SKL is an industrial storage racking supplier in Penang, Malaysia, helping factories, workshops, stockrooms and warehouses organise cartons, spare parts, tools, components and other hand-loaded inventory around item size, weight and access frequency.
Instead of selecting racks only from standard dimensions, we recommend starting with the goods being stored so that shelf depth, bay width, level spacing, decking and the overall configuration suit the actual storage requirement.
Good storage planning is not simply about adding more shelves. The aim is to create practical, visible and accessible item locations that reflect how stock is received, stored, picked and replenished.
A stockroom can appear full even when significant shelf space is technically unused. The problem is often the relationship between the rack dimensions and the products placed on them rather than the number of racks available.
Rack height, width and depth should be evaluated after the stored items are understood. Small electrical components, automotive parts, tools and bulky cartons can require very different shelf depths, clear openings and decking arrangements.
Shelf capacity also needs context. The weight of each item, quantity per level, load distribution, decking and rack configuration all influence what should be specified for a particular application.
The handling method is one of the first distinctions to make. Cartons, bins and parts picked individually by staff require a different storage approach from complete pallet loads handled by forklifts.
| Storage condition | System to evaluate |
|---|---|
| Individual cartons, bins, tools or parts handled manually | Boltless or suitable hand-loaded shelving |
| Bulky hand-loaded goods requiring a wider opening | Heavy-duty or long-span-style storage configuration, depending on the load |
| Mixed small and medium-sized items | Adjustable shelving combined with suitable bins, dividers or accessories |
| Long items such as pipes, profiles or timber | Cantilever racking |
| Complete loaded pallets handled by forklift | Selective pallet racking or another appropriate pallet-storage system |
| Manual picking below with reserve inventory above | A properly designed combination of picking and reserve storage |
Terms such as light duty and heavy duty are useful, but the better purchasing question is how the stock will actually be handled. Accessibility, item dimensions, loading method and shelf opening often matter as much as the category name.
Our boltless rack is intended for light-duty storage and uses a bolt-free configuration.
Applications to evaluate include:
Confirm shelf depth, decking, spacing, stability and the actual load required at each level.
Our heavy-duty storage racking system can be configured in different shelving heights, depths, lengths and loading capacities according to the storage requirement.
Applications to evaluate include:
Confirm item weight, bay width, level spacing, decking and whether the goods remain practical for manual handling.
Cantilever racking is intended for long and bulky products such as tubing, piping and similar elongated goods. SKL's system can be configured as single-sided or double-sided, with adjustable arms.
Evaluate:
Pallet racking should be evaluated when goods remain on pallets and are handled with suitable material-handling equipment rather than picked as individual cartons from normal shelving.
Evaluate pallet storage when:
Explore our industrial pallet racking systems.
Deeper shelving does not always create more useful capacity. If a short carton or component is placed on a shelf significantly deeper than the product, the unused area behind it can become hidden storage.
Staff may then place another product behind the first item, reducing visibility and making stock harder to count or retrieve. At the opposite extreme, shelving that is too shallow may leave cartons inadequately supported.
A rack layout can look orderly while still requiring unnecessary reaching, bending and searching. Stock location should therefore take account of how frequently each item is picked and how safely it can be handled.
The exact position of goods should also consider their individual weight, dimensions and handling procedure. A rack arrangement that ignores picking frequency may improve appearance without making day-to-day work easier.
Factories, workshops and stockrooms commonly store small components, standard cartons, tools, bulky spare parts and reserve stock in the same room. Using one identical bay throughout can therefore leave some shelves crowded while others remain partly empty.
| Inventory group | Configuration to evaluate |
|---|---|
| Small components | Shallower shelving with suitable bins or dividers |
| Standard cartons | Adjustable shelving sized around carton dimensions and weights |
| Bulky parts | Wider bays or suitable heavy-duty storage |
| Heavy tools | Appropriately rated lower-level storage |
| Long materials | Cantilever storage |
| Reserve pallets | Separate pallet-racking positions where appropriate |
A useful quotation should make the proposed configuration clear enough for the buyer to understand what is included and whether it suits the actual goods. Comparing only rack height and number of levels can be misleading.
| Quotation field | What the buyer should confirm |
|---|---|
| Rack dimensions | External dimensions and practical clear opening |
| Shelf capacity | Required load per level and the load-distribution basis |
| Number of levels | Whether spacing suits the actual height of the stored goods |
| Decking | The specified supporting surface and whether it suits the products |
| Bay configuration | Bay arrangement, bracing and how adjoining sections are configured |
| Anchoring | Whether anchoring is required for the proposed system and included in scope |
| Accessories | Required dividers, bins, panels, guards or other specified components |
| Delivery | Project location, unloading arrangements and site-access conditions |
| Installation | Included installation work and site responsibilities |
| Future changes | Whether additional compatible bays, levels or components may be required later |
The best storage format depends on the product, required visibility, handling method and level of access control. Open shelving is only one option.
| Option | Best suited for | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Open storage racking | Fast visual access to cartons and parts | Requires disciplined item locations and organisation |
| Bin shelving | Large numbers of small components | Not suitable for bulky goods |
| Closed cabinet | Tools or items requiring more controlled storage | Contents are less immediately visible |
| Wide-span or heavy-duty shelving | Larger hand-loaded goods | Dimensions and loads must still suit manual handling |
| Pallet racking | Forklift-handled pallet loads | Different operating requirements from loose-item picking |
| Mixed system | Inventory containing several item and load profiles | Requires more detailed zoning and configuration planning |
SKL supports industrial racking and storage projects from its base in Penang, including design, supply, installation and maintenance. For manual-picking storage, the planning process should remain focused on the goods and the actual storage area.
Group stock by dimensions, unit weight, container type and handling method.
Separate frequently picked, slow-moving, heavy, bulky and reserve inventory.
Measure the room and identify doors, columns, access routes and restricted areas.
Evaluate suitable shelf depths, bay widths, level spacing, decking and required accessories.
Review rack quantities, load requirements, installation scope and likely future changes.
Complete installation to the agreed configuration so the customer can establish practical stock locations.
Customers can also review our broader racking product range when the requirement includes storage types beyond manual shelving.
Industrial storage racking can support many operations where cartons, parts, consumables and tools are retrieved manually. The rack configuration should still be based on the individual products rather than the industry label alone.
The following official SKL images illustrate why different goods can require different storage arrangements. The correct system should be selected only after the product, loading method and space have been reviewed.
To recommend a suitable industrial storage racking configuration, we need to understand the products as well as the available space.
Send us your storage-area dimensions, item or carton sizes, maximum unit weight, approximate quantities and several site photos so we can review the requirement before preparing a proposal.
In summary, the most useful industrial storage racking system is determined by the actual item mix, shelf loads, carton dimensions, picking frequency and available space. By planning shelf depth, bay width, level spacing and storage zones around those requirements, we can develop a configuration that is easier to use and better suited to day-to-day storage operations. Contact SKL Metal Systems to discuss your storage requirement in Penang or elsewhere in Malaysia.