In some cases, static shelving solves your storage needs. But when your storage needs change, you may be left with limited storage capacity, a fixed aisle system that you can’t easily navigate, a cramped walking room between aisles and overflow in places outside your dedicated storage space.
A mobile storage system can solve these problems in practically any sized space.
What is a Mobile Storage System?
A mobile storage system consists of shelving set atop carriages that move side to side on rails - essentially creating “moving aisles”. The rails are stationary, allowing you to safely move carriages back and forth in a dedicated space.
With mobile storage systems, you can:
- Store twice as much stuff in any sized space without expanding the room or finding overflow space somewhere else in your building.
- Save up to 50% of floor space, which you can use to move freely and safely around an area or add more storage capacity.
- Take advantage of unused vertical storage space and further increase capacity and walking room.
All these features make mobile storage systems an excellent storage solution for any industry, any stuff, practically anywhere.
How to Build Your Ideal Storage System
There are many factors to consider when designing your storage system, and a high-density storage expert should be with you every step of the way.
1. Choose a base
The first step is to determine how you want to access and operate your system. There are four mobile shelving system bases to ensure easy, quick access to your stuff:
- Electric-powered mobile shelving requires no elbow grease to move shelving carriages along the rails to get to whatever you’re storing. Simply move shelves back and forth using button pads.
- Mechanical assist mobile shelving requires minimal effort to move up to 10,000 pounds of stuff back and forth. Just spin the three-spoke handle to open an aisle or compact all the shelves.
- Manual assist mobile shelving uses a push-and-pull method to slide shelves carrying lighter loads of stuff back and forth. Just pull on the ergonomic handle.
- Mobile high-bay shelving is for tall towers of shelves that move back and forth on mobile carriages. They’re electric-powered for easy navigation between aisles.
2. Pick a mounting option
You can mount nearly any storage system on mobile carriages and the accompanying rail system. That includes your current shelving and cabinets. The type of carriage you choose will vary in size, height and weight limitation depending on what you’re storing, how heavy the stuff is and what kind of storage containers or shelving you choose – like drawers, bins, cabinets, trays, racks or another option.
You’ll also decide between a surface-mounted rail system, which sits on top of your floor, or a recessed rail system installed into your floor. The rail system also depends on how tall your shelves are, how heavy your stuff is and whether the shelves are manual or powered.
3. Select your accessories and finishes
Your storage system should fit just right in your space. For any base and mounting option, you can choose between heights and carriage widths to maximize your storage area. And since you can compact multiple shelves to free up more aisle space, you essentially customize your aisles without compromising ADA compliance.
A storage system doesn’t have to be an eyesore. In fact, you can make your new mobile storage system blend into your space or stand out in an impressive way. When it comes to the face panels, there are extensive options for colors (including unique branded prints and logos, like Florida State University chose for their football storage) and finishes, including steel, wood veneer and laminates.
You can also choose other accessory options to make your storage system as effective for your facility, including:
- Environmental sensors: This optional electric-powered mobile storage system accessory can sense temperature and humidity levels in your storage space and adjust your shelving layout to protect your stuff from unfavorable conditions.
- Lighting: Any mobile shelving system can benefit from automatic overhead lighting that illuminates the entire shelving space or just one aisle when a shelf moves into place.
- System locks: This security measure for the manual assist system prevents unauthorized users from accessing individual aisles, groups of aisles or the entire shelving system.
- Customized system programming: Create the ideal default storage setup using the customizable programmed positioning feature available for electric-powered bases. This feature allows you to hit a single button to reset the system, automatically move all the shelves to where they should be and even leave a certain amount of space between each aisle for proper ventilation.
4. Add safety features
You can choose between a few additional security features to keep everyone who uses your storage system — and the stuff you’re storing — safe.
- Safety sweep: For both the electric-powered and mechanical assist bases, you can include the Safety Sweep pressure plate system that stops moving carriages in their tracks and prevents accidental collisions between shelves.
- Photo sweep: The electric-powered system allows you to add infrared photoelectric technology to protect people and objects in open aisles and at aisle entries. The technology detects people and objects while shelves close so they will immediately stop to prevent collisions or injury.
- Zero-force sensor: Applicable for electric-powered systems, the zero-force sensor doesn’t require any movement to detect objects or people in the way of closing aisles and stopping the shelves from moving further.
5. Consider the cost and value
All of the above factors — the base system, capacity and height customizations, design customizations and safety features — impact how much your mobile storage system will cost. That means the price can vary considerably. However, experts can work with your budget and space restrictions to create a mobile storage system that does what you need without breaking the bank. Check out this blog post for a deeper dive into how much mobile shelving costs.
Creating or renovating your storage space is an investment, so it’s important to consider how much financial and nonfinancial value you get from installing the right storage system in your space. For example, a mobile storage system can increase storage capacity (meaning you don’t have to renovate to add new storage space or purchase/lease a separate storage facility). And adding lighting and safety features protects your people and your stuff (meaning fewer costly and hazardous accidents)!
Now that you have been introduced to options for consideration, take the first step toward building your storage system by contacting a storage specialist in your area today.
