Why You Should Have Mobile Archive Shelving

What is mobile shelving? Simply put, it’s a space-saving storage system that uses shelves mounted on tracks, allowing for increased storage space capacity. This dynamic setup not only saves valuable floor space but is also customisable to meet diverse storage needs. Our article dives into the details, covering the basics, the benefits, and why mobile shelving might be the right choice for your business.

Key Takeaways

• Mobile shelving optimises storage by using movable units along tracks, potentially increasing capacity by 50% without additional floor space, and features customisable, user-friendly designs that enhance operational efficiency.
• Mobile shelving systems cater to a variety of sectors, offering space-saving benefits, cost-effectiveness compared to facility expansions, and improved workflows with tailored solutions, including features for enhanced safety and security.
• Implementing mobile shelving in a workspace allows for scalable growth, efficient space usage, and adaptable storage management that can respond to changing business needs with minimal disruption and reconfiguration costs.

The Basics of Mobile Shelving

At its core, mobile shelving is a system designed to:

• Expand your available storage capacity without encroaching on precious floor space
• Not be fixed or immovable cabinets but rather dynamic, movable filing systems on tracks
• Fully customisable storage solution to house an extensive array of materials from archives files, books, heavy boxes, and large or small objects.
• Have mounted carriages that glide effortlessly along tracks, substantially reducing the area required for storage

This innovative storage solution, often referred to as roller racking or compact storage, is a testament to the concept of ‘making stock moveable’- a principle that places as much importance on how items are stored as it does on what is being stored. With mobile shelving, the once-static act of storing items becomes a dynamic element of your business’s operational efficiency.

Design Features

Mobile shelving units are marvels of design, incorporating:

• Tracks that can either integrate with your existing flooring or sit atop it to support multiple bay sizes
• Robust wheels and tracks ensure that even when fully loaded, the units remain stable and easy to move
• A mobile base and rail system, allowing for multiple bay sizes to cater to diverse storage requirements
• Effortless shifting of heavy loads

These features make mobile shelving units a versatile and efficient storage solution.

Whether you’re in a compact office or a sprawling warehouse, the adaptability of mobile shelving’s design features means there’s a configuration that fits your needs. The thoughtful design of these units extends beyond mere functionality. They can be customised to reflect the aesthetic of your business, making them a seamless addition to your workspace. The result is a storage solution that is as visually appealing as it is practical.

Operation Mechanism

A mobile shelving system’s ease of use is as crucial as its space-saving capabilities. The operation mechanism is designed to allow for seamless repositioning of shelving units, creating accessible aisles as needed. Manual systems typically employ a rotary handle, inviting users to turn it to slide shelves along the tracks. For an even more effortless experience, electrically powered mobile shelving systems offer push-button operation, no matter how heavy the load can be shifted.

Both manual and electronic drive systems are conceived to minimise physical exertion, ensuring that moving the mobile unit is easy and accessible for all users. With such systems in place, the traditional toil associated with accessing stored items is replaced by an effortlessly tidy and organised space.

Maximising Storage Capacity with Mobile Units

The capability of mobile shelving units to amplify storage capacity, including archive storage, is nothing short of remarkable. These systems can boost storage by 50% to 100% compared to traditional cabinets, often doubling the available storage without increasing the footprint. By eliminating fixed aisles and utilising movable units on tracks, mobile shelving units cut down the floor space needed for storage by about half, presenting scalable solutions that evolve in tandem with a business’s growth. The result is a storage system that not only maximises space efficiency but may also reduce costs by mounting shelves on wheeled carriages that move on rails, thereby reducing wasted space.

The innovative design of mobile shelving offers a valuable asset for any business aiming to optimise its archive, museum, repository, open-access library, warehouse, or office space. With the ability to adapt to the unique demands of storing a diverse array of items, mobile shelving units provide a versatile and scalable storage solution that supports business growth and maximises available storage space.

