Industrial Shelving: A Guide to the Common Types 

Heavy Duty Shelving Units For Hand Loading

Industrial shelving is generally defined as heavy duty shelving that is designed for safe and easy, hand loading and unloading. This differentiates it in a practical sense from pallet racking, which is designed for storing heavier items that require the aid of forklifts and powered, material handling equipment.

It is typically found in a warehouse, factory or an industrial unit. Selecting the right type of industrial shelving is crucial for optimizing space utilisation and enhancing workflow in these environments.

In this guide, we will explore the different types of industrial shelving available, their unique features, and the ideal applications for each type.

 

Common Types

Set out below is a description of the most common industrial shelving systems available. Each is designed to accommodate specific storage needs and requirements.

 

Long Span Shelving

Long span shelving (see image below) is open, flexible, heavy duty shelving that can be used singly in a garage/ shed or scaled up to provide bulk storage in a warehouse. This type of industrial shelving is much less costly than pallet racking. As a result, it represents a cost-effective way to bolster your storage capacity.

 

It is great for storing small to medium-sized items and bulky items that are hand-picked to order. For example, it is used to store automotive and other spare parts, hardware and retail goods. It is also used for general-purpose carton storage and archive storage.

Long span shelving is easy to assemble without bolts, tools or brackets. In addition, it is easy to connect units together into rows, which helps to maximise the use of floorspace.

It is made from steel and powder coated for durability. So it requires minimal maintenance. 

Whether it is a single longspan shelving unit for a garage or multiple bays for a warehouse fitout, Falcon Shelving has a variety of sizes, load capacities and colours to meet almost any need. You can see the range here or contact our expert team for advice or a quote. 

Rivet Shelving

Similar in overall shape to long span shelving, rivet shelving is essentially a cheaper, lighter-duty option. 

Rivet shelving slots together. So no tools are required for assembly.

This type of industrial shelving often comes flat packed for easy shipping.

Wire Shelving

Wire shelving is a highly versatile option for general, light-weight storage. An important aspect of wire shelving is that it is hygienic.

Air can flow easily between the gaps in the wires, which helps with temperature regulation and preventing the accumulation of dust and debris. This is crucial for temperature-sensitive items and perishable goods, including food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

This type of industrial shelving is easy to assemble and requires minimal maintenance.

Wire shelving is made from a range of different materials, which give it different storage properties and applications (see table below).

 

Material	Properties and Uses
Chrome- coated	Durable, moisture and corrosion resistant Used in wet, humid environments e.g. cool-rooms
Epoxy-coated (powder-coated)	Looks good and very durable Used in healthcare, food service, and retail settings, as well as cold room storage
Stainless steel	Hygienic - The wire mesh shelves allow excellent airflow around the products being stored, which helps with temperature regulation and preventing the accumulation of dust and debris Durable, light weight and corrosion-resistant Moisture resistant, so it's suitable for use in cool rooms and cold stores Stainless steel wire shelving is easy to assemble and needs minimal maintenance Commonly used to store perishable and temperature sensitive items Used in food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries and clean-room environments

 

Mobile Shelving

Mobile shelving, also known as compact shelving, is mounted on wheels or rails. So rows of shelving can be compacted together when not in use or moved apart to create an access aisle. In addition, brakes can be fitted to the casters, so that the shelves remain stationery when required.

Eliminating the need for fixed aisles maximizes the available storage space. So mobile shelving is a great option when space is limited. 

The addition of a hand winding mechanism or an electric motor makes moving the shelves easy.

This type of industrial shelving is ideal for high density storage applications such as those in healthcare and legal offices.

Steel Shelving (aka R.E.T Shelving or RUT Shelving)

Steel shelving is also known as R.E.T. (Rolled Edge Type) or R.U.T. (Rolled Upright Type) shelving.

It is constructed like a bookcase with a solid steel back and sides and shelves that can be adjusted up and down. This provides open access from the front, and makes it suitable for the hand picking of small, light to medium duty items. It can be set up as a single bay or installed side by side in a long row.

This type of industrial shelving is ideal for general storage, where strong reliable shelving is required. It can also be used in offices for file and archive box storage. Adding accessories like dividers and plastic trays makes it ideal for small parts storage in a warehouse.

The design flexibility afforded by steel shelving makes it easy to integrate into a wide range of environments, including: industrial warehouses, storerooms, libraries, museums, retail outlets and offices.

Add Doors and You Have a Cabinet

From a manufacturing point of view, a steel cabinet is essentially a steel shelving unit with a set of doors added. This allows cabinets to be easily integrated into a system of steel shelving.

Lockable steel cabinets are typically used to store valuable, sensitive or potentially hazardous items. They are ideal for offices, public buildings, libraries, schools, workshops, manufacturing and industrial work places.

 

Benefits of Industrial Shelving

Industrial shelving offers a number of benefits, it:

• Is free standing and quick and easy to set up. It's also easy to disassemble and transport to a new location
• Comes in a variety of heights. So it makes best use of valuable vertical space
• Comes in a variety of load limits. So it can be matched to different applications
• Is adaptable and easily added to or reconfigured. So your shelving can evolve as your storage needs change
• Is customizable and can be configured to store different sized products. So it is a good option when there is seasonal demand or high volumes of different sized products.
• Is ideal for manual put away and picking. So it helps with operational efficiency
• Is great for organizing small items, especially when combined with plastic bins, labels and dividers
• Is durable and resistant to corrosion. So your investment will last
• It can withstand impacts from machinery and is also resistant to problems arising from temperature fluctuations

 

Key Considerations When Choosing Industrial Shelving

There are three basic steps to determining the best mix of industrial storage shelving for your needs. Firstly, establish your storage requirements in terms of weight capacity, available floor and vertical space, and accessibility. Also, consider the size and shape of your space, along with ease of access and any potential obstructions or hazards.

Secondly, review the items you intend to store in relation to the features required in the shelving and the best way to organize your inventory. This process will help identify any potential problems and also help to optimize access and workflow.

Thirdly, allow for future growth and the potential to add more storage down the track. Most industrial shelving is adjustable and scalable and it’s easier to add some more shelving than move to new premises. Forward planning in this way will allow your shelving system to evolve as your needs change.

Lastly, make sure you have addressed the common issues that arise with industrial shelving in terms of: stability on uneven ground, appropriate corrosion resistance, safety and adjustability.

 

Conclusion

Choosing the right type of industrial shelving is essential for optimizing your storage capacity. With the right planning your shelving system will be a valuable investment that will keep your business working efficiently for many years.

Falcon Shelving has a wide range of long span shelving, which you can see here. We have a warehouse presence in both Sydney and Melbourne, if you wish to pick up or we can deliver to almost anywhere in Australia.