Shelves and Racking for Storage

Racking, unlike permanent shelves, can be adjusted to suit difficult locations. Mobile racking has benefits too especially if maintenance equipment is needed to be moved around. Shelves are ideal for flat expanses of wall particularly in a pre designated work area (kitchen, garage etc.). Optimisation of this, often neglected, wall space for storage adds a breath of fresh air and a new dimension to your home.

Racking design

Employing racking and shelving design engineers for all industrial or commercial applications can be a cost saving methodology rather than to just keep adding different racks as the business need arises. Pharmaceutical, manufacturing and warehouse applications could benefit from this way of thinking too.

Types of shelves

Glass shelving which is tempered will resist all types of wear and is immune to damage from chemical spills. The load capacity of glass shelves increases with the glass thickness. Ideally, glass should be used as wall shelves but free standing glass shelves are available.

Solid wood corner shelves make great use of space that is otherwise going to waste and these shelves have the advantage that you never bump off them when passing by. For industrial shelving in small enterprises it is best to use solid wood wall shelves for durability and strength.

Strong load bearing storage

Heavy duty shelving made from a hardwood and properly fastened to the wall will last a lifetime. Aluminum racking and shelving (although light) is used mainly in ‘clean rooms’ (pharmaceutical industry) for its non-rusting qualities.

Types of racking

A portable rack or racking is versatile as you can move it around the garage, factory or warehouse. Another benefit is that you can use it on a temporary basis (perhaps while waiting for permanent rack shelving to be installed). Mobile racking can be used in applications where goods have to be transported across large distances within the warehouse without the additional handling labor of static shelves.

Lightweight storage

You may buy smaller mobile racking kits online which would be suitable for the home garage perhaps but check on the number of shelf racks and fixings that come with the kit. Don't be afraid to attempt DIY shelving in your home. There are many helpful YouTube videos (similar to the one below) available to help you.

Automated and controlled racking

Warehouse automated systems are particularly useful in industry if the warehouse footprint is small but the vertical roof space is large. Electronic controls are used for the mechanically driven shelves / trays (usually steel shelving) which allow you to access one particular shelf from many. Usually a keypad is used and you ‘call’ tray A (using the alphabet as an example there would be another 25 trays to call) which is delivered by means of a motor and pulley system to the dispensing area. You might liken it to having access to 26 different trays stacked one on top of another but with the facility to request any tray you want from a vertical ladder.

Controlled racking system

Each tray, rack or shelf will have its own dividers with bins and boxes in-situ. A raised edge perimeter helps to prevent items becoming dislodged as the shelf is driven up and down. A computer controlled racking system will provide safety and sensory control at all levels but for maintenance purposes it can revert to manual control. Automated inventory control is also possible and the vendor will be notified automatically when stock of particular items runs low. You will need to set the re-order point (ROP) with the supplier.

Shelves are for the home and racking are for industry seems to be the norm but juxta-positioning of the two storage systems is becoming more common.