A sliding track storage system is the least disruptive way to get more out of a storeroom you already have: the shelving units you own are lifted onto skates that ride in a low floor track, so the runs slide sideways and one aisle serves several runs instead of every run needing its own. Nothing is built in, nothing is welded to the building, and the shelving itself does not change. Labs USA is a supplier and project partner, not the manufacturer. We supply Quantum Medical storage products, help configure them for the room and the workflow, and coordinate delivery and installation.
How a floor track system works
Three parts: track on the floor, skates under the posts, and the shelving you already have on top.
The track is a low v-groove extrusion that is laid on the finished floor across the width of the bank. The skate is a channel with bearings that sits under the shelving posts, and the manufacturer states that the bearings are located under each post for a load capacity of up to 1,500 pounds per shelving unit. Push the unit and it rolls along the track; stop pushing and it stays.
Because the shelving is the same shelving, this is the retrofit option. A storeroom full of chrome or epoxy wire units can be converted a bank at a time, over a weekend, without changing what is on the shelves or how staff pick from them. Compare that with a rail-mounted system, which is a decision about the room rather than about the shelving.
End stops keep a unit from running off the end of the track, a foot activated brake kit holds a unit still while someone is picking from it, and a shim kit takes up the slope in a floor that is not flat. The manufacturer also publishes a drift resistor version of each skate for rooms where units would otherwise creep.
Published skates, track and components
These are the manufacturer’s currently published models. We confirm the exact model list, quantities and track lengths for your room on the quote.
| Model | What it is | Published detail |
|---|---|---|
| HD18 | One skate | 18″ skate size, 4 lb ship weight |
| HD21 | One skate | 21″ skate size, 5 lb ship weight |
| HD24 | One skate | 24″ skate size, 6 lb ship weight |
| HD30 | One skate | 30″ skate size, 7 lb ship weight |
| HD36 | One skate | 36″ skate size, 8 lb ship weight |
| HD18-2 to HD36-2 | Single unit skate assembly kit | two skates plus hardware, one kit per single mobile unit |
| HD18-3 to HD36-3 | Double unit skate assembly kit | three skates plus hardware, one kit per double mobile unit |
| QVTRK | V-track | sold per inch for a made-to-length run |
| QVTRK-2-72EST to QVTRK-2-240EST | Two-track package | published in 12 inch steps from 72 in (6 ft) to 240 in (20 ft) |
| QVTRK-3-72EST to QVTRK-3-240EST | Three-track package | same length range, three rails per set |
| QESTP | End stop kit | 1 lb ship weight |
| QBRK | Foot activated brake kit | 1 lb ship weight |
| WK | Wing kit | 2 lb ship weight |
| SK | Shim kit | 3 lb ship weight |
SkateOne skate per post line, sized to the shelf depth. Bearings sit under the posts.
Single unit kitTwo skates and hardware convert one existing shelving unit.
Double unit kitThree skates for a back-to-back pair sharing a centre post line.What it does to the floor plan, worked out
Every space claim on this page is arithmetic from the example dimensions below and nothing else. Your own numbers will differ, which is exactly why we do the layout before you buy anything.
The example. A store room 20 feet (240 inches) deep across the direction of the runs, using 24 inch deep shelving units and a 36 inch working aisle.
- Stationary today. Each accessible run needs its own aisle, so it consumes 24 in of shelving plus 36 in of aisle = 60 in of floor. 240 ÷ 60 = 4 runs.
- On floor track. The bank shares one aisle, so 36 in comes off the total once: 240 − 36 = 204 in of depth available for shelving. 204 ÷ 24 = 8.5, so 8 runs fit with 12 in left over.
- The result for this room. 8 runs instead of 4 in the same floor area, on the same shelving. That is specific to a 240 in depth, 24 in units and a 36 in aisle; change the aisle to 42 in and it becomes (240 − 42) ÷ 24 = 8.25, still 8 runs, while a 30 in deep unit gives (240 − 36) ÷ 30 = 6 runs.
The High-Density Storage Calculator runs this same arithmetic on your dimensions in the browser, and the space savings guide walks through the trade-offs between stationary, mobile and track storage in more detail.
Where sliding track fits, and where it does not
Good fit
- An existing storeroom that is full, where the shelving is in good condition and the budget will not stretch to rebuilding the room.
- Bulk and case-quantity storage that is picked in batches rather than constantly.
- Rooms with a level, finished floor and enough length for the track run.
- Departments that want a reversible change – the track can be lifted and the units go back to stationary.
Typical rooms: central supply bulk, sterile processing case-cart staging, imaging stores, plant operations parts rooms and archive storage.
Poor fit
- A high-traffic clean utility room where two people pick at once – a shared aisle means waiting.
- Floors with a noticeable slope or an uneven finish, unless shim kits and a site measure confirm it works.
- Rooms where a walkway must stay clear across the whole width at all times.
- Very heavily loaded runs above the manufacturer’s published per-unit figure.
Where a shared aisle will not work, the answer is usually a mix: high-density at the back of the room for bulk, stationary shelving at the front for daily picks.
Specifying a system
End stops and brakesEnd stop kits close out the ends of a run; the foot activated brake kit holds a unit while someone picks from it.Track packages are published from 6 to 20 feet in 12 inch steps, and the v-track is also sold per inch for a made-to-length run, so the track follows the room rather than the room following the track.
Work out what your room would hold
The High-Density Storage Calculator does this arithmetic on your dimensions in the browser, with the working shown. Send us the result and we will come back with the track lengths, skate models and quantities.
Resources
- Healthcare storage solutions — the hub for the whole programme.
- Healthcare shelving — the shelving that goes on the track.
- Quantum Medical storage products — the manufacturer and its families.
- Healthcare Storage Design Center — free planning tools and intake checklists.
Sliding track storage FAQ
Can we put our existing shelving on track?
How much can one unit carry?
What holds a unit still while someone is picking?
Does the floor need work first?
How long are the track runs?
Is this the same as a mechanical-assist system?
Can we take it out later?
Get a sliding track storage quote
Send the room dimensions, the shelving you already own and the aisle width your team needs. You get a layout, the skate and track models with quantities, freight and lead time at no charge.