Smart Bulk Storage Solutions for Colorado Warehouses
Discover the Best Bulk Storage Options for Your Bulk Items & Containers
When choosing bulk storage systems for your Colorado warehouse or facility, key priorities include maximizing space, ensuring easy product access, and maintaining safety. With so many options available, it can be challenging to identify the best storage solutions—or combinations thereof—for your needs.
While much attention is often given to optimizing palletized storage, bulk inventory storage can sometimes fall by the wayside. Apex offers a range of bulk storage solutions tailored to your business needs, helping you find the ideal fit. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options.
What is Bulk Storage?
Bulk storage refers to the practice of storing large quantities of goods or materials in a warehouse, often in their original containers and without additional packaging. This method is commonly used for liquid products like petroleum, industrial materials such as construction supplies, and even bulk food items. Typically, bulk storage setups require fewer physical bins and provide quick access to large containers, with items arranged in blocks or rows for efficiency.
Types of Bulk Items & Containers
- Storage Tanks, Vats, Drums & Silos – Best suited for liquid storage.
- Super Sacks – Used for dry, flowable materials. These sacks can be stored on pallets but require caution due to weight, potential movement, and product overhang.
- IBC Containers – Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are versatile and can store everything from food-grade liquids to hazardous materials.
- Building Materials / Lumber
- Large Equipment / Assembly Parts
- Furniture / Appliances
Four Bulk Warehouse Storage Options
Whenever possible, storing inventory on pallets is ideal. Palletized loads are easier to manage with standard warehouse equipment like forklifts and pallet jacks, and they fit neatly on pallet racks, optimizing space usage. However, not all products are suited for pallet storage. For these cases, alternative storage solutions may be more effective. Here are a few examples.
1. Floor Stacking
Floor stacking is a simple warehouse storage method that requires no additional storage equipment. Items are placed directly on the floor or on a single pallet and stacked in blocks. This approach is highly space-intensive and requires substantial floor space to store large quantities of inventory.
When loads are removed from storage lanes, the space remains vacant until the entire lane is cleared. For this reason, effective planning is essential to predict stock levels and optimize space usage.
2. Pallet Rack
Pallet racks can occasionally be adapted for bulk containers or even non-palletized items, depending on the size and specifications of the containers. For instance, drum cradles are specifically built to store drums securely, while M&V supports are designed to organize and hold loose or irregularly shaped inventory.
| Drum cradles provide an ideal storage solution for rounded inventory like drums, wheels, and rims. Their ergonomic design includes two triangular supports welded to front and rear braces, which securely fit over the top of the front and rear beams | M&V Dividers from Apex offer an ideal solution for items that don’t fit neatly on a pallet or in a carton. Made from 3/8” wire or 1” tubing, these dividers are shaped like an “M” or “V” to allow vertical storage, maximizing space and making products easily accessible. |
3. Pallet Flow Rack
Pallet flow racks are an excellent choice for space-efficient, first-in/first-out inventory rotation. With some customization, they can also be adapted for bulk storage, accommodating items like IBC containers, large equipment, beer kegs, and tires.
4. Cantilever Rack
Cantilever racks are ideal for storing long, bulky items like lumber, piping, or textiles. These racks feature vertical arms attached to a series of columns, extending outward at a slight angle to support various loads. The height of each arm is adjustable to fit different load sizes and quantities. Cantilever racks are also versatile enough to store oversized items, from industrial wire reels and furniture to small vehicles or boats.
 Pallet Flow Rack |
 Cantilever Rack |
A Note About Point Loads
When considering pallet rack systems for bulk or custom containers, it’s essential to account for point loads. In standard setups, loads are typically spread evenly across the pallet, allowing the use of standard racking components. However, footed containers create concentrated point loads on the rack beams, which can lead to deflection or alter the system’s load capacity. Since point-load positions may vary, simply increasing the rated load capacity may not be enough to address the issue effectively.
In these cases, the Apex Engineering & Design team can create custom solutions to support uneven load distribution. For instance, in a recent project spotligh, Apex engineered a fabricated metal deck with enhanced under-deck support to stabilize point loads on a pallet racking system. Each solution is tailored to the specific type of bulk container and racking configuration.
Apex: Your Partner for Premium Bulk Storage Solutions
Apex is your go-to source for storage solutions tailored to your space and inventory requirements. We offer full-service support, from design and engineering to expert installation and rack inspections.
Ready to optimize your storage? Contact us today!
