Many storage applications require heavy-duty shelves to store their products safely. Bulky, heavy, odd-shaped, and palletized products won’t work with your standard snap-together or wire shelving.
Heavy-duty racking and shelving, like pallet racking and cantilever racking, stores loads of any size safely and efficiently. It comes in many shapes and sizes with capacities ranging from 250 lbs to over 10,000 lbs per shelf level. Customizable and easily reconfigured, heavy-duty shelves make a great fit for unique and changing storage environments.
This blog aims to introduce the many types of industrial shelving on the market and help customers narrow down the options for their storage space. To learn more, call 888-680-2256 or fill out an online quote form. Cantilever Rack Now specializes in cantilever racking, but we can refer you to our warehouse design division, which works with all heavy-duty warehouse shelving and storage solutions!
What Are The Different Types of Industrial Shelves?
“Industrial shelves” encompass various heavy-duty shelving systems, from static steel shelving and pallet racking to dynamic pallet flow, push-back systems, and more. Here are some of the most popular types of industrial shelving and racking systems:
Heavy Duty Steel Shelving
Heavy-duty steel shelves are a sturdy, static shelving option for non-palletized products. Open and closed designs each offer unique benefits. Closed shelving units are more secure with full side and back panels and can easily be reconfigured into a lockable cabinet. Open shelving is more economical, with better visibility and accessibility.
Additional steel shelving styles include low-profile shelving to save vertical space and bulk storage shelving for extra heavy loads. Steel shelving is versatile and ideal for personal or commercial use.
Selective Pallet Racking
Selective pallet racking is the most common warehouse shelving solution for palletized products. It is a more robust version of heavy-duty shelves with upright frames and horizontal beams to store pallets securely. Selective pallet racking can reach virtually any height and depth, making it a perfect space-efficient option for warehouses of any kind.
Cantilever Racking
Cantilever racking looks different from any other heavy-duty shelf or rack system. In this industrial shelving system, cantilevered arms protrude horizontally from a series of upright columns to specifically store long and bulky products. Visit our cantilever rack guide to learn more and shop cantilever racking online.
Dynamic Pallet Racking Systems
Dynamic pallet racking systems incorporate movement in their designs to offer various unique benefits and configurations. Dynamic racking may or may not include automated components. Automated pallet racking systems include shuttle systems and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS).
Non-automated dynamic systems include push-back, carton flow, and pallet flow racking. Push-back racking utilizes a series of rolling carts and rails on which pallets rest and are pushed back into the system with the addition of each new pallet. Pallet and carton flow utilize inclined wheel beds or roller lanes to pull products from the loading to the picking aisle.
How Much Weight Can Industrial Shelves Hold?
Industrial shelves and pallet racking can store immense loads. On the lighter side of the spectrum, heavy-duty shelving is rated for loads of around 200 lbs to 1200 lbs per shelf. On the heavier side, industrial pallet rack shelving systems can store up to 10,000+ lbs per level.
With this range of capacities, there are plenty of shelving opportunities for applications of any kind! For help determining the best heavy-duty shelving for your application, call 888-680-2256 or complete a quote form today!
