Shelving and Racking – What’s the Difference?

At Metalrax Storage we design, manufacture and install steel shelving – “Metal Racks” which seems simple enough to understand, but many outside of the industry become confused when they see the terms shelving and racking – not knowing the difference and wondering which one is right for them. In truth, shelving and racking can be one and the same thing but different market sectors have their own preferences for which term to use.

For example, in a library you will probably refer to such storage products as book shelving. Recently, Metalrax Storage fitted out a large Scottish library with steel shelves on which books are stored. However, during the same period we also supplied the identical product to a major retailer with storage for their back of stores but they ordered stock racking. So at Metalrax we use both the terms shelving and racking according to market sector and preference.
However, and just to complicate matters, some manufacturers segment shelving and racking according to the method by which they are loaded and picked from. 
In this case, racking is always loaded mechanically. There are many ways of mechanically loading racking including fork lift trucks and cranes with the former being the most popular. You find this type of racking in large distribution centres by the side of motorways where goods are stored and moved on pallets from which comes the term “pallet racking”. These days most pallet racking has adjustable frames and is known as APR or adjustable pallet racking although racking with welded frames are also available from some suppliers. 
If you follow this logic it’s obvious that shelving is used for anything which is hand loaded and picked from. So these shelves include archives, retail back of store and libraries. Different market sectors have different requirements for storage so there are many different types of shelving according to the stock / material to be stored. Shelving comes in different sized “bays” with open or closed frames according to the material being stored.
If I’ve managed to confuse you about racking and shelving don’t worry, all you need to do is pick up the phone and call Metalrax Storage on 0121 772 8151 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Simply let us know what you are storing and a rough idea of the size of your storage space and we’ll be able to give you advice over the phone or send in one of engineers for a no obligation survey. That way you don’t need to worry about which term to use, racking or shelving or should it be shelving and racking?

For example, in a library you will probably refer to such storage products as book shelving. Recently, Metalrax Storage fitted out a large Scottish library with steel shelves on which books are stored. However, during the same period we also supplied the identical product to a major retailer with storage for their back of stores but they ordered stock racking. So at Metalrax we use both the terms shelving and racking according to market sector and preference.

However, and just to complicate matters, some manufacturers segment shelving and racking according to the method by which they are loaded and picked from. 

In this case, racking is always loaded mechanically. There are many ways of mechanically loading racking including fork lift trucks and cranes with the former being the most popular. You find this type of racking in large distribution centres by the side of motorways where goods are stored and moved on pallets from which comes the term “pallet racking”. These days most pallet racking has adjustable frames and is known as APR or adjustable pallet racking although racking with welded frames are also available from some suppliers. 

If you follow this logic it’s obvious that shelving is used for anything which is hand loaded and picked from. So these shelves include archives, retail back of store and libraries. Different market sectors have different requirements for storage so there are many different types of shelving according to the stock / material to be stored. Shelving comes in different sized “bays” with open or closed frames according to the material being stored.

If I’ve managed to confuse you about racking and shelving don’t worry, all you need to do is pick up the phone and call Metalrax Storage on 0121 772 8151 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Simply let us know what you are storing and a rough idea of the size of your storage space and we’ll be able to give you advice over the phone or send in one of engineers for a no obligation survey. That way you don’t need to worry about which term to use, racking or shelving or should it be shelving and racking?