Shelving & Pallet Racking

Finding the best way to organise storage in the workplace is essential and the proper use of shelves is key. Understanding UDL, the difference between shelving and racking and how to choose the right system for you.

Shelving vs. Racking: What’s the Difference?

Optimizing your warehouse floor space is essential for improving efficiency and productivity. Choosing the right shelving and racking systems is a crucial step in creating an organised, accessible and safe storage environment. But what’s the difference between shelving and racking?

• Shelving: Generally designed for lighter loads, shelving is perfect for manual storage of smaller items. It’s versatile and easy to assemble, making it ideal for stockrooms or parts storage.
• Racking: Built for heavier loads, racking systems are designed to support pallets or bulkier items. Often used in large-scale warehouses, racking systems are compatible with forklifts for efficient loading and unloading.

What does UDL mean?

UDL stands for Uniformly Distributed Load. It refers to a consistent load that is evenly spread across the entire surface or length of a shelf, rather than being concentrated in a specific area. For example, if a shelf is designed to hold a UDL of 50 kg per meter, it can safely bear a total weight of 50 kilograms distributed across every meter of its length. UDL is a critical factor in shelf design and material selection, as it ensures that the shelf can maintain structural integrity under expected loading conditions.

Plastic vs. Steel Shelving

Beyond weight distribution, it’s also essential that the shelves you select are fit for task and this is where you need to be aware of the main difference in materials. It may seem obvious that steel is stronger than plastic but there are other differentiators.

• Plastic Shelving: Made from strong polypropylene, plastic shelving is highly resistant to cold temperatures, making it perfect for cold storage and food products.
• Steel Shelving: Metal or steel shelving offers greater strength and is better suited for heavy-duty applications. For businesses on a budget, plastic shelving provides an economical alternative without compromising reliability.

How do I Choose the Right Shelving for my business?

A well-planned shelving and racking system improves your business operations by streamlining picking, loading and inventory management. It’s important when selecting the product for you that you’ve considered:

• What weight capacity you’re going to need and whether that will have an effect on which product you can use.
• What material is best suited for your location, if you’re using them in a cold location plastic will be more suited than steel.
• How futureproof is your plan? Using bays that can easily be extended makes more sense if you’re expecting to expand.

If you need help, we’re always happy to help with advice on how to structure your shelving, just get in touch with our RAJA Projects team!

Comprehensive Warehouse Solutions

At RAJA, we offer a wide range of products to meet all your storage and warehouse needs. We have Storage Bins that can help to keep your items organized and easy to access as well as Racking Protection to helps safeguard your shelving systems from collision damage caused by forklifts or other machinery.

Need help? Our team of experts is here to guide you in choosing the perfect shelving and racking for your business.