Many organizations are charged with storing records, documents, supplies, and objects for long periods of time. In most cases, these items need to remain accessible and protected from moisture, fire, loss, and unauthorized access. Unfortunately, as items accumulate over time, it’s common for facilities to run out of suitable space. When this happens, it can be difficult to know how to resolve the problem without stacking boxes and bins, moving items to locations that are less than ideal for long term storage, or reducing inventory. These temporary fixes only go so far.
When off-site storage is not an option or not practical, and the limits of the physical space available are approaching, high-density shelving is an excellent solution. It’s a great way to reclaim and expand storage space without risking the security of the stored contents.
At Storage Systems USA we provide a variety of high-density storage systems from Montel, a leading manufacturer of mobile storage shelving, racking, and equipment. Learn more about how this strategic approach to shelving is used across industries to increase functional storage space in a secure way.
How High-Density Storage Solves the Problem of Limited Space
At first glance high-density shelving looks very much like traditional shelving. The difference is that it glides on special low-profile tracks that are installed on the floor. This allows each bay of shelving to be shifted to either side, right up to the neighboring bays, collapsing the space between them on one side and opening the space on the other side. When not in use, the bays stay neatly collapsed together, which greatly reduces the footprint of the total shelving system in the room.
Traditional bays of shelving are static and cannot be moved, with a wide aisle between each bay. In contrast with a mobile system, the aisles between bays open and close as the user moves the shelving units back and forth.
Shelving bays are designed to move smoothly on the tracks, which makes them easy for users to move, even when the shelves are full. Manual crank-operated and motorized versions are available to suit different applications and access needs. Shelves are available in different dimensions and configurations to hold everything from books and files to boxes, equipment, and artifacts.
Industries and Applications that Rely on High-Density Storage
Some of the industries and applications where mobile high-density shelving solves storage, security, and access issues include:
- Libraries and archives. In addition to holding books and media with lower circulation stats, such as in off-site depositories, high-density shelves can hold valuable or fragile archival materials, document cases, and books in climate-controlled rooms, so collections are secure yet accessible without taking up excessive square footage.
- Sports equipment. Sports organizations, gyms, professional teams, and university athletic departments can use high-density shelves to hold equipment, records, and supplies. It’s ideal for extra or backup equipment, off-season storage, and more.
- Museums and galleries. Facilities can store flat and three-dimensional fine art and fragile museum pieces safely when they aren’t on display. High-density shelves are compact, integrate with additional security options, and reduce dust and UV exposure.
- Manufacturing facilities and warehouses. Industrial facilities can store tools, a large inventory of backup parts and equipment, and product or packaging inventory efficiently.
- Offices. Business offices can store supplies, active files, and records kept on a retention schedule (e.g., tax documents, medical records) in a condensed footprint that still expands easily for regular access.
- Law enforcement facilities. Law enforcement buildings can securely store records, weapons, equipment, and even evidence.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities. High-density shelving is an efficient storage option for pharmaceuticals, medical documents, and supplies inventory.
The Benefits of Investing in High-Density Storage
High-density storage is an investment in efficiency of space, organization, and time. Consider all of these benefits of mobile high-density shelving:
- More space and capacity. The open aisles between bays are wasted space. With mobile shelving on tracks, more shelves can fit in the same amount of space because the open aisle is created by moving the bays apart as needed.
- More efficient productivity. Capacity gains can extend how long an organization remains in its current facility. Centralized mobile shelving also reduces foot traffic and walking travel time spent going between multiple static bays in different rooms or on different floors.
- Better organization for convenience gains. Items can be stored in less space, with fewer alternative locations, fewer additional boxes and bins, and less time spent remembering which portion of a collection is stored where.
- Security and compliance. Storage Systems USA creates easy-to-operate mobile systems that are physically secure and stable for workers to operate on a regular basis. Shelving can be equipped with security features to protect against theft, damage, or unauthorized access.
- Versatile customization options. Our storage systems are modular and offer different shelving and cabinetry options to best suit different spaces, inventories, and applications. Manual and motorized options are available.
- Easy to use and reconfigure. If your storage needs change over time, the shelving can be reconfigured into new setups and designs without specialty tools.
>> Explore our specific Montel Product Line to see which model fits your requirements.
Contact Storage Systems USA for High-Density Shelving
Choose more compact and versatile storage for your facilities with high-density shelving products from Storage Systems USA. Our team is happy to discuss your current storage challenges and requirements and help you select a system that addresses them. We offer an extensive range of functional and cost-effective storage solutions for industrial, educational, office, government, healthcare, and other applications. Visit our facility to see different creative setups in person or contact us today to see what a high-density system could look like in your facility.