Traditional vs. New-Type Shelving
Traditional shelving includes: tiered shelving, compartment shelving, drawer shelving, cabinet shelving, U-racks, cantilever racks, grid racks, saddle racks, gas-cylinder racks, tire-specific racks, etc.
New-type shelving includes: carousel shelving, mobile shelving, shuttle-rack systems, boltless shelving, adjustable shelving, pallet racking, drive-in racking, high-rise racking, mezzanine/multi-tier racking, gravity flow racking, screen-hung shelving, etc.
Among these, warehouse shelving is subdivided into light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty and mezzanine warehouse racks.
Today we focus on warehouse shelving.
Equipment Functions
Different rack types offer different advantages. High-bay racks boast excellent assembly, high load capacity and great stability; they are made of hot- or cold-rolled steel. Drive-in (or “tunnel”) racking is designed for bulk storage of identical palletised goods and is also called “lane-free” racking. Pallets are placed one behind another on support rails, increasing storage density and space utilisation. It is ideal for high-cost storage areas such as frozen warehouses.
A drive-in rack consists of four basic parts: frames, support rails, pallet rails and diagonal bracing. It delivers high warehouse utilisation and can work on either FIFO or LIFO principles. Suitable for large-volume, low-SKU inventories and batch operations, it offers maximum storage within minimum floor space. Fork-lift trucks can drive directly into the rack lanes for fast, convenient access.
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Warehouse racks offer high load-bearing capacity, resist deformation, provide reliable connections and are easy to assemble/disassemble.
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Their three-dimensional structure makes full use of vertical space, raising capacity and expanding storage capability.
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Goods are easily accessible, allowing FIFO, 100 % selectivity and smooth inventory turnover.
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Items on racks are clearly visible, simplifying counting, sorting and metering—key management tasks.
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They meet the needs of large volumes and diverse SKUs, and, combined with mechanical handling, keep storage and transport orderly.
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Goods do not compress each other, minimising damage and preserving product integrity.
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Quality is protected through moisture, dust, theft and damage prevention measures, improving overall storage quality.