Ask ten facilities managers what they call the high-density storage in their archive room and you'll get two answers in roughly equal measure: mobile shelving and roller racking. The honest truth? They're the same product.
Why two names exist
"Mobile shelving" emerged from the manufacturers' technical language — bays of shelving on mobile carriages. "Roller racking" comes from how end users actually describe the experience: shelves that roll on rollers, like a rack. Healthcare and legal sectors tend to favour "roller racking"; manufacturers and architects favour "mobile shelving". Both refer to the same system: shelving bays mounted on carriages running along floor tracks, with a hand-wheel, anti-tip mechanism and braking system.
What you should specify
If you're sending an enquiry, use either term — every reputable specialist will know exactly what you mean. What matters more is:
- Number of bays and bay width
- Shelf height and number of shelf levels
- Whether the system is mechanical-assist or fully manual
- Track length and whether tracks are surface-mounted or recessed
- Floor loading at the destination site
One product, one specialist
Whichever name you use, the relocation process is identical: survey, decommission, transport, reinstall, certify. Our team handles dozens of jobs every year for clients who call it one name or the other — see our services page.