Case Study: Sanmina
How Material Handling USA installed a large-scale selective pallet rack system throughout Sanmina’s electronics manufacturing warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah — including both a main warehouse area and a dedicated back-room storage section.
About Sanmina
Sanmina Corporation is a global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company that designs, manufactures, and repairs complex optical, electronic, and mechanical products for original equipment manufacturers. Their Salt Lake City facility at 2417 South 3850 West handles component storage, work-in-progress inventory, and finished goods requiring organized, accessible pallet rack storage across multiple warehouse zones.
The Situation
Sanmina’s Salt Lake City manufacturing facility needed a comprehensive pallet rack system to organize storage across two distinct areas. The main warehouse — a large metal building with very tall ceilings, exposed steel trusses, and corrugated metal walls — required tall pallet rack with wire mesh decking for palletized inventory. A separate back room with concrete block walls, HVAC ducting, and lower ceilings needed a wall-run shelving configuration with closely spaced beam levels for smaller components and supplies.
As a global electronics manufacturer, Sanmina stores a diverse mix of products: raw materials, electronic components, work-in-progress assemblies, and finished goods. The rack system needed to provide direct forklift access in the main warehouse while maximizing vertical storage in both zones.
Main Warehouse Installation
The main warehouse features tall green teardrop pallet rack with orange step beams and wire mesh decking on every level. Installation photos capture the system mid-build: a Toyota forklift positions beams while wire decking panels are staged on pallets ready for placement. The metal building’s high ceiling allows for multiple beam levels, providing extensive vertical storage for Sanmina’s palletized inventory. A rolling ladder gives workers safe access to upper levels for picking and inventory management.
Back Room Storage
The back room features a wall-run pallet rack configuration with four closely spaced beam levels, creating organized shelving against the concrete block walls. Shorter uprights fit beneath the HVAC ducting while still maximizing vertical space. This section stores smaller components, tools, and supplies that don’t require forklift access — workers can pick items directly from the shelves. The clean epoxy-coated floor and proximity to a workstation desk make this area ideal for frequently accessed inventory.
The Solution
Material Handling USA designed and installed a complete selective pallet rack system using 17 upright frames (12 feet tall, 48 inches deep) connected by 72 beams (8 feet long). The system spans two warehouse zones: tall multi-level rack with wire mesh decking in the main warehouse for forklift-accessible palletized storage, and a lower-profile wall-run shelving section in the back room with four beam levels for hand-pick component storage.
The installation included freight delivery and professional assembly by Material Handling USA’s crew, with the complete system operational and ready for Sanmina’s inventory within the planned timeline.
Features
Selective Pallet Rack
Teardrop-style selective rack provides direct forklift access to every pallet position in the main warehouse, ideal for diverse electronics manufacturing inventory.
Wire Mesh Decking
Wire decking on every beam level in the main warehouse creates solid shelf surfaces for palletized goods while maintaining fire sprinkler compliance.
Dual-Zone Design
Two distinct rack configurations — tall warehouse rack and lower back-room shelving — maximize storage efficiency across the entire facility.
17 Uprights & 72 Beams
Large-scale installation with 17 upright frames and 72 beams delivers substantial storage capacity for Sanmina’s manufacturing operation.
Our Process
Facility Assessment
Surveyed both warehouse zones — ceiling heights, wall conditions, floor type, and HVAC clearances to design configurations for each area.
Engineering
Designed tall rack with wire decking for the main warehouse and lower-profile shelving for the back room, specifying 17 uprights and 72 beams.
Delivery
Coordinated freight delivery of all uprights, beams, wire decking, and hardware to the Sanmina facility.
Installation
Professional crew assembled and anchored both rack zones, using a forklift for main warehouse installation and hand assembly in the back room.
Results
Frequently Asked Questions
What pallet rack is best for electronics manufacturing warehouses?
Selective pallet rack is the most common choice for electronics manufacturing warehouses because it provides direct forklift access to every pallet position. This is critical for managing component inventory, finished goods, and work-in-progress materials with different turnover rates. Wire mesh decking adds solid shelf surfaces while maintaining fire code compliance.
How many uprights and beams are needed for a warehouse pallet rack system?
The number of uprights and beams depends on the warehouse size, ceiling height, and storage requirements. A typical mid-size installation uses 10 to 30 upright frames with 3 to 5 times as many beams. Material Handling USA engineers each system based on the specific facility layout and load requirements.
Can pallet rack be installed in both warehouse and office back rooms?
Yes. Pallet rack comes in a wide range of sizes. Tall uprights with heavy-duty beams work in main warehouse areas, while shorter uprights with closely spaced beams create efficient shelving in back rooms, storage closets, and office areas. Material Handling USA can configure both in the same project.
Does Material Handling USA install pallet rack in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Material Handling USA designs, delivers, and installs pallet rack systems for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and commercial operations throughout Salt Lake City, Utah, and nationwide.
Need Pallet Rack for Your Manufacturing Facility?
Material Handling USA designs, delivers, and installs pallet rack systems for electronics manufacturers, industrial warehouses, and commercial operations across Salt Lake City and nationwide.