Fachbodenregal

What is a shelving unit?

A shelving unit consists of vertical frame uprights and horizontally inserted or hooked-in shelves that together form an open racking system. Unlike pallet racking, shelving units are designed for direct manual access: employees reach stored items without any handling aids. This makes shelving units the standard solution in picking areas, small-parts warehouses, and workshop environments. Depending on requirements, shelves are made of sheet steel, wire mesh, or wood-based materials and can be adjusted in height in incremental steps.

Structure and technical parameters

When purchasing and planning a shelving unit, three load values are critical:

• Shelf load: maximum load on a single shelf, typically specified in kilograms.
• Bay load: total load per racking bay across all shelves within that bay.
• Upright load: maximum load that a single frame may carry.

These values must be matched to the intended stored goods. In addition to load values, shelf height, shelf depth, and bay width determine whether standard containers, cartons, or special formats can be stored optimally. Many systems are modularly designed, allowing bays to be added or shelves to be repositioned when requirements change.

Practical applications

In warehouse planning, shelving units are frequently used for C-items, spare parts, and slow-moving items that have a low turnover frequency and are stored space-efficiently in containers. In the picking area, they enable direct reach or visual access, which supports short pick times. It is common to combine them with label holders or shelf label carriers for item identification, as well as with standardized containers such as Euro norm containers.

In slotting planning — the assignment of items to storage locations — access frequency plays a central role. Frequently needed items are placed ergonomically in the so-called golden zone between hip and shoulder height. Heavy or rarely picked items are placed in lower or upper shelves.

Key considerations when selecting shelving units

When procuring shelving units, in addition to load capacity and geometry, the following aspects should also be reviewed:

• Occupational safety: In Germany, requirements apply for regular rack inspections. Relevant guidance can be found in DGUV publications and in DIN EN 15635, which governs the use and inspection of racking systems.
• Expandability: Compatibility within a racking series is not guaranteed across manufacturers — this should be clarified before the initial purchase.
• Surface protection: Food, pharmaceutical, or cleanroom environments require different coating specifications than standard warehouse settings.
• Labeling: Integrated label holders or shelf label rails simplify item identification and reduce picking errors.

As an alternative to manual shelving units, automated systems such as Automated Small-Parts Warehouses (AS/RS) or tray storage systems may be considered for higher throughput volumes or confined floor areas, enabling greater storage density and picking performance, though at significantly higher capital investment.