Manufacturing
Manufacturing Warehouse Storage Solutions
Storage systems designed for production flow: raw material staging, work-in-process buffers, finished goods storage, and oversized parts handling.
3× More
Pallet positions vs. floor-stacking in production areas
15–25%
Fewer line-down events with organized staging
95%+
WIP inventory accuracy with dedicated rack positions
20–30%
Less forklift traffic on the production floor
Manufacturing warehouse storage requires racking systems that support the flow of raw materials, work-in-process staging, finished goods inventory, and oversized parts unique to production environments. Manufacturing facilities often combine cantilever racks for long stock, selective racking for finished goods, and heavy-duty shelving for tooling and components.
What We Understand
The Challenges Specific to Manufacturing
Mixed Inventory Types in One Facility
Manufacturing facilities store fundamentally different things in the same building: raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, tooling, and packaging supplies. Each has different weight profiles, access frequencies, and rotation requirements. A single racking configuration doesn't work. We design zone-by-zone, matching the storage system to each inventory type.
Oversized and Irregular Loads
Bar stock, sheet metal, tubing, dies, and finished assemblies don't fit on standard pallets. Cantilever rack, custom beam levels, and wide-bay configurations handle irregular shapes and heavy unit loads without wasting aisle space or creating safety problems. We size every system to your actual load profiles, not catalog assumptions.
Production Flow and Line-Side Staging
Storage that's disconnected from the production floor creates bottlenecks: forklifts running long distances, staging areas overflowing, production lines waiting on material. We design layouts that position raw materials and WIP buffers close to the lines they feed, reducing travel time and keeping production moving.
Our Approach
Designed Around How Your Production Floor Actually Works
We start every manufacturing project by walking your facility: understanding material flow from receiving dock through production lines to finished goods shipping. The storage layout follows the production workflow, not the other way around.
Raw material zones get the system that matches the material type: cantilever for long stock, selective rack for palletized inputs, and drive-in for high-volume bulk items. WIP staging areas are positioned close to the lines they feed. Finished goods zones are configured for outbound efficiency, whether that's selective rack for mixed-SKU picking or push-back for bulk shipment staging.
All installations are coordinated around your production schedule. Phased installs across nights, weekends, or facility sections keep your lines running throughout the project.
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Recommended Systems
Storage Solutions We Commonly Install for Manufacturing
Cantilever Rack
Open-front arm storage for bar stock, sheet goods, tubing, lumber, and other long or oversized materials that don't fit on standard pallet rack.
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Selective Pallet Racks
Direct access to every pallet position. The workhorse for finished goods, raw material pallets, and WIP buffers where selectivity and access speed matter.
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Mezzanines
Freestanding elevated platforms that add usable floor space for parts storage, packaging stations, or quality inspection areas without building expansion.
Learn MoreProject Example
What This Looks Like in Practice
250,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Chicago: mixed system (cantilever for raw bar stock and sheet goods + selective rack for palletized components and finished goods + mezzanine for small parts storage and QC area), reduced material handling travel time, added 900+ pallet positions, full permitting handled, phased installation completed around 24/7 production schedule.
Manufacturing plants can't shut down a production line for a rack install. We phase the work so operations keep running, section by section. The goal is more storage capacity without any lost production time.
Dylan Andrews
VP Operations, Hammerhead Warehouse Systems
Related Industries
Planning a Manufacturing Storage Project?
We'll visit your facility and design a layout that supports your production flow. Free site visit, no obligation.
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