Space-Saving Benefits

Consider the traditional static shelving in your workspace. Now, envision up to 100% more inventory stored in that same footprint, providing more space. This is the space-saving magic of mobile shelving. By replacing fixed aisles with movable units, these systems reclaim wasted aisle space, effectively doubling the storage capacity without increasing the same floor space used. Mobile shelving maximises the use of the available floor space, with up to 90% of it covered by movable units that create aisles only when needed, making it particularly advantageous for small or confined areas.

As your business flourishes and storage needs expand, mobile shelving systems emerge as a cost-effective alternative to facility expansions. They offer several benefits, including:

• Making the most of your current space
• Reducing overhead costs
• Bringing materials closer to the point of need facilitates more accessible and efficient access.

Comparison with Traditional Shelving

When stacked against conventional systems, mobile shelving offers several advantages:

• It can triple storage capacity within the same area, offering an unparalleled efficiency that traditional systems cannot match.
• It obviates the need for new construction or facility expansions, saving both on downtime and associated costs.
• Its design includes features that allow for easy relocation and modification, accommodating changing storage needs over time with minimal fuss.

This comparison elucidates just how transformative mobile shelving can be for a business. It’s not only an immediate solution for pressing space concerns but also a long-term investment that adapts and grows with your business, continually providing value and saving costs.

Tailored Solutions for Every Business

Mobile shelving systems are not a one-size-fits-all solution but rather a bespoke answer to the varied storage needs across sectors. From office environments and healthcare facilities to educational institutions, media companies, retail spaces, and museums, the versatility of mobile shelving is evident. These systems allow for extensive customisation, enabling businesses to specify dimensions, select appropriate shelf materials, and even choose colours that complement their workplace. Small businesses, too, can leverage the adaptability of mobile shelving to efficiently manage fluctuating inventory sizes and a wide range of product types.

In essence, mobile shelving units are fundamentally efficient for storing files, folders, and other necessary items. They offer the following benefits:

• Easy access to stored items
• Optimal use of space
• Streamlined office organisation
• Enhanced operational efficiency

Archive Shelving

When items need to be stored for archiving the choice of repository needs some careful thinking. The storage mode must be funactional, practicable, safe and secure, as well as user-friendly and suitable for long-term use.

Archive roller racking provides a large range of advantages:

• Easy and smooth in their use
• Simple to add on to at any time
• Maximum use of the available space
• Optimal protection

Heavy loads can be moved with little effort, whether by hand crank or electric drive. Safe and comfortable, easy operation and optimised movement. A shelving system of the mobile type gets even more service out of the available storage space, doubling the storage capacity in one go.

Variety in archived items calls for tailored solutions, including map cabinets and flat file cabinets to hold items that need to be stored horizontally.

Intelligent extras and accessories for working archives allows users great convenience; clear labels and intelligent signage, filing suspension rods and drawers of various heights, bookends as well as doors for protecting valuable items from dust and unauthorised access.

Office Mobile Shelving

Varying requirements and different ambients call for a variety of filing and storage solutions. Office Mobile shelving can allow you to keep your full office space while multiplying your storage space.

Moving the office is no problem, thanks to the modular structure of the systems. You can simply take your shelving with you, extending or, if necessary, reducing it to adapt it to its new environment.

Ecospace’s solutions are specifically designed to enhance office organization. They promote a clutter-free environment that fosters productivity and a sense of well-being among employees. With such systems in place, offices can easily transition from chaotic clutter to orderly efficiency.

Well-designed functional furniture facilities working in an office increase the feel-good factor for your staff.

Health Care Mobile Storage

Mobile shelving systems can be combined with storage modules in ISO format, making the shelving system ideal for systematically and neatly storing medical supplies such as pharmaceutical products or dressings and liquid containers such as infusion bottles.

