I have no shelf control! A guide to buying the best warehouse shelving

Have you ever wondered what role shelving plays in the smooth running of your warehouse? Is your stock moving as efficiently as it could? If the answer is no, the problem could be your storage. Investing in the right shelving for the job is paramount to the success of your business, and in this blog, we’re going to give you tips on how to make the right shelving choice.

Why is warehouse shelving so important?

Maximising the storage space in your warehouse is vitally important to gain flexibility for a variety of storage needs. Whether your warehouse is packed to the rafters, partially full or even temporarily empty, the efficiency of the shelving layout allows for well-organized storage that is easy to access, assess and monitor.

With the increasing demands of modern supply chain management, warehouses must store (and process) different-sized items in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible. This has led to facilities needing to be fitted out with different types and sizes of industrial shelving and storage options.

The manner in which shelving is implemented in the warehouse can ultimately help or hinder the general productivity and success of your business. Increasing efficiency and output requires strategic placement of products and utilising the correct kind of racking based on the specific industry. Another essential practice is to place your fastest-moving SKUs together in the most accessible places.

Industrial shelving systems make the best possible use of the available space and can offer excellent vertical storage options. This makes it easier for employees to provide a rapid response and excellent customer service.

What types of shelving are available?

A well-stocked warehouse shelving company offers many types of industrial storage shelves; however the three main categories include the following:

• Open shelving, closed shelving, and multi-level systems, providing both quick access to products and protection
• Boltless shelving, which features a simple installation that can be achieved with merely a rubber mallet
• Steel shelving provides robustness for maximum payload capacity in the required shape and size for your customised needs

How to determine what type of shelving you need

One size definitely doesn't fit all when it comes to designing and installing an efficient storage system. You'll have to determine how much shelving is required, the necessary amount of space and how much you can typically store per shelving unit.

• First, figure out the total width of the shelving area, i.e. the length of side-by-side space you'll require for storage
• Consider the dimensions of the goods to be stored; their width, depth and height
• Establish the overall weight of the products to be stored

Matching your storage requirements to the correct shelving solution

Even more critical is ensuring your shelving suits the types of products you supply

Just Shelving

Industrial Just Shelving is cost-effective and fully adjustable. They're exceptionally useful in many environments, including stockrooms, warehouses and storerooms. The Galvanised shelving features 5 Shelf levels per bay (3 pre-galvanised shelves on J-beams and 2 on adjustable shelf clips), and the heavy-duty units can hold up to 3000kg, suitable for storing heavy boxes. Galvanised shelving has greater resistance to wear and tear, making it a robust and durable option for warehouses.

Longspan Racking

Long-span racking and widespan shelving, available with FSC-certified chipboard or galvanised steel shelves, is ideal for storing large, heavy items. These units are boltless, providing quick, easy assembly, and are available in a variety of heights and widths, up to 3.6 m.

Pigeon Hole and Library Shelving

Pigeonhole shelving is available in a number of sizes and with a choice of compartment setup. This type of shelving is perfect for storing books and documents or for other applications where pigeonholes come in handy.

Archive Shelving

Archive shelving is suitable for storing documents, boxes and more in commercial environments. All the bays in the Solo range are 6 shelves high and available as closed or open back bays. Lightweight and heavy-duty shelving is available for archive boxes in 6 or 8-box high configurations.

Stockroom Shelving

The ultra-handy Ecorax shelving is ideal for home, office or warehouse use. The Topbox range is best suited for storing all kinds of small parts when used with the Topbox transparent plastic containers. We also have steel tray shelving bays which are ideal for stock picking due to their lowered front

Stormor Shelving

Stormor shelving is available in open or closed bays and extra shelves and bays can be added to create the shelving system you want. This adjustable shelving is ideal for use in commercial offices, warehouses and industrial places. A prime example of this is the Stormor Mono, which is also fully interchangeable with other Stormor systems.

Wall-Mounted Shelving

A wall-mounted shelving system that uses twin slot uprights with clip-in shelf brackets is the easiest and most cost-effective way to install heavy-duty shelves to walls in your office, workshop or just about anywhere where wall mounting storage is required. Our wall-mounted shelving consists of a range of bay units and twin slot shelves, brackets and uprights, such as the wall-mounted adjustable metal shelving system.

Coldroom Shelving

The cold room aluminium shelving range is an economical alternative to stainless steel shelving and is excellent for many storage needs. The frames of our aluminium shelving bays have adjustable feet so they can be used on uneven floors. They have removable plastic shelves, so cleaning them is easy. They're bolt free as well as quick and easy to assemble. The Quartermaster Airdeck shelving is ideal for clean, cold, wet and sterile environments.

Wire Shelving

When it comes to catering, food retail or general storage in cold rooms, wire shelving is the solution. They allow air to flow between the shelves which is ideal for loose fruit and vegetables, bread and other fresh foods. ESE Direct's wire shelving units are available in stainless steel, chrome or nylon. The Eclipse chrome shelving range features a strong, robust and modern design.

Taking Stock

There's no reason to be shelfish when selecting shelves for your warehouse! Depending on your business, the type of warehouse shelving you choose is fundamental to your budget as well as the organisation and flow of your products. Using available warehouse space poorly is a common problem; however, it is fortunately easily resolved with custom industrial shelving systems such as those from ESE Direct. For bespoke shelving solutions or advice planning your project, give our experts a call on 0808 258 0376 and they'll be happy to help.