When looking to tackle a commercial or industrial storage project, it can be difficult to know where to start. Not because there’s anything close to a lack of products available – quite to the contrary, in fact.
Warehouse racking in particular can be something of a complicated subject with an extraordinary array of quite different products to consider. Nevertheless, by taking into account the following considerations, deciding on the perfect storage solution for your own needs doesn’t need to be a difficult challenge:
Budget Considerations
Perhaps the first the thing to consider before going any further is the budget you have to work with, along with the projected costs of designing and installing your ideal storage solution. When budgeting for such products, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that to instinctively go for the cheapest products on the market isn’t necessarily the best idea. But at the same time, neither is overspending. What you should be looking for is outstanding value for money – that being a store a solution that gets the job done, continues to get the job done long-term and improves overall efficiency and performance.
Know Your Requirements
There are dozens of different types of racking available these days, which in almost every instance were created for very specific purposes. Everything from the weight limits the racking can cope with to the width of the racks to shelf depth and more – one size fits all really doesn’t come into it. You need to carefully think about exactly what you plan to store and how you plan to store it, in order to work out which solution will suit your requirements best.
Scalable Systems
Another crucially important consideration is that of whether you may in the future need to expand your storage system for the benefit of your business.
Some storage racking systems cannot be extended at all, some can be extended but at great expense/difficulty and then there are those that are designed from the ground up to be comprehensively scalable. Think long-term and consider how your requirements may change in the future.
Use of Space
The most efficient storage solutions are those that make the very best use of every bit of available space. Wasted space in a warehousing situation amounts to wasted money and inefficiency. As such, it’s a good idea to think carefully about the ideal use of space when considering which storage system to go for, as some are specifically designed to minimise required floor space with a focus on vertical expansion.
Stability
Particularly in the instances of racking systems of significant height or those with heavy loads, stability is a consideration of the utmost importance. Even in instances where racking systems can be bolted to the ground to prevent movement, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be inherently stable and secure. Never take stability for granted.
Adjustability
Many storage solutions and racking systems are designed to offer a great deal of flexibility, allowing for adjustments to be made in order to accommodate products and loads of a variety of shapes and sizes. This may not always be necessary, but if flexibility is preferable, it should be brought into account.
Assembly and Installation
Last but not least, it’s also worth considering exactly how quick and easy (or otherwise) the storage solution you are considering would be to assemble and install. Is it the kind of job you can go about manually, or will you require professional assistance to get things up and running? Once again, it’s simply a case of being sure not to take things for granted, but to instead ask all the right questions beforehand.
