Epoxy vs Chrome shelving – which is best for you?

For both businesses and homes, wire shelving units are a visually appealing and cost-effective choice. Because of their longevity, flexibility, and high load size, chrome and epoxy wire shelving units are the most common. However, determining which solution is better for you can be difficult. When shopping for shelving units, it’s crucial to remember and determine your primary need for the product before deciding which choice is better for you. When selecting racking, keep the following factors in mind:

·         Load capacity – what is going to be stored on the shelf?
·         Environment of your space, cold, dry/wet, outside / inside?
·         Size /shape of the room – e.g. display, coolroom, garage
·         Assembly – can i do it myself?

So what’s the difference?

Chrome Wire Shelving 
Although chrome shelving is normally the more costly choice, it is widely regarded as the most aesthetically appealing. The smooth texture and shiny silver surface are the main reasons for this. The poles that reside inside the shelving add to the streamlined look by making a streamlined appearance. Chrome shelving is suitable for places where it would be on sale, such as showrooms or department shops, because of this. They’re also popular in a variety of commercial settings, including storerooms, kitchens, and offices. Chrome shelving is not only attractive, but it is also very well-made and durable. It’s also worth remembering that chrome shelving is only appropriate for dry conditions with no humidity or dampness.
See the Brayco range of chrome shelving here.

Epoxy Wire Shelving
Epoxy shelving is less expensive and has a sleeker appearance than chrome shelving. It has a temperature range of 0°C to 300°C and can be used in both wet and dry conditions, making it very flexible. Water resistance is provided by the rubberised coating, which also protects against rust and corrosion. Epoxy is ideal for conditions that are rainy, cold, humid, or have frequent temperature fluctuations. Coolrooms, garages, sheds, food storage, and warehouses are only a few of the places where epoxy shelving systems are often used. Epoxy also helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria, making it a germ-free storage alternative. Furthermore, epoxy is chemically resistant, which is essential in the food service industry where a variety of chemicals are used.
See the Brayco range of epoxy shelving here.

What do you need to consider before making a purchase?

LOAD CAPACITY

Both chrome and epoxy shelving have the ability to be durable, but the strength of each brand varies greatly. When purchasing shelving, keep in mind the load capacity of each shelf as well as the thickness of the steel used. It is worthwhile to compare brands; even though they seem to be identical at first glance, a closer inspection will reveal a disparity inconsistency.

(We’d like to point out that Brayco uses a thicker diameter of steel than other rivals, making them very durable and capable of carrying 150kg per shelf.) It is also vital to remember, as with any shelf device, that the weight is spread uniformly around the shelf to prevent undue tension on the shelf and for protection when used with larger loads storage.

ENVIRONMENT

Choose epoxy shelving with a rubberised coating if you have a lot of moisture or a cool room. These are ideal for garages, coolrooms, and even places like a bottle shop or wine cellar.
Since certain floors are uneven, flexible feet are a handy function that will ensure the shelving’s maximum stability.

Are you looking for a portable unit? Castors are a good option. This provides flexibility and portability, but at the expense of total load size, so think about the use and suitability before going mobile. It’s ideal for storing table linen that can be transferred from the dining room to the storage/delivery unit. Alternatively, with pool towels that can be wheeled indoors at the end of the day, use an epoxy device.

LOCATION / SHAPE OF THE ROOM

With the latest S hook accessory, this shelving can be conveniently customised to each customer’s room and needs. For more room and easier access, create straight, L, or U configurations with no corner posts. No end poles are required; simply attach the S hook onto the end of each shelf and hang the next shelf onto it. S hooks come in chrome and epoxy finishes to complement every form of shelving.

To prevent your load from sliding off the end of each bay, add shelf dividers to the end of each bay – a useful accessory to search for when selecting your unit.

ASSEMBLY

The ease of assembly is a distinct attribute of both chrome and epoxy units. A shelf can be placed anywhere along the length of the pole, and any number of shelves can be attached, thanks to the innovative clip shape.

