When our clients are looking to buying shelving for their businesses we like to point out the numerous considerations that they should be addressing before spending their money. There are a vast amount of choices available to the customer and sometimes it is very easy to make errors which ultimately can prove to be very costly if the wrong choices are made.

The first thing to do is to speak to people who know all about shelving. Companies with sales staff who are knowledgeable about shelving products will be invaluable to the buyer. They can advise on the options available and make judgements on what style of shelving is best suited to the application that the purchaser has in mind. 

After gaining some expert insight it will then be probably best to look at the types and varieties of shelving that are available.

Finally it may be useful to seek the recommendations of a sales representative from the supplier with an onsite appointment to look at your products and the area to be used for housing the shelving.

The main points that need to be given careful thought when selecting a shelving system can be broken down as follows:

• The physical size or range of sizes of the items being stored.
• The individual and collective weight of the items being stored. Weight capacities are often expressed as UDL which stands for uniform distributed load. This is a common phrase used by shelving suppliers to express how much weight can be safely stored on each shelf. UDL indicates that products must be stored evenly with no single load point exceeding more load than the load on the remainder of the shelf.
• The quantity of the items or goods being stored.
• The limitations of the floor area to be used for the project and the overall height restrictions.
• Restrictions of access into and out of the storage area.
• The handling of items and goods by operatives and whether adequate material handling equipment is available.
• The installation of the storage system.
• The flexibility of the storage system to be able to grow as and when required.
• The flexibility of the system if it needs to be relocated at any future time.
• The total cost and ROI.

 

Different shelving systems are designed for specific purposes or environments that have features suited to specific functions. For example, there are shelving solutions for archived documents, food storage and even large sheets of steel! In fact just about anything can be stored on a shelf but important consideration has to applied correctly.

Accessible security Archive shelving systems are designed to hold standard archive files and boxes. As most businesses need to keep transaction and financial records for a period of time, it is essential that these documents are kept safe as well as being easy to access and of course that is where archive storage shelving comes in.

Heavy-duty storage for businesses dealing with heavy or bulky equipment e.g. mechanics, factories, warehouses or maintenance such as garages or workshops, having safe and secure storage for larger, heavier items such as machine parts, tools and boxed goods is a fundamental requirement for ensuring a smooth operation. Heavy Rivet Racking offers incredible value for money as well as incredible strength and rigidity. The system is yet simple to build with all parts being tapped together by a rubber mallet. All components are joined via the heavy duty rivet and key hole slot which offers a simple and effective way to assemble the racking.

Location specific shelving systems are designed to be used for very specific applications or conditions. Units for deep freezers or cold storage units, for example, are generally made from durable materials such as aluminium, chrome or plastic. These substances are highly resistant to corrosion and rust, making them ideal for cold or damp rooms or other extreme conditions. Often, the shelves themselves are formed from a perforated plastic which is slightly more difficult to mould but is able to withstand high powered wash-downs and cleansing; this is indispensable in the food industry where hygiene is paramount. Some of the shelves are perforated in order to allow air flow around the unit which helps foodstuffs remain fresher for longer. 

It may be necessary in some cases to look at a totally bespoke storage solution. Not all products or site requirements can be catered for by standard
'off the shelf' equipment. Once again your Supplier will be used to dealing with these instances and can advise accordingly.

You will also need to consider the implication of picking and storing activities on your working practices and workforce. Risk assessment of procedures need to be carefully analysed in order to avoid accidents and damage from occurring in the areas dedicated to storage.

The installation of your storage system can also add a significant cost to the overall project. Companies often decide to install the system themselves but you have to be certain that you have the expertise, time and tools to carry out the job in order to avoid potential disaster.

 

With all of the above in mind the one thing to help you on your way with an effective and cost sensible storage solution is to consult the experts first!!!