Industrial Shelving – The Key Questions

When selecting the correct type of shelving system for your application it’s important to know the questions to ask. In this article we will examine what industrial shelving means and how it differs from other systems. Metalrax Storage has been supplying industrial shelving since the mid-20th century, so we know a thing or two about it. Since we first began trading in 1946 we have developed individual ranges and applications ideal for industrial and commercial applications. With the widest range of industrial shelving systems available, and the most experience, Metalrax Storage will never try and shoe horn in the wrong product. We provide theorrect product for your needs. 

When selecting the correct type of shelving system for your application it’s important to know the questions to ask. In this article we will examine what industrial shelving means and how it differs from other systems. Metalrax Storage has been supplying industrial shelving since the mid-20th century, so we know a thing or two about it. Since we first began trading in 1946 we have developed individual ranges and applications ideal for industrial and commercial applications. With the widest range of industrial shelving systems available, and the most experience, Metalrax Storage will never try and shoe horn in the wrong product. We provide the correct product for your needs. 

So what is industrial shelving? Broadly speaking, industrial shelving and storage racks are hand loaded and decanted systems used in heavier duty applications than commercial markets. Anything which is mechanically handled is usually stored on pallets and is known as pallet racking or APR (adjustable pallet racking). Although APR can be used as industrial shelving by fitting steel or wooden panels into the bays, it is designed to resist knocks from equipment and to take very high loads. If you don’t need those features, you’re wasting money. 
So what are the typical characteristics of industrial shelving? These include a robust design, high payload and the ability to be configured in different ways according to the customers need. 
Robust Design.
Many shelf or rack designs are not suitable for use as industrial shelving because they are designed with light steel gauge suitable for other applications. If higher loads areapplied the shelves deflect or bend to unacceptable levels. There is a SEMA (Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association) guide for the acceptable level of deflection of 5.7mm at the centre of the shelves and racks.So it pays to ask your supplier if the system he if offering has been fully tested to SEMA standards.Of course a suitably robust system can better resist the inevitable knocks you get in industrial applications.
Payload.
Industrial shelves are normally required to carry heavier payloads than commercial applications. So make sure you check the maximum load needed against the offer being made. Load is often termed the UDL which stands for universally distributed load. But don’t just accept what the supplier says; ask if the industrial shelves on offer have been tested to the SEMA technical code. If this cannot be produced then you’re taking an unnecessary risk. All Metalrax Storage, industrial shelves have been fully tested to – and are compliant with – the SEMA technical code.
Configuration.
Look at the dimensions of your goods and storage space. The correct industrial shelving should give you an optimal solution. Is it wide enough, deep enough, tall enough or adaptable enough to maximise your space and exactly match your products? Unlike a well-designed industrial shelving range, standard shelving has very limited configurations. And there’s more.  Do you have good headroom? If so, an industrial shelving range can be configuroued in a multi-tier format to use that dead space in the air. And if you are considering high density mobile storage you need to know if themobile base and track design is strong enough for use in a factory or warehouse? 
With the widest range of industrial shelving systems available and many years’ experience with high density storage, both multi-tier and mobile, Metalrax Storage is the business best suited to provide you with an optimal industrialshelving solution meeting your exact needs.

So what is industrial shelving? Broadly speaking, industrial shelving and storage racks are hand loaded and decanted systems used in heavier duty applications than commercial markets. Anything which is mechanically handled is usually stored on pallets and is known as pallet racking or APR (adjustable pallet racking). Although APR can be used as industrial shelving by fitting steel or wooden panels into the bays, it is designed to resist knocks from equipment and to take very high loads. If you don’t need those features, you’re wasting money. 

So what are the typical characteristics of industrial shelving? These include a robust design, high payload and the ability to be configured in different ways according to the customers need. 

Robust Design

Many shelf or rack designs are not suitable for use as industrial shelving because they are designed with light steel gauge suitable for other applications. If higher loads areapplied the shelves deflect or bend to unacceptable levels. There is a SEMA (Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association) guide for the acceptable level of deflection of 5.7mm at the centre of the shelves and racks.So it pays to ask your supplier if the system he if offering has been fully tested to SEMA standards.Of course a suitably robust system can better resist the inevitable knocks you get in industrial applications.

Payload

Industrial shelves are normally required to carry heavier payloads than commercial applications. So make sure you check the maximum load needed against the offer being made. Load is often termed the UDL which stands for universally distributed load. But don’t just accept what the supplier says; ask if the industrial shelves on offer have been tested to the SEMA technical code. If this cannot be produced then you’re taking an unnecessary risk. All Metalrax Storage, industrial shelves have been fully tested to – and are compliant with – the SEMA technical code.

Configuration

Look at the dimensions of your goods and storage space. The correct industrial shelving should give you an optimal solution. Is it wide enough, deep enough, tall enough or adaptable enough to maximise your space and exactly match your products? Unlike a well-designed industrial shelving range, standard shelving has very limited configurations. And there’s more.  Do you have good headroom? If so, an industrial shelving range can be configuroued in a multi-tier format to use that dead space in the air. And if you are considering high density mobile storage you need to know if themobile base and track design is strong enough for use in a factory or warehouse? 

With the widest range of industrial shelving systems available and many years’ experience with high density storage, both multi-tier and mobile shelving, Metalrax Storage is the business best suited to provide you with an optimal industrial shelving solution meeting your exact needs.