Industrial Storage Shelves

Stack 'em high with industrial shelving for storage and inventory

Keeping inventory is plenty complicated, particularly if you deal in equipment, paper, materials and heavy items like auto parts or paint. Industrial shelving needs to be sturdy, usually metal shelves or wire, and have to hold up while keeping costs down and items organized.

The key to buying the right industrial storage shelving is to consider exactly how they'll be used. Using this guide, you'll learn to:

1. Select from different types of storage shelves: metal shelving units, pull-out shelves, etc.
2. Evaluate work spaces for industrial shelf installation
3. Find alternatives to metal shelves for storage
4. Know when to buy lighter-duty storage shelves

Storage shelves should be the right size and type

Running a pizza parlor and stocking an auto parts store bring vastly different storage shelf requirements. Speed of access, height, mobility (wheels or pull-out shelves) and sturdiness all play into your choice of storage shelves.

Consider metal shelving units before other materials

A serious warehouse or industrial setting will tear consumer-strength shelves to shreds in no time. Who will be using these storage shelves? Will workers be dumping heavy boxes on and off each storage shelf? Will forklifts or other mechanical equipment be in use nearby? Will workers put constant use on pull-out shelves.

Industrial shelving comes in many types

Unless you manage to spend some time in the backroom of a competitor, it can be pretty hard to figure which type of storage shelving will work best for your business.
storage shelves, metal shelving, and wire industrial shelving.

Even metal shelves come in several types

Wire metal storage shelves are lighter, easier to move if necessary, and don't collect dust or food (good for restaurants, for instance). Heavy-duty metal shelves, though, are better for liquids and in aisles where people move around the goods freely, such as in a warehouse.

• Sturdiness and safety are paramount. Talk with your insurance agent about industry standards for your business and ways to keep risk down when using industrial shelving.
• Warehouse shelving is heavy for a reason. If all you need is a storage shelf and nothing more, warehouse shelving be quite plain and even have wooden shelves in metal frames. Look at metal shelving units, though, if you will be rotating stock often.
• A decent storage shelf -- whether plastic, wood or metal shelves -- meets your needs without breaking your bank. Consider cost over a five or 10-year plan: What would it cost to upgrade or replace a warehouse full of metal storage shelves if you buy the wrong storage shelving?

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