Long span, long term: 5 things to look for in industrial shelving

Long span shelving is that of which covers a great distance, making it a dream for warehousing solutions! When it comes to ensuring your product is efficiently stored, there is no beating this solution.

But, to get the best solution for your business’s needs, you need to look out for a few things first:

1. Materials & weight capacity

One of the ultimate considerations when choosing the best long span shelving Melbourne has is how much weight can it hold? There is typically a maximum number of kilos that each shelf level can hold as a uniformly distributed load (UDL). Each design will also come with an ultimate maximum carrying ability.

The shelf’s load capacity depends on factors such as the weight of steel and quality used in production, as well as the bracing of the beams, decks and upright components.

2. Type of deck

These solutions can be made of steel, steel mesh or timber, with the following elements:

• Steel decks are incredibly sturdy and can be powder coated for a highly rust-resistant finish;

• Wooden decks are typically made from particle board or MDF, making them perfect for an active work surface - they are typically cheaper than their steel counterparts;

• Steel mesh is ideal for archive storage, as they allow cleaning access from underneath as well a solid airflow to the archives being stored.

1. How stable is it?

Your solution must be highly stable, especially if it contains heavy loads or your flooring system is lopsided.

You should look out for the following:

• Do you have levelling plates that can be fitted underneath the unit’s footplates to make up for the floor’s lopsided-ness?

• Do the footplates have pre-drilled holes that can be attached to the floor?

• Can you attach the unit to the wall if you are unable to attach it to the floor?

1. Can you easily set it up?

Obviously, you don’t want to spend countless hours assembling the solution, so you need to gauge just how easy it will be to assemble, taking into account the tools required for assembly and whether or not the shelves can be easily adjusted once you have assembled them?

2. Does it have a modular design?

Does your solution have units that can be easily connected into longer rows or pairs? The ability to connect starter bays with additional bays can optimise storage potential and reduce the amount of investment required as you save an upright component with every connection.

3. Can you purchase individual parts?

The ability to purchase individual parts can be imperative if you wish to scale-up your operation in the future.

Consider the following:

• You may require extra long components to hold more products or awkwardly-shaped products;

• You might need extra uprights, decks and beams to change your configuration.

• You may only need one specific component for a specified application.

1. How will it look in your warehouse?

Because you don’t want an absolute eyesore taking up the wrong kind of space in your warehouse. At the end of the day, the solution should be eye-catching and easy to view as it should make your business storage needs that much easier!

These are the top considerations when choosing this imperative shelf solution. Once you have made these considerations, you should be able to find a design that is most suitable for your warehouse and the job at hand, ensuring a first class shelving solution that optimises your return on investment!