Choosing the Right Shelving

Shelving is used to store goods and maximize space by organizing objects vertically while facilitating faster, more convenient handling.

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  • What are the most important criteria for choosing the right shelving?

    Available space: This criterion determines the height, width, and number of shelving levels. Where floor space is limited, mezzanine shelving can maximize storage capacity.

    Load type and weight: Assess the weight of the items to be stored:

    • Light loads (< 250 kg): files, folders, small plastic containers, etc.
    • Medium-heavy loads (between 250 kg and 900 kg): boxes, tires, spare parts, etc.
    • Heavy loads (> 900 kg): pallets, boats, heavy industrial equipment, etc.

    BARTELS GmbH cantilever racking

    Storage system: Storage can be fixed, dynamic, mobile, tubular, or corrugated. Your choice depends on the nature, weight, and dimensions of your load, as well as your inventory management method and supply chain.

    • Cantilever racking: For long loads
    • Dynamic shelving (with a roller system): For boxes and bins in the logistics sector
    • Mobile shelving (on rails or wheels): For light storage

    The system you choose depends on the accessibility required for operators and the handling method, whether manual or vehicle-assisted.

    The product stored: Depending on your sector and the nature of the products you wish to store, the shelving will differ. For example, you won’t need the same shelving system to store clothes as you would to store tires or food products.

    Shelving material: The material of the shelving you choose will depend on the products you will store. The most durable materials include wood, plastic (PVC), and metal (steel or aluminum). Metal shelving is particularly suitable for storing heavy products.

    Other criteria may also be important:

    Supplier documents: This includes brochures and all other documents needed to validate the actual use of a shelving system. This offers a certain guarantee of safety.

    Operator training: This is mandatory. Visual inspections must be carried out regularly, and maintenance must also be carried out regularly to ensure the safety of operators and goods.

    Safety standards: These differ from country to country, but you must comply with the standards in force in your country.

    Maintenance: Consider parts that may need to be replaced and the possibility of making additional assemblies when purchasing your shelving system.

  • Which shelving for which load?

    It’s important to know or estimate the total weight of the objects to be stored. This will help you determine the type of shelving to choose:

    OHRA heavy-duty shelving system

    Lightweight shelving: Ideal for small items (files, archives, folders, etc.) weighing up to 250 kg.

    Applications: Medical sector, offices, etc.

    Medium-weight shelving: Ideal for bulky items (boxes, crates, plastic bins, mechanical parts, etc.) weighing between 250 and 900 kg.

    Applications: Workshops, garages, store rooms, etc.

    Heavy-duty shelving: For loads over 1000 kg, such as pallets, boats, or long items.

    Applications: Warehouses

  • Which shelving for which storage system?

    Depending on the storage system, there are two main types of shelving to consider:

    Shuttle shelving

    This type of shelving allows operators and handling equipment, such as forklifts, to circulate and access products easily. Shuttle shelving can be either single-aisle (drive-in) or double-aisle (drive-through), depending on your inventory management method:

    INFISMASH mobile shelving

    • Drive-in: Single-aisle system, with LIFO (Last In, First Out) management (the last product stored is the first to be picked).
    • Drive-through: Two-aisle system, with FIFO (First In, First Out) management (the first products stored are the first picked).

    There are two types of shuttle shelving: fixed and mobile.

    Fixed shelving is made up of fixed supports, accessible via existing service aisles.

    Applications: Warehouses and stores.

    Mobile shelving: Made up of shelves mounted on supports with integrated rails, these shelving units can be moved as needed, allowing greater flexibility in space for storage or sales. They are particularly suited to small spaces.

    Applications: Warehouses, companies, etc.

    MECALUX dynamic shelving

    Dynamic shelving

    This system is sometimes composed of slightly inclined shelves so stored products slide with gravity.

    There are two possible inventory management methods:

    • The FIFO method: Double access, with loading and unloading from opposite sides. The first products placed are the first picked.
    • The LIFO/push-back method: Single-access, with loading and unloading on the same side.

    Applications: Perishable goods warehouses

  • Which shelving is right for storing everyday products?

    The following systems are suitable for conventional goods:

    Archive shelving

    GROUPE CADDIF office shelving

    • Office shelving

    They can support 80 to 200 kg per shelf. Easily interlocked and dismantled, they offer storage capacity that can be adapted to the space available. These shelving units are ideal for storing light objects such as files, binders, and folders. Solid shelves are recommended.

    • Shelving for archive rooms

    These can support up to 60 to 200 kg per shelf and can be assembled to create expandable shelving. Choose between single- and double-access models.

    Bin racks and cabinets

    • Bin racks: Ideal for storing small parts such as components and tools.
    • Bin cabinets: More robust than bin racks, these are ideal for storing larger parts and tools.

