Key Questions to Ask When Ordering longspan shelving Manufacturer

In summary, this blog examines the key things to look for when buying longspan shelving.

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All the Long Span Shelving Looks Very Similar

A quick search will reveal that there are many different steel shelving options out there and seemingly similar units will vary quite a bit in price. So how do you choose between them. What should you consider in addition to price when weighing up different longspan shelving options?

8 Features to Look For

Here are key 8 things to look for when buying longspan shelving and comparing the different shelving options available.

1. Weight Capacity and Materials

One of the key differences is how much weight the longspan unit is rated to carry. This is usually expressed as the maximum number of kilograms that a pair of beams or shelf level can carry as a Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL) e.g. 300Kg per pair of beams UDL. In addition, each unit will also have a total maximum carrying capacity.

The load capacity of a longspan unit will depend on the quality and weight of steel used in its construction, as well as the bracing that is used in the uprights, beams and decks.

2. Type of Deck

Longspan decks or shelves are typically made of steel, timber or steel mesh. 

• Steel decks are strong and are often powder coated for a durable, rust resistant finish.
• Wooden decks are often made from MDF or particle board. Wood makes a good, active work-surface and is generally less expensive. However, it is less durable than steel.
• Steel mesh is useful for archive storage, as it allows airflow around the sored items. It also provides access for cleaning from underneath.

3. Stability

It's important that longspan units are stable, especially if the floor is uneven or heavy loads are anticipated on the uppermost shelves of the unit. Here are some of the features to look for:

• Are leveling plates (shims) available to fit under the footplates of a unit to compensate for unevenness in the floor?
• Do the units have pre-drilled holes in their footplates to fasten the unit to the floor, if necessary?
• Is there an option to screw the unit to the wall, if it is not practical to fasten it to the floor?

4. Ease of Assembly and Adjustment

Are the units easy to assemble, adjust and expand? Are they easy to dismantle, move an, re-install, if you need to move?

• What tools are required for assembly and adjustment?
• Is it easy to adjust the shelves up or down to any height that is required?

5. Modular Design that is Connectable into Rows

Is it possible to connect the units together into pairs or longer rows of shelving? This is important, as connecting a starter bay with one or more addon bays can improve the available storage space and reduce the investment required (one upright is saved each time an addon connection is made).

6. Ability to Buy Individual Components  

The ability to buy individual components on their own can is important if you have a special requirement, such as those outlined below:

• "Standard units come with 4 shelves, but I only need 3 shelves for my longspan unit. Can I buy the individual parts I need to make this unit?"
• "I need to add an extra level of shelving. Can I buy that separately?"
• "I already have some longspan shelving, but I need to change my configuration. Can I buy 3 uprights 4 beams and a deck?"
• "Can I buy just 1 component e.g I just need one replacement deck?"

7. Aesthetics

Bottom line - do the units look good? Do they look solid and professional? Will the finish last and continue to look good for years down the track?

8. Warranty

Does the supplier offer a replacement warranty for manufacturing or material defects in any of its products?

Summation

Although the many available longspan options may look similar, they will vary on a number of important features. This blog outlines the 8 things to look for when buying longspan shelving, so you can make an informed decision.

When planning for a new warehouse or distribution center, there are many factors to consider. Among them are the designated storage areas and different methodologies used to hold inventory. For operations looking to maximize the cube of their building, industrial steel storage racks are an ideal solution. These storage systems come in a variety of styles, with different characteristics to meet a range of needs. To source the optimal solution, it’s important to be able to answer four rack specification questions when working with a manufacturer.

“A qualified industrial rack manufacturer will guide a buyer through a series of rack specification questions. The answers will help them recommend the most appropriate system,” explained Pablo Montes, Managing Director of AR Racking. The company is a member of the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI). “While there are often multiple possibilities for storage rack, considering certain criteria will optimize the design process.”

Question # 1: What are the facility’s specifications?

The dimensions of the facility are an important factor when designing a storage rack system. “The height of the warehouse and square footage of its floor should undoubtedly be the first rack specification questions to answer,” said Montes.

A facility with a lower ceiling height of 20 feet or less might be best suited for selective racking. Conversely, one with a 40-foot-high ceiling could enable the installation of an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) served by a stacker crane, he said.