The Advantages of Mobile Shelving

The benefits of mobile shelving include:

• Storage space optimisation
• More efficient storage management
• Effortless shifting of heavy loads
• Quicker retrieval of materials
• Improved workflow within a business
• Optimal protection for sensitive documents or valuable inventory
• Secure handling of heavy loads for a safe work environment.
• Multilevel systems possible

The advantages of mobile shelving include:

• Increased storage space
• Adaptability to space constraints
• Versatility in applications
• Heightened security
• Simplicity in installation

All these factors combine to make mobile shelving a compelling choice for businesses looking to enhance their storage capabilities.

Enhanced Accessibility

Accessibility is a cornerstone of mobile shelving design. These units centralise storage in one area, streamlining the process of finding and accessing items, which is especially beneficial in fast-paced work environments. The compact nature of mobile storage systems enhances both accessibility and ergonomics without diminishing storage capacity, making the workplace more efficient and employee-friendly. By reducing the physical strain on staff, mobile shelving systems significantly lower the risk of work-related injuries, fostering a healthier workplace.

This enhanced accessibility afforded by mobile shelving not only improves day-to-day operations but also has long-term benefits for employees’ health and productivity. It’s a win-win for both the business and its workforce.

Customisation Options

Customisation is key when it comes to mobile shelving, allowing for systems that are tailored to meet unique storage needs. Office environments can benefit from adjustable shelves, lockable doors, and specialised filing cradles, which cater to a variety of document and supply storage requirements. In Archive settings, long-span shelving on tailored mobile bases can support the weight and size of various stored items, from bulky boxes to standard file folders. Configurability ensures a seamless fit for a range of storage needs, contributing to more efficient storage management and optimised workflows within any given space.

By embracing mobile shelving’s customisation potential, businesses can create a storage solution that not only meets their current needs but also anticipates future requirements. This foresight can lead to significant improvements in operational efficiency and overall workplace harmony.

Implementing Mobile Shelving in Your Workspace

Optimising the use of square meterage in your workspace is essential for efficiency and growth. The storage mode must be functional, practicable, safe and secure, as well as user-friendly and suitable for long-term use. Implementing mobile shelving is a strategic move that offers several benefits:

• Utilises vertical space
• Adaptable units
• Accommodates inventory growth without necessitating physical expansion
• Maximises available floor space
• Adapts to increasing storage demands as your business grows

By implementing mobile shelving, you can make the most of your workspace and ensure efficient storage solutions.

Installation Process

The installation process for mobile shelving should begin with a comprehensive evaluation of both current and future storage needs to ensure the most suitable system is chosen. Partnering with storage solution experts is crucial in achieving a customised setup that aligns with your workspace’s specific requirements. Thanks to their modular design, mobile shelving systems can be easily reconfigured, relocated, or expanded with minimal cost and disruption, offering a particularly advantageous solution for a dynamic office environment.

This thoughtful approach to the installation process ensures that the mobile shelving system will serve the business well, not just immediately, but also in the long term as it adapts to evolving needs and growth.

Scalability for Growth

Mobile shelving systems are inherently scalable and designed to support businesses as they manage their evolving storage requirements. As a business expands, its mobile shelving can be structurally adjusted or expanded to accommodate increased storage needs without requiring a completely new installation. The straightforward reconfiguration or expansion process allows a business to effortlessly adapt to organizational changes over time.

This scalability ensures that mobile shelving systems are not just a short-term fix but a long-term storage solution that can grow with the business. It’s an investment that provides ongoing benefits as the company evolves, making it an astute choice for forward-thinking businesses.

Summary

To encapsulate, mobile shelving stands out as a versatile, space-saving, and efficient solution for businesses looking to enhance their storage capabilities. By eliminating wasted space, customising to specific needs, and prioritising safety and security, mobile shelving redefines how we think about storing items. Whether for an office, a retail space, or an industrial warehouse, these systems offer tailored, scalable solutions that grow with your business. As we’ve explored, implementing mobile shelving is more than an organisational choice; it’s a strategic decision that can transform your workspace and operational efficiency for the better.

Frequently Asked Questions