Compact Shelving
Compact Shelving
Compact shelving is arguably one of the many items which is constantly used in the modern world and one which we probably couldn’t do without. Used in many industries as well as libraries, museums, offices, small business and home use applications, it is indispensable equipment. It literally supports a plethora of consumer items and bureaucratic necessities on a global scale, which constitutes the world we live in. We need compact shelving because we need somewhere to put the items considered necessary for life in the twenty first century. Without it we would perhaps be facing a future of chaos. Since post WW11, our society is geared to consumerism and large organizations and the bureaucracy which accompanies it. The demand for shelving is not going to diminish. In order to avoid chaos, it is essential to employ systems which not only stores materials, but provides a way to locate them again easily. The emphasis is on mobility and high density solutions.
History of Compact Shelving
Since the earliest of times, the need to have somewhere to put things has existed. When societies began to settle and live in one place, the need to store things soon followed, primarily because it became possible to own and collect possessions. In addition, settling in one place also led to new things being invented, which in turn resulted in more possessions. This cyclical process which ensures the ongoing demand for shelving, is still occurring today.
The earliest shelving was made of stone, rough wooden structures, baskets and boxes. It housed food., weapons, clothes, and kitchen utensils. As the ability to record information, thoughts and ideas developed, the need to store it also increased, as did the need to store the items which were constantly being invented. Roman, Hellenic, Islamic and Chinese civilizations developed libraries, within which could be found the first compact shelving systems. It was made from wood and stored paper scrolls or in the case of the Chinese, scrolls of silk.
Compact Shelving Modern Historical Developments
Shelving systems, regardless of purpose, were made of wood until the nineteenth century when steel began to be used for construction. Elaborate, specialized book shelving which was built at this time, was used for both for personal and formal library collections. Wooden bookcases for homes and offices are still available for purchase today.
With the burst of technology and consumerism that occurred after the Second World War, another significant development in the history of compact shelving occurred – again in the United States. A company by the name of Staller Cabinets, established by Maurice, Marvin and Leonard Staller, began manufacturing high density mobile storage and Compact shelving is arguably one of the many items which is constantly used in the modern world and one which we probably couldn’t do without. Used in many industries as well as libraries, museums, offices, small business and home use applications, it is indispensable equipment. It literally supports a plethora of consumer items and bureaucratic necessities on a global scale, which constitutes the world we live in. We need compact shelving because we need somewhere to put the items considered necessary for life in the twenty first century. Without it we would perhaps be facing a future of chaos. Since post WW11, our society is geared to consumerism and large organizations and the bureaucracy which accompanies it. The demand for shelving is not going to diminish. In order to avoid chaos, it is essential to employ systems which not only stores materials, but provides a way to locate them again easily. The emphasis is on mobility and high density solutions.
Common Uses of Compact Shelving
Compact shelving is used for a wide variety or purposes, including business filing and storage, educational facilities and libraries, law and justice facilities, military facilities, museums, government, archive and storage facilities, warehousing facilities, retail facilities residential and domestic usage.
Compact Shelving Considerations
With any major business purchase, consideration should be given to the individual needs of the business, including benefits, value for money, present and future requirements, economic climate and trends, demographics and technological advances which may impact the nature of the business. Don’t purchase a shelving system that may be redundant after six months – or even a year.
Compact Shelving Business Filing & Storage
This industry traditionally uses mobile and compact shelving. Present and future space needs should be considered in conjunction with the many emergent digital systems now available. In addition, matters such as office relocation and possible expansion should be considered. Options could include modular shelving, mobile shelving, expandable, portable and economical mobile storage and filing shelving system solutions. Mobile and Compact Shelving are designed for easy and efficient configuration and reconfiguration.
Compact Shelving Educational Facilities and Libraries
While digital storage and collections are now part of the library scene, they continue to
show innovation in the development of compact shelving as evidenced by the many manufacturers who specialize in Compact Shelving library shelving. The same trend can be seen in schools and universities. Large institutions also have ongoing requirements for office and business Compact Shelving.
Compact Shelving Law and Justice
Law and justice systems as well as correctional facilities also have ongoing needs for compact shelving. Requirements include evidence storage, office, records and files, library, linens and laundry, tools, health care and dental, pharmaceuticals, weapons and armory and finally, inmates. In addition to these multi-market shelving needs, is a requirement for secure, high density compact shelving.
Compact Shelving Military
Military bases have a unique set of requirements for Compact shelving, although the requirements are similar to those of a correctional institution. Compact Shelving requirements include those routinely needed for a hospital, medical clinic, archives centre, search unit, weapons storage, and warehouse for vehicles parts, etc. Mobile, metal compact shelving, wire shelving is also required. Secure Compact Shelving is also needed for strategic and personal information.
Compact Shelving Museums
Museums which preserve cultural heritage require compact shelving which facilitates efficiency of space optimization. Collections will require high capacity Compact Shelving, sliding trays and drawers, art racks, cabinets, textile racks, shelving for books and manuscripts, heavy artifacts and specimens.
Compact Shelving Archives and Storage
Fixed and high density compact shelving is used freely to provide storage for archives, albeit it government or private. Archives generally include paper, books, film, photos, video, tape and disks, so library and multi-media storage is frequently used, as is the usual office administration shelving. Together with museums, these facilities preserve cultural heritage.
Compact Shelving Warehouse Storage
Industrial storage space in warehouses use Compact Shelving storage systems. These are designed so that industrial racking may be mounted onto automated moveable carriages. Benefits include removing conventional fixed aisles and increasing warehouse industrial shelving capacity, increasing overall floor space. Increases of floor space by fifty per cent have been reported as a result of using compact shelving. It has also allowed businesses to save money by not needing to purchase additional buildings for storage.
Compact Shelving Residential and Retail
The retail and domestic market also use a variety of compact shelving solutions and space savers for the garage, office, play-room, pantry, tool-shed, craft and sewing, filing etc. The steady growth of home business will contribute to the growth of this market and it’s need for appropriate compact shelving. Try walking into a variety of retail stores and check out their shelving and space saving solutions.
Benefits of Using Compact Shelving
The main benefit of Compact Shelving is and always will be, efficient use of space. Regardless of the context of the space in question, how it is used will always be the bottom line for business, private and public facilities, as well residential users of space. Inextricably tied to this is the cost of the space used, so any cost effective, available solutions to this problem, will always be in demand. In a nutshell, compact shelving will save space, money, remove clutter, relieve stress and most importantly, allow for easy retrieval of stored items.
The compact shelving market is global and here to stay while technology and consumerism continues to deliver more consumer items into the marketplace. Public, private business and domestic facilities will continue to keep pace with the constantly changing requirements of society, impacting the storage and Compact Shelving markets. New designs featuring technological innovation will continue to emerge.
