Serving
and servicing Wakefield, Boston, Cambridge, Somerville,
Newton, Brighton, Woburn, Malden, Andover,
Wilmington, Billerica, Framingham, Lowell, Lawrence,
Milford, Franklin, Walpole, Waltham,Chelmsford, Methuen, , Marlborough,
Springfield, Worcester, Holyoke, Fitchburg ...the North
Shore, the South Shore, Greater Boston area, and
Southern New Hampshire (NH) including Nashua, Manchester
and Merrimack, RI, VT and CT
Not all
shelving is the same.
There are many different kinds of shelving but they generally fall into three
distinct categories: INDUSTRIALGRADE
shelving, COMMERCIAL GRADE
shelving, and
HEAVY DUTY Die Rack
shelving. They are distinguished by their capacities (how much weight
can be distributed over the entire area of the shelf-- this is called the
"uniform, or distributed load capacity"), the gauge of the steel
used, and the construction of the shelf itself. These shelving units are
either
OPEN
(the back and sides are not enclosed, but use
"sway braces" or X-braces to stabilize the unit and give it
lateral rigidity) or
CLOSED, using light gauge steel panels to
cover the back and sides. Open shelving is, by and large, the most common
shelving used in industrial applications.
Do not be
misled by GAUGE! Briefly, the lower the gauge of the steel used, the
thicker the steel (e.g. an 18 gauge steel shelf is thicker– has more
steel, is heavier– than a 22 gauge shelf). Does this translate into
greater capacity? NO! It generally translates into unnecessary cost. The
most important feature of a shelf is NOT its GAUGE ... but its
CONSTRUCTION!
18
Gauge vs. 20 Gauge:
A typical 36 in. wide x 18 in. deep "Class
0" 18 gauge steel shelf with two bends on the sides is rated
(depending on the manufacturer) at around 600 lbs. The same size shelf in 20
gauge steel with a box construction on the sides is rated at 850 lbs.! Even
a 22 gauge box shelf yields a 600 lb. capacity.
The shelves on
most units are
adjustable on 1-1/2" centers
by means of compression
clips. in other words, you need not nut-and-bolt each corner of the
shelf to the posts. The shelf rests on removable clips that are dropped into
the posts, and the shelf is pressed down over them, wedging it securely in
place– hence the term "compression" clips. Compression clips
are JUST as sturdy and reliable as nuts and bolts – an entire unit can
be set up using clips only – with the advantage of your being able to move
each shelf just by lifting it up, and re-positioning the clips and the
shelf. No tools. Set-up time is dramatically reduced since no tools are
required except for the side braces and back braces.
Even the
lightest duty shelving sold by reputable distributors called "commercial
shelving" is superior to ANYTHING you buy at the large warehouse
stores, or your local hardware store.
Reputable
Manufacturers of Good Quality Industrial Steel Shelving:
Triboro,
Penco, Lyon Metal, Equipto, Tennsco, Parent Metal, Hodge
Manufacturing, Schaeffer, Scotland Rack, Adapto. For Wire Shelving
: Metro (Inter-Metro), Gillis. For Pallet Racks: Husky,
Lyons, and Penco, .