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Industrial Shelving is an essential part of any warehouse or manufacturing plant. Inventory and work in progress must be stored off the ground for safety and efficiency, and storage cabinets clearly are not the only mode of product storage. Shelving can be simple to understand so long that the types are explained somewhat. The purpose of this article is to make it's readers more informed on industrial shelving, so the purchase decision will be less stressful. Here is an executive summary of the most popular shelving for industrial use.
Traditional Open Shelving: Traditional open shelving includes four posts and several shelves. The shelving is supported by 'X' bracing on the sides and back. Capacity can vary from 100 pounds per shelf to over 800 pounds per shelf. The capacity is based on the gauge of the shelf and the structure of the shelf. Shelf design will be mentioned later in the article. These units are mostly open except for the bracing.Pass Through Shelving: Hallowell makes an industrial shelving line that is fully open. Because of a unique design, these shelving units do not require 'X' bracing at all
Traditional Closed Shelving: The same as open shelving, except these units include enclosure panels.
Boltless Shelving: These units are sometimes referred to as rivet shelving. Boltless shelving units can have much more width than a traditional shelf due to the design. The shelves are actually frames made from front to back and side to side beams. A boltless unit can be up to 120 inches wide compared to 48 inches wide for standard shelving.
Bulk Racks: These units look a bit like pallet racks but are used for hand loading, while pallet rack is for machine access
Wire Shelving: Wire shelving is fully open and are made of chrome, stainless steel, or have an epoxy covering. Wire shelving is quite attractive, and works well in a retail or high tech setting.
Starters and Adders: In designing a shelving system, the first shelving unit in a run of shelving is a starter - because it starts the run. Shelving units that add to this are adders. A run of ten units is one starter and nine adders.
As mentioned, capacity per shelf varies by gauge of steel. However, there is another factor in capacity. In order to make the most of the steel in shelving, manufacturers have started bending shelves into box beams. Effectively, a box beam shelf has the capacity of the steel plus the extra capacity of being supported by an 'I-Beam'. In the good old days, box beam was not practical as detailed welding is required in box beam shelf fabrication. Modern factories easily make these items with robotic welders.
A Plus Warehouse is a nationwide distributor for Industrial Shelving
As well as Pallet Racks
Ed Stairman is CEO and has run A Plus Warehouse since 1996
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