Find out how you can see your floors again with Mobile Shelving for Laboratories!
How does Mobile Shelving work?
Typical shelving has aisles between each unit, taking up precious space. The mobile shelving is then mounted with guide wheels on the tracks. This allows the modular shelving to be closely packed, eliminating wasted aisle space.
An mobile storage system can laboratory equipment, files, instruments. High density storage shelving systems can reduce your filing or storage area over traditional four-drawer file cabinets and stationary shelving.
Today’s storage solutions demand better use of space, increased flexibility, and adaptability for future growth. With our extensive range of mobile, stationary shelving systems and cabinets, you can optimize and customize storage of lab equipment and supplies, no matter how big or small. At the same time, you can be confident they are stored securely.
Mobile Shelving to the Rescue!
Often we hear that people are looking to find new ways to use their existing real estate footprint and they also want to increase the security of their storage. Mobile storage system can achieve both goals!
As much as 50% of existing floor space can be recovered by turning standard storage into mobile shelving storage. By removing the individual aisle ways you recover valuable real estate.
In addition, each modular shelving unit can be programmed to lock as individual units so the individual storage shelving unit can be used for a variety of items such as garments, boxes, files, supplies, binders and the list goes one. Each unit could have its own security code and still share the same smaller footprint.
Simply put, it’s a way to store more in less space with mobile shelving. We’re all familiar with traditional static shelves—but the challenge with static storage is that it takes up a fixed amount of space. The amount of stuff being housed in your work space or storage area keeps growing, while the square footage stays exactly the same. To learn how modular shelving could work for you, …for the basics of maximizing your storage space.
Mobile Shelving Stores EVERY Imaginable Item
Laboratories like yours demand better use of labs space, reconfigurable, and ready for future growth. Modular shelving can handle books, binders, boxes, lab equipment, retail goods and more in 50% of the space.
Mobile lab shelving offers high density shelving and storage, while maximizing floor space.
Adjustable mobile shelving eliminate the need for aisles, saving up to 50% or more floor space than conventional mobile shelving.
Mobile Shelving Features
Unique Rail Guidance System
Aurora’s exclusive modular shelving guidance system provides straight tracking carriage movement with no play between rail and wheel.
- Patented Concave Wheel/Convex Rail Design.
- Even heavily loaded carriages move smoothly and securely.
Exclusive Rail Design
A barrier free rail makes the mobile storage system accessible and eliminates tripping hazards. Mail or supply carts are no problem as they roll easily over the rail.
Perfectly Aligned Rail
Dual pins ensure perfect alignment where rail is joined together, eliminating movement in any direction.
Modular shelving stores every imaginable item in space efficient moving carriages.
Mobile shelving carriages glide apart to create an access aisle, then glide to a closed position, storing more in less space.
- Files and Documents
- Binders
- Office Supplies
- Library Books, Periodicals, DVDs
- Athletic Equipment and Uniforms
- Garments
- Weapons and Gear Bags
- Small Parts and Inventory
- Pharmaceuticals and Prescription Fulfillment Bags
- Paintings, Sculptures and Artifacts
- Retail Stock
Mobile Shelving Applications
- Laboratories
- Healthcare
- Pharmacy
- K-12 and Higher Education
- Library
- Retail
- Athletic
- Museums
- Manufacturing
- Government
- Military
- Law Enforcement
- Insurance
- Corporate
Mechanical Assist Models
- Premium Aisle Safety Lock prevents carriage movement when locked.
- Optional Mechanical Safety Sweep* stops carriage movement by a quick tap of the foot.
*Available on 1000 Series Only.
Powered Mobile Shelving
Passive Aisle Block
This mobile storage system safety feature protects people and objects in an aisle. Passive Aisle Block requires the user to return to the open aisle keypad before opening a new aisle, ensuring the safety of other users.
Waist High, Carriage, or Aisle Entry Safety
Infrared safety options that stop modular shelving carriage movement when beam is broken.
Master Control Panel
Programmable Master Control Panel is feature laden.
- No computer interface required
- PIN Code Access for multiple users
- Selective Security with Aisle Lockout
- Fire and Night Park
- Program carriage speed and stopping distance
- On screen help menu
- Convert mobile carriages into fixed
Plan Mobile Shelving Around Sensitive Samples, Water Risk, and Access Control
High-density storage is not only a space-planning decision. Biomedical tissue, retained QC samples, and regulated inventory may also need protection from leaks, controlled access, and a layout that can change as collections grow. Define those risks before choosing mobile carriages, fixed shelving, or a combination of both.
For medical and biomedical storage, start with the room rather than the shelf count. Review known leak sources, sprinkler locations, nearby HVAC equipment, plumbing, floor drains, and any history of water intrusion. Shelving cannot make a room floodproof, but the right configuration can reduce exposure and improve recovery planning.
Reduce exposure to water and handling damage
- Keep the lowest storage level above the floor. Specify the required clearance based on your facility risk assessment and cleaning procedures.
- Consider top covers or closed storage where overhead drips, dust, or debris are concerns. Confirm that any enclosure still supports the required ventilation and temperature conditions.
