Industrial Shelving Systems: Types & Considerations

23 Sep.,2024

 

Industrial Shelving Systems: Types & Considerations

In a sea of options, it can be hard to find the perfect industrial shelving system. Not only do you have to consider the type of shelving, but you also need to take a full assessment of your storage needs and your environment.

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If this all seems a bit overwhelming, don&#;t worry, we&#;re here to help. Below, you&#;ll find a quick overview of industrial steel shelving, some common options and other factors you need to know to make an informed decision.

Shelving might seem all the same to the untrained eye. But the reality is that you can find all kinds of shelving systems, and each serves a different purpose. Making the most out of your floor space means determining which type of industrial shelving is best for your facility.

Below, you&#;ll find some of the more common industrial metal shelving types. We&#;ve outlined some basic need-to-know information to get you started on the right track.

Rivet Shelving

Heavy-duty, economical and easy to install, rivet shelving is an excellent choice for many different shelving applications. If you&#;re looking for an affordable industrial shelving system that can stand up to heavy capacities, the solid steel frame construction of rivet shelving makes it a suitable candidate for industrial, warehouse or other storage environments.

Rivet shelving (pictured) is an affordable option for everything from small parts to heavy load storage.

Rivet shelving comes in a variety of wide and deep sizes, as well as decking materials. In most cases, you&#;ll choose between these decking choices:

  • Particle board
  • Wire decking
  • Plywood
  • Solid steel

Some advantages of rivet shelving include its limited hardware installation, price and wide range of sizes. But some argue that this type of shelving is less aesthetically pleasing than other shelving systems and lacks options for accessories and customization.

Bulk Rack Shelving

If your warehouse requires a hand-loaded shelving system, bulk rack shelving will be a great candidate. It can hold up to medium to heavy loads and is suitable for diverse inventories in any goods-to-person picking environment.

Keep in mind that you access bulk rack shelving by foot, and this type of shelving will not be the right choice for industrial storage environments utilizing forklifts. For that type of storage, pallet racking will offer more flexibility and access. You can, however, utilize bulk rack shelving:

  • On the floor level of your facility
  • With elevated walkways
  • With catwalk mezzanines
  • With deck-over mezzanines
With adjustable shelves, bulk rack shelving (pictured) can offer your facility flexibility when managing a diverse inventory.

Much like rivet shelving, bulk rack shelving consists of a steel frame and industrial storage shelves made of materials like particle board or metal decking.

Steel Shelving

It&#;s hard to find an environment where steel shelving wouldn&#;t be useful. You find this common style of shelving in warehouses, tool cribs, offices and more. While not as easy to assemble as rivet shelving, steel shelving outperforms in terms of versatility and overall load-bearing capacity.

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With a clip-style configuration, industrial storage shelves adapt to changing inventory easily. Using compression clips, you can quickly adjust shelving in one-inch increments. This makes steel shelving the perfect choice for small parts storage. Some steel shelving also comes in a nut and bolt configuration &#; but be aware, you&#;ll need tools to assemble this style. 

You&#;ll find a few steel shelving options:

  • Open shelving &#; This type is best for high-volume environments that need fast access for restocking and picking.
  • Closed shelving &#; If you&#;re dealing with sensitive items or need to manage possible contaminants, closed shelving can protect stored inventory.
  • Bin shelving &#; Some steel industrial storage shelves feature a smooth painted surface that works perfectly for plastic bin storage.
Clip-style steel shelving (pictured) is the most common type of steel shelving on the market today.

Considerations for Design and Layout

When planning out your shelving design and layout, you should consider quite a few factors before making any decisions. Not only will an assessment of your space and needs inform you of how to set up your shelving, but it can also help you determine what type of shelving is best for your facility.

Here are a few considerations to help you make the most of your new industrial shelving system:

  • Aisle space is an important factor. Consider both the side-to-side spacing and front-to-back dimensions of your installation if you intend to use multiple rows.
  • Consider what you will store. Pay close attention to load width, depth, height and, of course, weight. 
  • Don&#;t forget the shelf opening size. If you are dealing with tall loads, it may mean using an easily adjustable shelving style like steel shelving.
  • Factor in shelving capacity. Each shelf will carry its own capacity requirements. For very heavy loads, you may want to reach out for professional material handling consultation.
  • Watch the height of your shelving system. Before installation, ensure that obstructions like vents or sprinklers have proper clearance. This is especially important if you intend to store items on top of shelving units.

These are just a few of the considerations you should keep in mind when planning out your shelving system. If you need any assistance, our team of storage professionals is happy to assist you with facility layout and design.

