If I choose welded installation, can I be assured that this can be done safely in my facility?

    RackmedX crews have welded in many facilities where this has been a major concern. These have included clothing manufacturers, paper-bag warehouses, and even NASA where high-tech equipment for the space shuttle is warehoused. Our crews are especially equipped for these facilities. 

  • How do I get a survey of my facility?

    Contact our office. We will discuss your needs and determine if a free survey is needed. Generally the survey is available for large facilities anywhere in the U.S. with many damaged locations. If it is cost-effective, we will survey any facility of any size. We can also provide forms you can use to survey your facility to get an estimate of repair and/or component costs.

  • What information will I receive on the survey?

    You will receive a document in Excel format that lists location, type of damage, and recommended repair for each location and the exact cost by location. The survey is a good management tool for the facility operator.

  • What exactly does your price include?

    Our quoted price for factory-installed repairs is your net cost. Our crews arrive at your facility with all prefabricated components and our equipment on our truck. Price includes color-match paint, anchor bolts, protection, and installation. Very large orders may require shipping.


    A deposit of 50% of the total order is required for orders over $10,000 and custom orders that are not in-stock components. Our self/dealer-installed components include color-match paint and all hardware, including anchor bolts. You will have shipping costs.

  • How much time is needed from start to finish?

    For self-installed components, we ship in 2 weeks. For factory-installed repair, crews can usually repair 250 columns per week. Once our technician performs the survey and we quote the project and receive a PO, we can start repairs in your facility in 3 weeks.