These best-selling wire shelving packages provide anything you’ll need to easily expand your storage room (4 shelves included). Shelving units can be put together in a matter of minutes. You should get as many shelves as you like!

No tools are required; simply snap the black clips into place on the uprights, then drop the shelf over the clips and push them into place. The most difficult challenge would be ensuring that the four clips are at the same height such that the shelf is level; this is a simple workaround that can be accomplished by counting the strategically spaced grooves in the poles and ensuring that each clip is set at the same height.

Brayco offers a wide variety of sizes in both epoxy and chrome, ranging from 457 to 1524mm wide and 1800mm tall, with optional features such as castors, additional racks, s hooks, and shelf dividers.

For the full range of Brayco wire shelving including all sizes and pricing, click the link

Commercial Kitchen – Cabinets, Benches & Shelving Layout

The 5 key components of a commercial kitchen

Before designing a commercial kitchen space, it’s important to account for the needs that the kitchen must fulfill and the equipment associated with those needs. When you know what components need to fit into the space from the beginning of the design process, you will be able to design your commercial kitchen layout more effectively. A Stainless Steel Bench is an integral component of every commercial restaurant kitchen.

The 5 components of a commercial kitchen

1. Storage
2. Food Preparation
3. Cooking Station
4. Food Service
5. Washing

The key to your success as a food business is in the kitchen design.

A strong design will make your kitchen run smoothly and efficiently, so everything must be planned long before you open your restaurant. Everyone knows you need great staff, solid equipment and a chef who knows what they’re doing – but a vital part of your operation is the design of your commercial kitchen.

In our opinion there are five aspects to the optimum kitchen design. These are:

1. Storage: Ingredients must be kept fresh and free from contamination and at the right temperature depending on the product. Utensils must be easily accessible.
   Storage can be split up into dry storage and cold storage.
   DRY STORE: A dry storage room or allocated area is a must in a kitchen environment and houses all of the ambient goods that are used – whether it’s tinned or canned goods, spices or fresh produce. Similar to the freezer room, when you are designing a smaller environment and space is limited, then kitchen wall shelves and over bench shelving are valuable options.
   COLD STORE: Of course the preferred choice would be a walk-in freezer store but when designing smaller environments this is normally one of the luxuries to be sacrificed. Walk-in freezer stores differ from cold stores in the fact that they need an insulated floor to maintain its optimum temperature.
   This is achieved by having either a raised floor creating a step into the room or by creating a recess in the slab so that the finished surface of the freezer room can be flush with the surrounding floor heights, thus creating the ability to roll in trolleys directly. In a lot of cases, freezer storage capacity is created using upright stand alone shelving, especially where space is at a premium.
2. Food Preparation: Whether you’re chopping onions or poultry, it’s vital to segregate different types of food during prep. Sinks with extra bench room and sink covers allow for extra prep space in a small work area. Another option is to add a central work table with over bench shelving for convenience and to double up storage space.
3. Cooking Station: The cookline is the heart of the kitchen and the engine. The location of the cooking equipment is vital to a smooth operation and can be seamlessly integrated with your stainless steel benches. A combination of benches and cabinets for easy transition from prep to cook area offers valuable workspace and storage, keeping items within easy reach.
4. Food Service: Efficient kitchen design means front-of-house staff have rapid and safe access to the pass without disrupting the kitchen flow. Stainless cabinets in this area can house plates and service ware and are neatly tucked away when not required.
5. Cleaning and Washing: Plates, glasses, cutlery constantly need to be washed ready for re-use in a busy kitchen. A stainless steel sink bench is the perfect way to wash dishes efficiently. A well designed wash-up that allows adequate space for sorting and handling in conjunction with the correct dishwasher is vital. Combine dishwash benches and sinks with an open lip to slide the wash trays into the washing machine and out. Add a tap with shower head to help rinse before putting in the washing machine.

Kitchen design is a laborious task and can take many hours of head scratching to figure out your best layout.
Come and see us in the branch and we can show more options to help you finalise your kitchen layout.

Also checkout:

• Epoxy wire shelving for cool rooms