Where to Find the Right Shelving System for Your Facility

Industrial shelving systems can help you make the most of your storage space. But keeping organized means finding the right storage system for your environment and storage needs. If you&#;re still in the dark about which type of shelving is best for you, reach out to East Coast Storage Equipment. We carry a large stock of different shelving types, from rivet to steel and everything in between. Our team is also more than happy to walk you through the buying process to ensure you&#;re getting the best shelving system for your warehouse. Reach out online today to get started.

Rivet vs Bolted Shelving: Best Warehouse Storage

In situations where you need to store items individually rather than in full cases, shelving is the go-to storage solution. It&#;s particularly useful when workers are picking single items at a time. Shelving is also great for keeping products separate, organised, and easy to find, mostly when you need a lot of different spots to pick from. In this article, we discuss two common and most used types of shelving: rivet and bolted. While both rivet shelving and bolted shelving meet the basic need for storing items in smaller quantities, each shelving style has its own strengths. Krost Shelving and Racking will help you figure out which shelving solution or combination is best for your warehouse by outlining the comprehensive differences between the two, which later can help you make an informed choice for your storage needs.

Rivet Shelving vs. Bolted Shelving: Understanding the Basics of Shelving 

Shelving systems are mostly utilised in scenarios where storage for individual case picking or each picking is required. They excel in environments where warehouse associates do not pick entire cases but rather individual pieces. Moreover, shelving solutions are pivotal in situations demanding a high number of pick faces to keep products separated, organised, and easily identifiable.

While rivet shelving and steel shelving both address the simple storage need for &#;less than a case&#; picking situations, they each bring unique strengths and weaknesses to the table. Understanding these differences is key to determining the best fit for your storage requirements.

Bolted Shelving Differences: When to Use Bolted Shelving

Industrial bolted shelving, also known as &#;clip shelving,&#; shines in storage situations where accessories such as drawer units, dividers, and cabinet doors are necessary to separate and organise products. Its popularity stems from its reconfigurability, likened to an &#;erector set&#; for storage, allowing for customisation to meet specific picking process needs. Steel clip shelving also tends to offer a higher weight capacity per square foot of shelf space compared to other shelving types, making it an excellent option for heavier items.

Benefits of Bolted Shelving

Bolted shelving, particularly constructed from industrial steel, offers exceptional durability for harsh warehouse environments and heavy-traffic facilities. With heavy-gauge steel components from frames to corner posts, these units withstand daily wear and tear and are often seen as a permanent storage solution alongside pallet racking systems. They provide extra strength with options featuring heavy-gauge steel posts and shelf supports that are resistant to damage from warehouse machinery.

However, bolted shelving units involve the use of nuts, bolts, or clips for assembly, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming when you need to reconfigure the shelves. The presence of bolts and nuts can create potential snagging hazards in busy warehouse environments, posing a safety risk to workers and potentially damaging goods. Lastly, the fixed design of bolted shelving may limit flexibility in storage configurations, making it less adaptable to changing storage needs compared to boltless alternatives. Despite these drawbacks, bolted shelving remains a popular choice for its durability, load capacity, and suitability for heavy-duty storage applications. 

Rivet Shelving Differences: When to Use Rivet Shelving

On the other hand, industrial rivet shelving presents a straightforward solution for case-picking scenarios where bulk shelving is essential for storing cases of products. The hallmark of rivet shelving is its hardware-free design; the shelving beams&#; rivets simply slide and lock into place with their corresponding uprights. This design grants rivet shelving a broader range of size options than steel clip shelving. Typically, surfaces for storage are created by laying particle board or wire decking over the beams and uprights. Notably, recent trends towards safety and flammability concerns have seen a push for increased use of wire decking.

Advantages of Rivet Shelving

Rivet or boltless shelving is a simple, versatile storage option ideal for low- to medium-duty goods commonly found in commercial settings. Its teardrop design and pin connectors ensure easy assembly, with two main types available: single and double rivet. Single-rivet shelving offers quick installation without the need for nuts or bolts, making it suitable for lightweight items, while double-rivet shelving provides sturdier support for heavier loads. Rivet industrial shelving comes with charming advantages such as ease of installation, customizability to fit various storage spaces, and cost-effectiveness, making it a popular choice across industries.

However, rivet shelving like bolted shelving has its drawbacks. Despite its practicality, it may lack aesthetic appeal, making it less suitable for retail environments. Some standard boltless shelving prioritises easy assembly over load capacity and stability, potentially limiting its suitability for heavy-duty storage needs compared to alternatives like steel industrial shelving.

Conclusion: Need More Help?

Krost shelving and racking offer numerous shelving solutions beyond rivet and bolted shelving, including gondola, library, mobile, and warehouse shelving. These two types, however, remain among the most popular for warehouse and distribution centre needs due to their versatility and efficiency.

If you require further assistance or information on rivet shelving or steel shelving, our team is here to help. As an industry leader, we offer a variety of warehouse storage accessories tailored to your specific needs.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website ezlock.