Pallet Rack Safety & Repair Blog | DAMOTECH

Pallet Rack Identification Visual Guide: How to Determine the Manufacturer (OEM)

Written by Damotech - Rack Safety | July 29, 2025

Identifying Who Manufactured Your Racks and Why It Matters

In warehouse operations, not all pallet racking is created equal, and not all of it is clearly labeled. Legacy installations, inherited systems from acquisitions, and multi-vendor layouts can make identifying the racking’s original manufacturer challenging, yet knowing the manufacturer of your rack is critical for part replacements and repairs.

We’ve included a pallet rack identification chart to help you visually compare North America’s most common (and less common) pallet rack systems and manufacturers. Whether upgrading or replacing components, recognizing your rack type prevents costly mismatches and potential safety hazards.

How to Identify Pallet Rack Manufacturers (OEMs)

Pallet rack systems may look similar, but each manufacturer builds in unique features.

It’s important to distinguish between rack style and rack brand. For example, teardrop racking, easily identified by its rounded tear-shaped punch holes, is widely used across North America. Brands like Interlake Mecalux, Ridg-U-Rak, Speedrack, Steel King, Hannibal, and Husky pallet racking each manufacture variants of this style, and many are not cross-compatible, especially regarding beam hardware.

On the other hand, structural pallet racking uses hot-rolled C-channel steel with bolted connections. It offers superior rigidity but requires more planning to modify or replace.

Why Identifying a Pallet Rack's Manufacturer Can Be Hard

Identifying your racking brand sounds simple—but it’s not. Here’s why:

  • Missing ID plates are common.
  • Inherited systems from previous tenants or expansions add mystery.
  • Discontinued brands, such as Triple A, Frick Gallagher, and Artco, are no longer manufactured.
  • Mixed inventories often include Interlake pallet racks, Frazier racking, and custom-built racks.
  • Lookalike punch patterns can differ in spacing, gauge, and clip style.

Even if you think you’ve identified a rack, using the wrong part can cause misalignment—or worse, a safety hazard.

Identifying Upright Punch Styles on Pallet Rack Column Profiles

Pallet rack uprights are punched with holes—called punch patterns—that allow beams to connect to the columns. While these holes vary in size, shape, and spacing between manufacturers, three punch types dominate most rack systems in North America:

  • Teardrop: The most common clip-in style, known for its rounded, droplet-shaped holes. Popular among Interlake, Husky Rack & Wire, and Ridg-U-Rak systems.
  • Rectangular or Square: These are found in Redirack, Republic, and other bolt-in systems. The holes are evenly spaced for secure bolted connections.
  • Slotted or Keyhole: A mix of round and oblong openings—often seen in Speedrack or older Rapid Rack designs.

These punch styles allow for fast installation and modular reconfiguration, especially in roll-formed systems. Structural racking, by contrast, uses bolted hardware and C-channel steel, offering higher impact resistance but requiring more effort to modify.

Rack Identification Table

Column Styles for Top Pallet Rack Manufacturers in North America

Arcan Arcan (BB Rack) Arco
     
Beam Lock Burtman Centennial
     
Cubic Dexion Emi
     
Frazier Frazier HD Frick Gallagher
     
Hartman Hartman Hi-Line
     
Hi-Line HD Inca/Fico/D'Altrui Interlake HD
     
Interlake HD, Special Configuration Interlake New Generation Interlake New Generation HD
     
Kingway Mastorack Maxi-Rack
     
M-I/D'Altrui Pacific Pacific HD
     
Palmer Shile Paltier Penco
     
Rapid Rack Redirack HD Republic
     
Rid-U-Rack Rid-U-Rack Sammons
     
Speed Rack Speed rack HD Steel King
     
Sturdi-Bilt Triple A Unarco
     
Unarco II USP Webb

 

Download the Complete Pallet Rack Identification Guide

Download the complete Pallet Rack Identification Guide and scroll through the full visual chart of 40+ OEM rack styles.

 

Pallet Racking Dimensions and Pallet Racking Types

While identifying the manufacturer of your pallet rack is critical, understanding standard pallet racking dimensions and common pallet racking types is equally important for ensuring compatibility, safety, and proper repairs.

Common Pallet Racking Dimensions

Pallet rack components are not universally interchangeable. Even small differences in pallet racking sizes can pose serious safety risks. Key dimensions to verify include:

  • Frame depth (e.g., 36", 42", 48")
  • Frame height
  • Beam length (typically 96", 108", 144")
  • Beam step size
  • Upright column width and thickness
  • Hole pattern spacing (teardrop, slotted, structural bolt-on, etc.)

