Heavy duty shelving and racking systems are designed for the safe storage of medium to heavy loads. Here at Manutan UK, we offer a wide range of heavy duty shelving and racking units to cater to your business’s needs, including storage solutions from leading manufacturer Rapid 1.

Types of heavy duty shelving in our range

• Steel industrial shelving - This is a popular option in warehouses thanks to its robust design and durability. - We offer open or closed options depending on your requirements.
• Boltless shelving - These types of shelves make for a quick and easy assembly as all you need to set them up is a heavy duty mallet.
• Kanban shelving bays - These feature sloping shelves which make the containers stored on them easily accessible for staff, making them ideal for production-side supply systems.
• Customisable options - Here at Manutan UK, we are proud to offer customisable bays so you can design a product that best matches your needs (selecting your desired height, width, depth, load capacity, number of shelves and more).

We also have shelving available with galvanised steel, melamine or chipboard decks.

Heavy duty racking and shelving FAQs

What does UDL mean?

UDL stands for Uniform Distributed Load and relates to the weight applied evenly over the whole deck of the shelving unit. Essentially, it tells you how much weight can be stored on your shelves safely and you must take care to ensure you don’t place too much weight on your shelving or racking to protect those in your workplace (as well as stock itself!).

What is the load capacity of heavy duty storage racks?

The maximum load capacity of shelving varies across models and manufacturers. The maximum UDL of our heavy duty shelving units here at Manutan UK are 800kg. Please check the individual product specifications for more details.

Which heavy duty shelving unit is right for me?

Finding the right type of shelving is essential for the smooth running of your warehouse, here are some things to consider when choosing:

• Accessibility - Ensuring that you and your employees can easily access your shelves safely and efficiently is essential for the smooth running of your warehouse. For example, you may opt for an open shelving unit which can be accessed from both sides. You should also consider how accessible the unit will be for forklifts and pallet trucks as they will require extra space in the aisle to manoeuvre.
• Cost - Your budget will inevitably have to be factored into your decision and here at Manutan, we offer a range of products to suit all budgets.
• Floor space - Think about the size of your warehouse and choose an option which maximises floor space (i.e. a racking system with several shelves).
• Utility - Consider how your goods will be used or dispatched so you understand how stock might be moved around and need to be stored.
• What you’re storing
- Ultimately, you need to think about the type of goods and the amount of items you will be storing. This will help you to determine the right size and load capacity of the unit.

What are the benefits of heavy duty shelves?

Heavy duty shelving can really improve efficiency in your warehouse - here are just some ways they can benefit your business:

• Supporting heavier goods - They can keep your shelving units safe and stable while carrying a high weight capacity.
• Space efficient - Heavy duty shelving can be built into a multi-level system so you can maximise the amount of space you have in your warehouse. They can also be used in combination with other types of shelving and racking such as pallet racking.
• Effective organisation - Employees can easily navigate their way through aisles as inventories are both visible and accessible.
• Customisable options - You can choose the right sizes, colours and additional features to meet your requirements.
• Versatile - They can be used to store a variety of products.
• Durable - Our heavy duty racking systems are designed to stand the test of time, resisting wear and tear.
• Cost effective - For warehouses that require a large amount of storage space, heavy duty storage racks are an affordable option and Manutan offers a wide range of products to suit a variety of budgets.

How do I ensure heavy duty racking is safe?

Make sure to adhere to the weight limits of your heavy duty storage racks and follow the instructions clearly when assembling. Maintain enough space around your shelving units so they don’t obstruct walkways or aisles and be sure to train staff members on how to lift heavy weights safely.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

For more information on heavy duty shelving and racking, head to our blog which includes insightful articles such as:

• What shelving is right for you?
• Shelving or racking? Choose the right system.
• Shelving - know its limits.