    UNION pallet and bin racking

    Tubular shelving

    Flexible, economical, and robust, these shelving units are made of steel tubes with open shelves. Their modular design enables easy adaptation to different product shapes and sizes. They can be assembled or dismantled without the need for special tools, and feature simple fastenings for easy adjustment of shelf height. They offer a durable solution that stands the test of time.

    Pallet shelving

    These shelving units are designed for warehouses and distribution centers. Made from steel, wood, or plastic, they are robust and durable. They are compatible with a wide range of forklift trucks and handling equipment.

    Cantilever racking

    Cantilever racking is a particularly resistant type of shelving, suitable for the storage of long, heavy items, with installations able to support up to 8 tons. It enables loads to be stored horizontally on the arms of the rack, making them easier to pick up with forklift trucks. Widely used in logistics, they are ideal for storing long or non-standard items made of wood or sheet metal, such as pipes, metal sections, or beams. There are two types of cantilever racking: single-sided, meant to be positioned against a wall, and double-sided, meant to store goods on both sides of the structure. Cantilever racking can be used indoors and outdoors, making it particularly suitable for the construction industry.

  • Are there any storage solutions for specific items?

    Depending on the goods you need to store, there are solutions specially designed for your needs. For example:

    Spool racks

    Used in the textile, printing, and food processing industries, these racks are generally made of sturdy steel for maximum durability. They can be fitted with adjustable arms to adapt to different spool sizes, offering quick and easy access to stored products.

    GEBHARDT tire rack

    Tire racks

    Used in the automotive industry, garages, and tire warehouses, these racks are made of sturdy steel capable of supporting the weight of tires, and their configuration is specially adapted to the shape of the tires.

    Windshield racks

    Essential for professionals in the automotive industry, these racks are designed to store and transport windshields safely, reducing the risk of damage. They are made from a variety of materials, such as steel, aluminum, or fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Steel racks are prized for their strength and durability, while those made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic are lighter and easier to transport. Additional features can be selected, such as wheels for easy movement, hooks for hanging windshields, or mechanisms for locking windshields to the rack.

    ESTANTERIAS RECORD SL garment shelving

    Garment shelving

    Made from lightweight, durable materials such as aluminum, metal, wood, or plastic, these shelving units are popular for storing and displaying textile products in warehouses and industrial dry cleaners. The shelves, which are often height-adjustable, enable flexible storage and can be adapted to items of different sizes. Their modular design means they can be easily expanded or reduced as needed. They are usually equipped with adjustable hangers for different types of garments (shirts, dresses, coats, etc.).

    Bunded shelving

    This is a multi-post shelving designed to store containers, drums, and canisters containing polluting and hazardous substances. This type of shelving is manufactured from materials with anti-flammability and anti-pollutant properties, guaranteeing safe storage of chemical and potentially hazardous products.

    DENIOS bunded shelving

  • Which material should you choose?

    The load and type of product you will store determine the most suitable material for ensuring the shelving’s durability. There are three main materials for strong, sturdy shelving: wood, plastic, and metal. In specific cases, glass can also be used.

    Wood

    Its fibrous structure makes it an attractive and naturally resistant material. It also absorbs sound. Wooden shelving can be made from solid wood, panels, or plywood.

    Applications: Archiving, offices

    Plastic

    Lightweight, rigid, and unalterable, plastic offers a good alternative for specific environments, such as cleanrooms. Plastic shelving can be manufactured from various types of plastic: thermoplastics (PVC, PP, PS, etc.), thermosets, or elastomers.

    Applications: Cold storage, catering, outdoor or wet environments, etc.

    Metal

    Metal combines good mechanical properties with aesthetic appeal, although you need to watch out for scratches and abrasions. Shelving can be made of stainless steel, ordinary steel, or aluminum. Aluminum, which is light and strong, is also hygienic and easy to maintain, especially in easily contaminated areas.

    Applications: Medical sector, laboratories, pharmaceutical sector, etc.

    Glass

    Glass is appreciated for its resistance to bending, provided it is thick enough and well polished and fastened. It is also prized for its aesthetic qualities. However, glass remains fragile and sensitive to scratches. For added safety, we recommend tempered or laminated glass.

  • What is the budget needed for installing a shelving solution?

    The price of new shelving varies depending on the number of modules installed, the maximum load, dimensions, model, and options offered. The prices below are given for one shelving module.

    Depending on the weight of the load:

    • Light loads: between €70 and €1,000
    • Medium-heavy loads: between €90 and €2,500
    • Heavy loads: between €300 and €5,000

    Depending on the model:

    • Dynamic shelving: between €850 and €2,000
    • Pallet shelving: between €700 and €1,500
    • Long-load shelving: between €700 and €1,000
    • Shelving for specific items: between €1,000 and over €3,000
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