Pallet Rack Shelving: Maximizing Space Use

You will be surprised by how much more space you can virtually have by investing in pallet rack shelving. There are so many different designs and models available to accommodate any type of material regardless of shape and weight. Work and organization becomes so much easier since these are very systematic and properly set for easy storage and pickup.

About the Shelves

Pallet rack shelves are engineered structures made of very tough wood or steel which generally function to store and hold a variety of pallets and other materials. These are frequently found in warehouses, industrial plants and other storage facilities. The shelving system helps a lot in terms of organizing and locating items because they can be categorized in lanes and levels. You get to store similar items together. The shelves are also highly resistant to temperature, corrosion, dust and moisture so they keep goods relatively clean and secure. These are especially good for perishable products to ensure that they go out before the due dates.

Features

Pallet rack shelving may differ in terms of structural material, size and load capacity. Some may be made of heavy duty steel, aluminum or wood. There are also different lengths, heights and widths available to store different objects. Irregularly shaped items and extra long objects require larger spaces. Some shelves can hold up to a thousand pounds of weight or more depending on the supportive structures available.

Some shelves are pre-engineered and ready made while others can be custom-made according to your specifications. If you plan to have the shelves shipped to your location, you may have to assemble everything yourself. The good thing is that most models are very easy to assemble. There are boltless versions that do not even require any tool to set up. The shelves and levels in almost all models can be removed or added depending on how much space you need. Accessories are also available to suit all kinds of stored loads like lights, dividers, row spacers, baskets, post clamps, foot plates, cantilever shelves and shelf labels.

Shelf Types

Traditional shelf designs are made of steel with a solid steel base, angular posts and frames. The pallets are simply loaded and stored in each level. Posts are added along the length of the entire shelf to equally distribute support and weight. Light duty versions make use of wire shelving which has a wire mesh base allowing more air circulation, better visibility of stored materials and better light entry. The levels are removable too depending on the space needed. One advantage of wire mesh bases is that these are self-cleaning and do not easily hold dust. Beams secure the entire structure while rail guards keep pallets and items from falling off the shelves.

Pallet rack shelving may also come with concealed solid rear sides to keep items from falling at the other end. The shelves are able to hold loads from 500 to 2000 pounds. Heavy duty models can hold up 6,000 to 10,000 pounds. These storage equipments can be ordered online for as low as $47 per shelf. Structural steel costs more but comes with a 1-year warranty. Dealers should also provide you with an instructional manual on how to set up the shipped components on your own. Pallet rack shelving will function for several years making it an indispensable item in the workplace.