- Use side and back containment where trays, boxes, or specimen containers could shift as a carriage moves. Retaining lips may also be useful; see this laboratory shelving project with retaining lips.
- Match shelf depth to the actual container. Deep shelves can hold tissue boxes and sample totes, but excessive depth makes labels harder to see and items harder to retrieve.
- Keep floor drains, cleanouts, shutoffs, and inspection points accessible. Facilities and the project engineer should confirm drainage, sprinkler, egress, and applicable code requirements with the authority having jurisdiction.
- Plan for relocation or expansion. Modular components can help when sample volume changes, but track layout, floor conditions, carriage dimensions, and future room constraints still need review. See a medical mobile shelving expansion example.
Choose the storage format by workflow and security need
| Need | Options to evaluate | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Dense biomedical or tissue storage | Mobile carriages with suitable shelf depth, raised bottom levels, top covers, and containment accessories | Are samples stable at room conditions? What leak and spill scenarios must the layout address? |
| QC retain samples sorted by item or lot | Fixed shelving, cubbies, cabinets, or mobile storage with dividers and clear location IDs | How will users assign, retrieve, reconcile, and quarantine samples? |
| Restricted inventory | Locking carriages, lockable cabinets, or a security cage around the storage zone | Does the selected product lock at the carriage, aisle, compartment, or room level? Who receives access? |
| Frequent picking by several analysts | Fixed or mixed storage may reduce waiting for an aisle | How many people need simultaneous access, and how often? |
Document access and audit needs before selecting locks
- 1Define the controlled boundary A lock on a mobile system may secure an aisle or carriage without securing each cubby. If individual compartments must be restricted, consider lockable cabinets or a security cage. Use the security cage configurator to organize the enclosure requirements.
- 2Map permissions and records List user groups, after-hours access, visitor rules, key or credential control, and the records your quality system requires. Ask which access-control and event-recording functions are available for the exact system under consideration.
- 3Confirm the validation approach For pharmaceutical QC, your quality team should determine required procedures, qualification, inventory reconciliation, and audit documentation. Do not assume a shelving lock alone satisfies internal or regulatory requirements.
- 4Send the project details Provide a room plan and ceiling height; door, drain, sprinkler, HVAC, and utility locations; floor construction and levelness; container dimensions and quantities; maximum loaded weights; desired shelf depth; water-risk history; access groups; locking level; audit-record needs; and expected growth. You can organize dimensions and aisle needs with the mobile shelving planner.
Send those details through our contact form or call (801) 855-8560, and a Labs USA specialist will review them with you.
Common Questions
Can mobile shelving protect tissue samples from water damage?
It can help reduce exposure through raised lower shelves, top covers, side containment, and thoughtful placement, but it does not make the room waterproof. Facilities should address the leak source, drainage, emergency response, and environmental requirements separately.
Should a pharmaceutical QC lab use mobile shelving for retain samples?
It depends on access frequency, simultaneous users, security, and the sample-control process. Fixed cubbies or cabinets may be better for frequent picking, while mobile storage can suit dense retention inventory when aisle access fits the workflow.
Are locking mobile carriages enough for regulated sample security?
Not always. Confirm exactly what the selected lock controls and whether your quality system requires compartment-level restriction, access records, or a secured room or cage.
Can shelving be reconfigured when sample volume grows?
Many systems allow shelf adjustment or modular expansion, but relocation and added carriages may depend on the track, floor, room geometry, and building systems. Include anticipated growth in the initial layout review.
Mobile Shelving for Laboratories
“We all love the concept of no limits; free refills and all you can eat buffets. Sadly, there are some boundaries that can’t be avoided, like the physical dimensions of your building or retail space. What if you need to keep more inventory on hand because your products are in demand? What if your high-priced working space is being consumed by storage overflow? Or your product lines expand? Or your staff increases and they need a working space and storage space? You hit the limit… or maybe not.
What if there was a way to condense all that stuff and recover square footage for other uses, you can do just that. With mobile storage system designed to fit the exact needs of your facility. These ingenious systems replace empty aisle space with usable storage space. You can double your storage capacity within your existing footprint or you can reduce your storage floor space by as much as 50%. Customizable mobile shelving accommodates your bulky boxes, your tiny artifacts, or anything in-between. No matter what your industry or organization, high-density Mobile lab shelving give you more space for generating revenue. Get in touch with us to find out how to maximize your storage space.”
Storing PPE alongside samples? A standard-depth mobile shelving bay (about 18″ deep) fits a typical lab-coat hanger, and a simple coat rod on the end panel works as well as a built-in coat compartment — worth flagging in your layout if lab coats are part of the storage scope.
Storing PPE alongside samples? A standard-depth mobile shelving bay (about 18″ deep) fits a typical lab-coat hanger, and a simple coat rod on the end panel works as well as a built-in coat compartment — worth flagging in your layout if lab coats are part of the storage scope.
Storing PPE alongside samples? A standard-depth mobile shelving bay (about 18″ deep) fits a typical lab-coat hanger, and a simple coat rod on the end panel works as well as a built-in coat compartment — worth flagging in your layout if lab coats are part of the storage scope.