Beam connector styles, hole spacing, and column thickness vary by manufacturer, which is why accurate identification is essential before ordering replacement parts or repair kits.

Common Pallet Racking Types

There are several primary pallet racking types used in North American warehouses:

  • Selective (Teardrop) Racking – The most common system, offering direct access to every pallet.
  • Structural (Bolted) Racking – Heavy-duty, bolted connections, typically used in high-impact or high-capacity environments.
  • Drive-In / Drive-Through Racking – Designed for high-density storage.
  • Push-Back Racking – Uses nested carts for deep-lane storage.
  • Pallet Flow Racking – Gravity-fed system for FIFO operations.
  • Cantilever Racking – Designed for long or irregular loads (not traditional pallet storage).

Each system has different engineering requirements and damage considerations. Before modifying, repairing, or replacing components, confirm the rack type and its exact dimensions to maintain structural integrity and code compliance.

How to Repair Damage on OEM Racking

Damotech engineered repair kits are custom-manufactured for ANY racking system, from standard teardrop designs to obscure or discontinued profiles. So no matter whether you were able to identify your original rack manufacturer (OEM), or not, Damotech can repair it.

Even when your racking system lacks identification labels or documentation, Damotech can restore it safely to full compliance. We don’t depend on OEM part numbers or compatibility guesses. Our engineers inspect the damage, take precise measurements, and build repair kits tailored to your specific needs, restoring capacity without disrupting your warehouse.

Damotech has repaired virtually every rack style ever manufactured, from structural C-channels to roll-formed uprights. Each kit is engineered to match the original load capacity, comply with ANSI MH16.1, and install quickly with minimal to no unloading.

If the manufacturer can’t be identified, we can still repair it. That’s what we do.

Damotech doesn’t solely rely on identification labels. We depend on precise measurements and engineered solutions.

Damotech Can Repair Racks from Any OEM

We repair every major rack type in North America. Below are just a few, grouped by style:

Repair Teardrop Racks

  • Interlake, Unarco, Ridg-U-Rak, Husky, Speedrack

Each manufacturer designs its own variation of these punch patterns. Damotech’s custom repair kits fit every style—there is no guessing or mismatching.

Repair Bolt-In / Rectangular Punch Racks

  • Redirack, Konstant, Republic, Rapid Rack, Pedler (Maxi Rack)

Square or rectangular punch-outs differ in spacing and beam fit. Damotech measures your damaged upright and custom a solution that matches the original load capacity—no sourcing of obsolete hardware needed.

Repair Structural & C-Channel Racks

  • Frazier, Frick Gallagher, Sturdi-Bilt

Built with hot-rolled C-channel steel, these are strong but hard to modify. Damotech repairs restore their structural integrity, without complete replacement or downtime.

Repair Discontinued Racking Systems (or Unknown)

  • Triple A, Artco, M-I (D’Altrui), Custom Fabrications, Paltier, Hiline, Amerlock, Mirack, Webb Lock, Palmer Shile

No manufacturer? Not a concern. We engineer safe, compliant repairs for most pallet rack systems.

Have damaged pallet racks in your warehouse?
We’ll send a Damotech expert to your facility at no cost.
On-site visit by a certified rack specialist
Expert advice on how to fix the damage
Detailed quote with engineered repair recommendations
Request your FREE rack repair assessment →

 

How Damotech Makes Repairing OEM Racks Simple

Our process starts with a visual examination of the damaged upright. Damotech’s experts measure the upright, assess the damage, its height, and analyze load requirements. We then manufacture a repair solution that fully restores the racking system's structural integrity.

Every kit is made-to-measure, bolted-on (no welding), and typically installed in under an hour. It is ANSI and OSHA-compliant and includes a lifetime warranty with our top-of-the-line DAMO PRO. Replace only what’s damaged—stay safe, stay efficient.

Are you unsure whether to repair or replace a damaged upright? Use our calculator to see your 10-year return on investment (ROI) when repairing damaged uprights with Damotech kits versus replacing them with new OEM uprights.

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Ready to Make a Damaged Rack Safe Again?

Don’t risk mismatched parts or wait months for OEM replacement uprights. Choose the faster, safer path.

  • Avoid compatibility mistakes
  • Skip manufacturer delays
  • Stop overpaying for full replacements

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