Designing, assembling, and installing a large-scale shelving system for your warehouse can be quite an endeavor. The team here at BILT Industries has put together this guide full of tips and tricks to help you install your shelving as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible.
Choosing a System
Before you can do any sort of installation or planning, you need to decide what exactly you’re going to be working with. There are several types of warehouse shelving for you to choose from. Depending on what shelving you decide on, the system install could look very different.
The following shelving systems are the most commonly used for warehousing applications.
Static shelving
Static shelving is any shelving system that is designed to stay in one place. However, traditional static shelving is designed for far more lightweight applications.
Unlike something like pallet racking, they are not compatible with forklifts. They are much more conducive to inventory that is constantly replenished and managed by hand. Traditional static shelves should not carry more than a few hundred pounds of inventory at once.
Shelving for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)
The utilization of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) is a trend that many warehouses are leaning towards. AMRs are an easy, reliable, and cost-effective way for companies to automate material handling and in-house transportation activities.
Of course, in order for AMRs to function properly, you need to have shelving that is designed for their use. Not all shelving is, so you need to make sure that you are investing in the correct system.
Pallet Racking Systems
One of the most popular forms of warehouse storage systems, pallet racking is typically constructed of wood, metal, or plastic. They are designed to hold inventory that is received in very large boxes. Typically, forklift trucks are used in conjunction with these warehouse racking systems.
Planning and preparation
There are many things to consider before you begin installing your warehouse shelving. In order to streamline and smooth out the installation process, you need to consider things like pathing, layout, the size of your receiving area, accessibility, office space, and loading areas.
You want to fit as much as you can into your warehouse, but if your workers can’t effectively move around and access your shelving, then what’s the point?
Designing the layout of your warehouse is very involved, and it can be very complicated. Every warehouse is designed differently. Their shapes and sizes vary across the board, making this design process one that is not as straightforward as you might think.
Proper installation
Now we get to the nuts and bolts of the operation: the actual warehouse rack installation. Obviously, how your team goes about assembling and installing your system largely depends on the type of warehouse shelving you choose.
The actual installation process should be fairly simple and straightforward, as long as you took the necessary time to plan the operation. However, depending on how large your space is and how much shelving you’re installing, this process could take a while.
As a general rule of thumb, when assembling your shelving, make sure you and your team follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. Deviating from their instructions could affect the integrity of your shelf, decrease its load-bearing capabilities, and create additional safety hazards for your crew.
Warehouse safety
The most important thing when installing warehouse shelving is making sure that everyone is as safe as possible at all times. Safety concerns can be avoided by eliminating unnecessary hazards, hiring experienced crew members, and ensuring that all equipment and machinery are working satisfactorily.
For important guidelines regarding warehouse safety, check out the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) safety requirements for warehousing work environments. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you and your crew are as safe as possible while working.
Partner with BILT Industries
At BILT Industries, we manufacture state-of-the-art shelving solutions that are designed to be easy to use and easy to assemble. Our Klip-BILT II® shelving units are our staple shelving solution, and our customers love them due to their clip-based, bolt-less design.
In addition to Klip-BILT II®, we also offer other options like Speedi-BILT®, pick modules, high rise industrial shelving, and AMR compatible shelving. If you are interested in any of our products, please give us a call at (913) 685-7400.