Warehouse shelving for heavy merchandise is designed to be durable and safe, to maximize storage space, and to provide easy access to merchandise.
Design tips of heavy-duty shelving
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Durability
Typically made from steel beams, shelving sits on the floor and holds bulky, heavy merchandise. These retail shelving units can be more than 20 feet tall and can hold hundreds of heavy items. Shelving is rated by the amount of weight it can hold, and is offered in various sizes, shapes, and dimensions.
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Safety
Shelving is designed to hold up under the excessive weight of the merchandise it holds without collapsing, thereby preventing financial loss because of damaged merchandise or harm to employees caused by falling merchandise.
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Allows for economical use of space or easy access to merchandise
Selective pallet racking systems allow for easy access (best used for high merchandise turnover), while high density storage pallet systems are space-efficient.
The most common warehouse retail shelving option
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Cantilever pallet racks
Designed to store merchandise on pallets or "skids," cantilever pallet racks store pallets of materials in horizontal rows, in multiple levels. Forklift trucks are used to place pallets onto the pallet racks, and efficiently store merchandise to make the best use of space.
Types of pallet racking systems
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Selective pallet racking systems
Selective pallet racking systems are the most cost-effective storage option, their cost is per pallet, and allow for easy access to merchandise. These systems are best used in warehouses where many different kinds of products are stored together, and/or where there is high turnover.
Types of selective pallet racking systems:
Roll-formed
Roll formed or "teardrop" are the most common type of selective pallet racking systems, and best used if you need to store products that are many different sizes; shelves can be adjusted easily to different heights.
Structural
Structural pallet systems are similar to "teardrop" pallet racking systems, but they can bear much more weight. Racks can be constructed, dismantled, reconfigured, and reused as needed.
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High density racking systems
Best used to store large quantities of the same merchandise (so that easy access to all merchandise is not required), high density storage options make the best use of space by tightly packing pallets of stored goods together.
Types of high density racking systems:
Pallet flow
Pallet flow rack systems focus on depth to maximize space usage. A slightly inclined rail moves pallets along sloped plates (also called gravity flow systems). Some systems are loaded from the back and unloaded from the front, while others are loaded entirely from the front.
Drive in and drive-through
With these systems, the forklift drives directly into stacked rows of merchandise to reach the necessary products. If a system is drive-in, the entry and exit is the same for the forklift, while the drive-through has an entry point at one end of the stacked rows (called a "bay") and an exit at the other.
Compact mobilized pallet
These "motorized" pallet racks or "mobile industrial rack systems" maximize storage space usage and can cut the amount of storage space needed in half. Pallet racks are moved by pushing a button or by using the remote control; instead of using established aisles, pallet racks are moved to provide necessary access.
All types of shelving systems are made to industry standards and accredited for safety.
Which set up should you use for your warehouse retail shelving design space?
Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, and will depend on your own particular space. Selective pallet systems are less expensive by pallet than high density options are, but high density systems are necessary if you need to optimize storage space to lower costs.
