Shelving & Racking Company. The Key. Between. Racking. Shelving. By Sandy Lucas

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1 Shelving & Racking Company The Key Differences Between Racking & Shelving By Sandy Lucas

2 The Key Differences between Racking and Shelving When it comes to choosing a suitable storage system, many buyers get confused about the differences between shelving and racking. While you might think there is no difference between the two, there is in fact a huge distinction. Understanding this will help you make an informed decision about the best storage solution for your needs. Here we provide an overview of the distinguishing features of each. Choosing the correct shelving or racking system will improve stock transiting operations and speed up workflow for employees, helping to improve overall productivity. Distinct Differences A key difference between shelving and racking is how they are fixed into position. Racking is anchored to the ground, whereas shelving is fixed to a wall or joined together with nuts and bolts. Racking is also a much heavier material, and can reach much higher than shelving. Bolt-on shelving Steel racking Another defining difference is the situations and environments in which each system is used. Shelving is traditionally used at home or in shops, whereas racking, although occasionally used in a domestic setting, is primarily used in warehouses. In many warehouses racking extends so high that large ladders or vehicles are needed to take down stock from the top levels. Warehousing companies are well aware that orderliness is paramount to keeping operations running smoothly. Racking and shelving must be used efficiently with this in mind. There are many different types of both, and it is important to assess which combinations are appropriate for your needs. The specific goods and systems used in a particular warehouse will inform this decision.

3 Racking: Key Elements Racking generally spans a wider space, is deeper, and is typically stacked higher than shelving. This is because in most cases racking has the advantage of using vertical height to increase cubed density. It is important to take into account all of your requirements before having any racking installed. For instance, you need to check the maximum height that your forklift can reach. You also need to consider the amount of space that your mechanised system, if you have one, needs to move freely between the racking. Not all racking systems rely on mechanisation. Some such as those used in large DIY or home improvement retail outlets, are designed to be accessed by hand. However, these variants are often cantilevered so that long, unobstructed racks can be used to store items like timber. There are, of course, racking solutions available to suit all kinds of stock transiting needs. For instance, you can get tall tiers of deep racks that are strong enough to support a multitude of heavy pallets and can only be accessed by machines. There are also tall racks combined with a steel mesh, and industrial mezzanine levels (see below) which enable employees to gain access to higher storage areas. As a rule, no matter the type, all racking also needs to be stronger than shelves which are accessed by hand. Racks also have to be able to support heavy weights of levels upon levels of palletised materials. In addition, they need to be able to withstand accidental impacts from forklifts or machinery. Therefore, always ensure that you have your shelving and racking company supply the correct weight capacities to ensure safe usage.

4 Examples of heavy duty racking, steel racking, pallet racking & industrial racking Shelving: Key Elements Shelving offers solid, counter-like surfaces on which to support items. It usually doesn't have the mesh platforms, openness or the scaffold-like look of racking. Shelving systems are predominately used for materials that need to be accessed by hand, such as books, small boxes of medicine and auto accessories. Free-standing shelves can be accessible from either one or both of the longer length sides. The length of the shelf is based on the space limitations of its sitting and the amount of weight which it is expected to hold. A shelf with a hidden internal bracket is termed a floating shelf. The vertical distance between shelves is based upon the space margins of the unit's sitting and the height of the objects. Adjustable shelving systems conveniently allow the vertical distance to be altered.

5 Before installing shelving or racking, it is advisable to have brainstorming sessions with your employees. These can help to shed light on storage needs that management may not have considered. It not only lets staff know that everyone is a stakeholder in your organisation's success, but also leads to good planning. Special Solutions Example of shelving Many creative shelving and racking solutions exist. Two examples are gondola shelving and mezzanine flooring. Brief overviews are provided below. Gondola Shelving Gondola shelving is a special type of shelving that is used mainly in supermarkets and shops. It takes the form of a double or single-sided free-standing unit with retail shelves.

6 Gondola shelving Mezzanine Flooring Mezzanine flooring solutions are another special solution; ideally suited to warehouses, industrial units and open plan offices. This robust intermediate level flooring makes optimal use of wasted high-volume space by offering a variety of functional uses, such as additional office space or extra storage capacity. There are two types of mezzanine flooring. One, with rack support, has racking installed first and then the flooring placed on top. The other uses structurally supported flooring where the structure is set up first, followed by the flooring. Optional extras include staircases and hand railings.

7 Mezzanine flooring Final Notes To make the best decision about racking and shelving systems for your warehouse, it is recommended that you talk to a company that specialises in both. They will be able to provide more information on the different types and features of racking and shelving, as well as expert advice on what kind of set-up would best meet your needs.