In situations where you need to store items individually rather than in full cases, shelving is the go-to storage solution. It’s particularly useful when workers are picking single items at a time. Shelving is also great for keeping products separate, organised, and easy to find, mostly when you need a lot of different spots to pick from. In this article, we discuss two common and most used types of shelving: rivet and bolted. While both rivet shelving and bolted shelving meet the basic need for storing items in smaller quantities, each shelving style has its own strengths. Krost Shelving and Racking will help you figure out which shelving solution or combination is best for your warehouse by outlining the comprehensive differences between the two, which later can help you make an informed choice for your storage needs.
Rivet Shelving vs. Bolted Shelving: Understanding the Basics of Shelving
Shelving systems are mostly utilised in scenarios where storage for individual case picking or each picking is required. They excel in environments where warehouse associates do not pick entire cases but rather individual pieces. Moreover, shelving solutions are pivotal in situations demanding a high number of pick faces to keep products separated, organised, and easily identifiable.
While rivet shelving and steel shelving both address the simple storage need for “less than a case” picking situations, they each bring unique strengths and weaknesses to the table. Understanding these differences is key to determining the best fit for your storage requirements.
Bolted Shelving Differences: When to Use Bolted Shelving
Industrial bolted shelving, also known as “clip shelving,” shines in storage situations where accessories such as drawer units, dividers, and cabinet doors are necessary to separate and organise products. Its popularity stems from its reconfigurability, likened to an “erector set” for storage, allowing for customisation to meet specific picking process needs. Steel clip shelving also tends to offer a higher weight capacity per square foot of shelf space compared to other shelving types, making it an excellent option for heavier items.
Benefits of Bolted Shelving
Bolted shelving, particularly constructed from industrial steel, offers exceptional durability for harsh warehouse environments and heavy-traffic facilities. With heavy-gauge steel components from frames to corner posts, these units withstand daily wear and tear and are often seen as a permanent storage solution alongside pallet racking systems. They provide extra strength with options featuring heavy-gauge steel posts and shelf supports that are resistant to damage from warehouse machinery.
However, bolted shelving units involve the use of nuts, bolts, or clips for assembly, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming when you need to reconfigure the shelves. The presence of bolts and nuts can create potential snagging hazards in busy warehouse environments, posing a safety risk to workers and potentially damaging goods. Lastly, the fixed design of bolted shelving may limit flexibility in storage configurations, making it less adaptable to changing storage needs compared to boltless alternatives. Despite these drawbacks, bolted shelving remains a popular choice for its durability, load capacity, and suitability for heavy-duty storage applications.
Rivet Shelving Differences: When to Use Rivet Shelving
On the other hand, industrial rivet shelving presents a straightforward solution for case-picking scenarios where bulk shelving is essential for storing cases of products. The hallmark of rivet shelving is its hardware-free design; the shelving beams’ rivets simply slide and lock into place with their corresponding uprights. This design grants rivet shelving a broader range of size options than steel clip shelving. Typically, surfaces for storage are created by laying particle board or wire decking over the beams and uprights. Notably, recent trends towards safety and flammability concerns have seen a push for increased use of wire decking.
Advantages of Rivet Shelving
Rivet or boltless shelving is a simple, versatile storage option ideal for low- to medium-duty goods commonly found in commercial settings. Its teardrop design and pin connectors ensure easy assembly, with two main types available: single and double rivet. Single-rivet shelving offers quick installation without the need for nuts or bolts, making it suitable for lightweight items, while double-rivet shelving provides sturdier support for heavier loads. Rivet industrial shelving comes with charming advantages such as ease of installation, customizability to fit various storage spaces, and cost-effectiveness, making it a popular choice across industries.
However, rivet shelving like bolted shelving has its drawbacks. Despite its practicality, it may lack aesthetic appeal, making it less suitable for retail environments. Some standard boltless shelving prioritises easy assembly over load capacity and stability, potentially limiting its suitability for heavy-duty storage needs compared to alternatives like steel industrial shelving.
Conclusion: Need More Help?
Krost shelving and racking offer numerous shelving solutions beyond rivet and bolted shelving, including gondola, library, mobile, and warehouse shelving. These two types, however, remain among the most popular for warehouse and distribution centre needs due to their versatility and efficiency.
If you require further assistance or information on rivet shelving or steel shelving, our team is here to help. As an industry leader, we offer a variety of warehouse storage accessories tailored to your specific needs.
