What is the Difference Between Racking and Shelving?

Making the Right Choice for Your Property

When it comes to organising and storing items in a warehouse, retail store, or even your own home, two terms that often come up are racking and shelving. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to two distinct types of storage systems with their own unique features and purposes. Understanding the difference between racking and shelving can help you make an informed choice about your storage needs.

Racking

• Racking systems are designed for heavy-duty storage and are mostly used in industrial settings such as warehouses. The primary purpose of racking is to maximise vertical space and facilitate efficient handling of large and heavy items. This makes it ideally suited to items on pallets or bulk storage.
• One of the key benefits of racking is its ability to support high-weight items. Racks are typically made from sturdy materials like steel, and strength and stability are produced during the manufacturing process. This enables racking units to withstand the weight of many pallets or heavy items stacked on top of each other.
• There are many kinds of racking, and it’s a good idea to shop around to find the best solution for your space. Each style of racking offers specific advantages in terms of accessibility and storage capacity. Here at A1 Racking, we work with a large variety of customers who are all looking for something different from their storage solutions. We’ll be able to advise you on the most suitable option for your space and your budget.

Shelving

• Shelving, on the other hand, is a storage system that tends to be more versatile. It is suitable for environments such as retail stores, offices, libraries, and even homes. Unlike racking, shelving is designed to store smaller items or goods.
• Shelving units are made from a multitude of materials and are most seen as freestanding shelves, wall-mounted shelves, or mobile shelving units. They are often adjustable, allowing you to accommodate different item sizes and change the layout of your storage.
• Shelving systems offer you a lot in terms of accessibility and visibility, making it much easier to locate and retrieve items quickly. They are commonly used for organising products in retail settings, displaying books in libraries, storing files and documents in offices, or organising personal belongings at home.

Why Choose Us?

We can cater to a wide range of needs, and our racking and shelving solutions are in high demand with customers all over the UK. Made from moisture-resistant materials such as aluminium and plastic, our units can be assembled without the use of tools designed for easy movement and storage. We try to get to know every customer that chooses us, so we can provide them with a storage solution that not only matches their needs but the vision they have for their home or business premises too.
To find out more about racking and shelving, please get in touch with us today.