Manufacturers have designed thousands of different types of storage bins for industrial use. Warehouses that stock different size items, particularly small items like nuts and bolts, find bins the most efficient means of keeping these items secure.
However, given the choices, it may be challenging to determine the type that fits best with your operational requirements.
Your decision depends on the items, your space, and future storage needs.
Overview of Types
The thousands of bin or container types fit into several: shelf, stacking, straight-wall, stack and nest, and attached/detached lidded. You can also modify each type to fit your needs.
Shelf bins fit inside or on cabinets and existing shelves. These types often come with dividers.
You place stacking bins on top of each other to maximize space in cabinets or on shelves. Stacking bins can also hang on panels or rails, and you can divide them like shelf bins.
Straight wall containers maximize product space when storing or transporting items.
Designers developed stack and nest containers for transportation. Trucks haul product inside the stacked containers, and after emptying the containers nest together to safe space.
Attached lids remain with the containers, usually connected to the bin by hinges, whereas detached bins have a separate lid.
Bin Construction
You can find bins made from various types of materials. Plastic bins are some of the most common.
If you want something more durable, steel bins or wire mesh bins work well for heavy objects that could crack or break plastic.
Many drums and tanks, another form of bin, use a combination of fiberglass and metal, although some liquids need treated metal drums.
Bin Systems Made for Racks and Shelving
Bin systems refer to how the bin functions on the rack, shelf, or cabinet when stocking or removing the product.
Some of the most common include pick rack systems, all-welded storage cabinets with bins, bin storage cabinets, preconfigured panels with racks and bins, and shelving units with stackable storage bins.
- Pick Rack Systems
Many pick rack systems come with sloped shelving units. You can purchase single or double-sided, bench racks, or mobile units.
These bins are excellent for weighty items that turn over quickly, requiring quick and easy access for removal and restocking.
You can also buy mobile kits for the racks.
- All-Welded Storage Cabinets with Bins
All-welded storage cabinets have heavy-gauge steel doors with a locking system. The 14-gauge steel units do not require on-site assembly.
Plastic bins clip on and off the racks. The racks are welded to the cabinet and doors.
- Bin Storage Cabinets
Bin storage cabinets come in various configurations including 4-drawer and half-width shelves.
The 4-drawers have 12-gage steel bodies, and the shelves are adjustable. The bins are made of polypropylene and stack. The cabinets hold up to 1,200-pounds.
The half-width shelves bin cabinets also have 12-gauge steel bodies with bins built into the doors as well as the interior. These can hold up to 500-pounds of product.
- Solid Louvered Panel Racks
Louvered panel racks are another popular specialty rack made for bins. These units come as either stand-alone or as wall-hanging units.
The racks have hooks and accommodate various size bins.
Wire Louvered Panels
Wired louvered panels accommodate wire mesh bins. The wire panels do not collect dirt and dust as solid louvered panels do.
These units come with universal mounting clips that let you attach them to wood, plaster, or concrete walls.
Rotating Bins
Crowded work areas or smaller operations may find rotating bin an excellent choice. These units fit easily into otherwise unusable corners or at the end of aisles.
The shelves rotate independently with custom dividers to keep small parts separated. You can divide the shelves into five or ten different sections.
The sections are constructed of 18-gauge steel, and the sturdy, reinforced shelves can hold up to 500-pounds per shelf.
