Procurement 12 · Comparing bids on the same basis
Pallet racking price and lead time: what the number includes.
Racking quotations are difficult to compare because suppliers price different scopes and call them the same thing. One includes decking, guards, delivery and installation; another quotes bare frames and beams ex-works and looks 20% cheaper. This page explains what drives cost, what a complete quotation contains, and how to write an enquiry that comes back comparable.
In brief
Pallet racking price is driven by steel weight, system type, finish, accessories, height and scope. Quotations are hard to compare because suppliers price different scopes, so compare price per pallet position at the same capacity, span and scope.
- Steel weight is the dominant cost, which is why capacity without a stated span is commercially meaningless.
- Compare price per pallet position on identical scope — not price per bay and not price per tonne.
- Selective fabrication runs 3–4 weeks after drawing approval; galvanising, drive-in, push back and pallet flow take longer.
- The clock starts at drawing approval, so fast approvals are the most effective way to protect an installation date.
01 — What moves the price
Six cost drivers, in order of impact
Racking is fundamentally a steel product. Capacity, height and span all increase section size and therefore weight, and weight is the dominant cost. This is why a capacity figure quoted without a span is meaningless commercially as well as technically.
Selective is the lowest cost per pallet position. Drive-in and push back cost more per bay but store far more pallets in the same building. Shuttle and mobile systems add equipment cost on top of structure.
Powder coating is the standard. Hot-dip galvanising adds material cost and lead time as an external process, and is a requirement rather than an option in cold and washdown environments.
Decking, support bars, guards, row spacers and load notice plates are frequently omitted from cheap quotations. They are the difference between a structure and a safe structure.
Taller runs need heavier uprights and more bracing, and installation takes longer with more access equipment. Cost per pallet position still usually improves with height, up to the limits of your trucks and sprinklers.
Ex-works, delivered, or delivered and installed — three very different prices for the same steel. Always compare on the same scope boundary.
02 — What a complete quotation contains
The checklist for comparing pallet racking bids
- Steel grade and finish specification, stated explicitly — not just ‘powder coated’.
- Load per beam level as a UDL at a stated clear span, plus the deflection limit.
- Load per bay, separate from the level capacity.
- Bay dimensions: clear span, frame depth, frame height, beam elevations.
- Full component schedule with quantities, including decking, guards, spacers and pins or bolts.
- Number of pallet positions delivered — the figure you are actually buying.
- Delivery scope and destination, and who unloads.
- Installation scope, including anchoring, plumbing and load notice plates.
- Lead time from drawing approval, stated separately from delivery time.
- Structural calculations and drawings provided before fabrication.
- Warranty terms and availability of replacement components.
03 — Programme
Typical lead times by system
| System | Fabrication after drawing approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selective | 3–4 weeks | Standard configurations; the shortest programme available |
| Double deep | 3–4 weeks | Similar to selective; a reach truck is often the longer lead item |
| Drive-in / drive-through | 4–6 weeks | More components per position; rails and brackets |
| Push back | 4–6 weeks | Cart assemblies are the pacing item |
| Pallet flow | 5–8 weeks | Roller beds, brakes and separators |
| Shuttle / mobile | By project | Structure and equipment procurement run in parallel |
| Hot-dip galvanising | Add to any of the above | An external process after fabrication |
Drawing approval is the clock start, so the fastest way to protect your date is to return approved drawings quickly. Delivery and installation are scheduled after fabrication and depend on site readiness.
04 — How to buy
From enquiry to handover
- 01
Enquiry
Send pallet weight and size, load height, pallet positions required, building dimensions and clear height, forklift type and operating temperature. WhatsApp is fine; most enquiries reach us that way.
- 02
Layout and budget
A first-pass layout with pallet position count and a budget figure, usually within two working days. Free, including for buildings we did not rack.
- 03
Survey and design
Free site survey across Greater Jakarta. Design review with your operations team, then final drawings and verified capacities.
- 04
Firm quotation and order
Firm price against approved drawings, with a clear scope boundary. Order confirmed with a deposit; PO and invoice issued by PT. Tangguh Adi Perkasa.
- 05
Fabrication and delivery
Roll forming, punching, welding, surface preparation and coating in our own Bekasi plant, quality checked, then shipped knocked down.
- 06
Installation and handover
Setting out, plumbing, anchoring, guards and safety components fitted, load notice plates installed, and handover with as-installed capacities.
Questions buyers ask
Frequently asked questions
How much does pallet racking cost per pallet position in Indonesia?
It varies too widely with capacity, height, system and finish for a single figure to be useful, and any supplier quoting one before seeing your load case is guessing. Send your pallet weight, positions required and building height and we will return a budget figure within about two working days.
Why are quotations from different suppliers so hard to compare?
Because scopes differ. One price may be ex-works bare structure, another delivered and installed with decking, guards and load notice plates. Compare price per pallet position at the same capacity, span and scope, and the differences usually resolve quickly.
Is factory-direct actually cheaper?
It removes the intermediary margin, and it means the person quoting is the person fabricating, so the capacity and lead time you are told are the ones the plant will deliver. It also means component replacement years later comes from the same production line.
What is the lead time for standard selective racking?
Typically three to four weeks of fabrication after drawing approval, then delivery and installation. Galvanising, drive-in, push back and pallet flow all take longer; the table above gives realistic ranges by system.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes, orders are confirmed with a deposit, and PO and invoice are issued by PT. Tangguh Adi Perkasa. Terms are set out in the quotation before you commit.
Do you supply and install outside Greater Jakarta?
Yes, across 34 provinces. Racking ships knocked down, so freight is proportional to steel weight, and installation crews travel with the shipment. Free site survey applies to Greater Jakarta; elsewhere a survey visit is arranged within the project programme.
Talk to engineering, not a call centre
Comparing quotations? Send us the others and the specification.
We will tell you what each scope actually includes and where they differ, even where that comparison does not favour us. An informed buyer is a repeat buyer.