“In small square footage warehouses, it might be more important to achieve high-density storage,” Montes continued. “There are a number of rack systems designed to maximize unit load density, but that don’t enable direct access to goods.”

These include:

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Drive-In/Drive-Thru Rack – These systems allow highly dense storage of multiple pallets of uniform product. Drive-in rack allows a forklift to enter from one side of the structure to pick up or deliver pallets that rest on continuous rails. Because it eliminates multiple access aisles, drive-in rack can create additional pallet storage positions for a more effective use of a building’s footprint.

Pallet Flow Rack – Also known as Live Pallet or Gravity Flow, these systems are loaded back to front for first-in/first-out (FIFO) load access. The pallets roll over gravity wheel or roller lanes mounted at a slight downward sloping pitch from loading point to pick face.

Pushback Rack – Constructed with a series of nested carts that roll over inclined steel rails, pushback racking typically holds two to six pallets per lane. Loaded front to back, a forklift places each pallet on a cart. Each new pallet pushes back the previously placed load. These systems provide last-in/first-out (LIFO) access.

Pallet Shuttle Systems – Offering high-volume, easy-access to inventory, these semi-automated pallet handling systems increase storage density and throughput. They incorporate rails that pallets rest on; motorized shuttles or carriers travel beneath them. An integrated platform on the device rises to lift the pallet load from underneath, then transports it back to the storage lane.

Question # 2: What are the characteristics of the stored inventory?

Another key series of rack specification questions pertains to the characteristics of the inventory. Unit load dimensions (length, width, and height), weight, and uniformity are critical to determining the most appropriate storage rack type.

“When it comes to size, loads can be small or medium, large or very large,” noted Montes. “If the unit loads are cartons handled manually, the racking that best adapts to that load will likely be long span shelving or carton flow rack systems.”

Alternately, he continued, a rack manufacturer may recommend installing adjustable pallet racking systems with trays or panels to hold and organize individual cartons.

However, for large pallet unit loads, different types of industrial pallet racking options are available. These include selective rack, as well as the types mentioned previously (Drive-In/Drive-Through, Pallet Flow, Pushback, and Pallet Shuttle Systems).

In some applications, a load may be exceptionally long, such as tubes, beams, pipes, or other over-sized materials. Cantilevered racking is most appropriate for storing these types of goods and is frequently used outdoors.

“In short, the type of load being handled is important information to share with a rack manufacturer when configuring a storage solution,” said Montes.

Question # 3: How quickly will stored inventory move?

Another rack specification question to answer is the inventory’s frequency of movement. Different products have different velocities which can impact the choice and installation of industrial racking, Montes noted.

“For example, perishable products or fashion accessories have very fast turnover requirements,” he said. “They need to be dispatched in a short period of time so that they do not spoil or become outdated.”

Some storage systems support faster stock rotation than others. For inventory that must ship before it expires, FIFO pallet rack systems are ideal.

“Pallet Flow rack — which incorporates an incline that allows goods to move forward — accommodates fast stock rotation. It also optimizes storage space,” explained Montes. “The same can be true with compact Drive-Through rack or Pallet Shuttle rack. These types of industrial steel storage racks all ensure that the first product in is also the first one out.”

Notably, he added, fast rotation is not always a facility’s primary objective. Instead, having direct access to goods or greater flexibility to store different product mixes may make selective rack a better choice.

Question # 4: Does the inventory have any special handling requirements?

Although ambient conditions suffice for many goods, certain products require very specific environmental conditions to prevent deterioration. These are often food, beverage, or pharmaceutical products that necessitate refrigerated or freezer space. Therefore, it is important to address any rack specification questions surrounding the inventory’s handling requirements.

In warehouses with cold storage or freezer zones, it is common to deploy storage systems that support uniform temperatures and cold air circulation. Because keeping these spaces cold is costly, these warehouses generally use high density, compact storage solutions to maximize every square foot.

“Mobile racking, Drive-In systems, and Pallet Shuttle racks are common solutions in cold storage environments,” said Montes. “Adjustable pallet rack is also frequently deployed in refrigerated environments, but less so in freezing ones.”

Further, some facilities store hazardous products, including chemicals in liquid or powdered forms. In these cases, it’s important to advise the rack manufacturer of the chemical compounds so they can ensure compatibility with the storage racking. Doing so can reduce the risk of corrosion or rust impacting the rack.

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Learn More About Specifying Pallet Rack