Boltless Shelving Buying Guide | How to Pick the Right Depth and Spacing

A boltless shelving system in your auto parts or small hardware shop will save you time and help you organize your inventory with no bolts, screws or wrenches required.

A standard choice for backrooms and parts storage shops, boltless shelves are used for maintenance supplies, spare inventory and other supplies and are popular in parts rooms and e-commerce fulfillment centers for several reasons.

Why Choose Boltless Shelving

Three main reasons to use boltless shelving are that it’s quick to assemble, easy to reconfigure, and doesn’t require a professional to install. A standalone setup, boltless shelving uses fasteners and rivets that lock into keyhole slots in the posts. A rubber mallet secures the connection, instead of nuts and bolts. Shelving depth and spacing matter.

How to Pick The Right Shelf Depth

Building a boltless shelving system in your parts or backroom storage room requires choosing the proper shelf depth. The most popular boltless shelving dimensions are 12”, 18” and 24”.

Here’s a quick breakdown of sizes and their uses:

12” Depth: Suitable for easy access for small parts supplies. 500-1,000 lbs max load per shelf. Ideal for e-commerce fulfillment and parts rooms for easy picking.
18” Depth: Mixed warehouse inventory, minimal reaching required. 750-1,500 lb max load.
24” Depth: Bulk storage (large cartons, larger inventory items), reserve inventory. Slower picking speed. 1,000-2,000+lbs max load.

When choosing the right depth vs. the picking area, you have to evaluate your warehouse or shop situation. For example, with less floor space, you may need narrower shelves because space is at a premium; a larger space, however, can accommodate a larger shelving depth that can handle heavier and bulkier items.

Shelf Spacing Usage

Boltless shelving provides adjustable height options to suit your inventory needs and storage space requirements. Whether you choose Mid-Duty E-Z-Rect boltless or a Heavy-Duty Maxishelf boltless shelving system, they are excellent for maximizing storage space. One major advantage of boltless shelving is that you can adjust each shelf to match the dimensions of the items you need to store. Adequate spacing allows for item protection, accessibility/pick up speed, and flexibility to reconfigure your space as your inventory changes.

The Bottomline on Boltless Shelving

If you’re looking for a shelving system for your backroom or parts room storage needs, GD Liquidators can supply you with a range of boltless shelves, including our Mid-Duty EZ-Rect and Heavy-Duty Maxishelf shelves. Our boltless shelves add to the safety and security of your operations. Contact our team today and tell us about your specific storage needs in Alberta.

What to Consider When Relocating Your Pallet Racking System

A pallet racking system in your warehouse is essential for storing and retrieving goods, but moving the system is complex and requires a step-by-step process and skilled professionals to ensure it’s done safely and efficiently.

While GD Liquidators supplies pallet racking systems, we recommend working with a certified installer for disassembly and reinstallation to ensure compliance with load ratings and safety codes.

When moving your pallet racking system to a new facility or upgrading your warehouse, the steps below will help with a successful and safe move.

Take-Down, Move & Reinstall | What to Know Before You Start

A complete take-down of your pallet system is required to move it from one warehouse to another. A safety-first protocol is vital to avoid damage and safety hazards.

Once we’ve confirmed your move details, created a plan, and assigned responsibilities, you’re ready for the first step in the process: dismantling the pallet racking system, which includes planning your new space, unloading, and prepping the work site.

Tear-Down Process

Planning & Preparation

New location setup: Measuring the layout (floor space) of your new location is critical to ensure racking safety and maximize space capacity.
Risk assessment: Review structural attachments and configuration of your pallet system before you start dismantling the racking system.
Site preparation: Prepare the site to protect equipment in your warehouse and to create safety zones to avoid accidents or damage.
Unload every level: When offloading goods, always unload every level starting from the top of the rack down, to prevent damage to goods.
Label and organize: Proper labelling is crucial for a productive reinstallation process. Label pieces and parts (bolts, clips, connectors) by size and capacity.
Disassemble carefully at a slow pace, so you don’t drop or lose any parts or hardware.
Handle uprights with care: Handle the uprights carefully, as the frame of the pallet racking system (columns, bracing, footplates, or connector slots) supports the horizontal beams.

Additional Moving Steps

Use proper equipment: Use scissor lifts, forklifts, heavy-duty rubber mallets, impact wrenches, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other necessary equipment to disassemble and move pallet racking.
Clean-up and removal: After you’ve removed your pallets, clean up the removal site and check for any dropped parts or hardware. Remove anchors and bolts and inspect the concrete floor for cracks and holes that need patching.
Inspect everything: Check your beams and racks for bent frames or beams before moving, so you can plan for replacements.

Moving Your Pallet System

Transport your pallet racking to a new facility after you’ve dismantled it entirely and once your new site is ready to go.

Reassembling Your Pallet Racking

Rebuild your pallet racking system according to the manufacturer’s load rating and anchoring requirements, not by eye.

The Right Racking System Makes the Difference

Streamlining warehouse operations takes more than just a process – it requires the right infrastructure to support it. A process that doesn’t work, or racking that isn’t suited to the job, can lead to damaged goods and safety hazards. That’s why choosing the right pallet racking system matters. GD Liquidators supplies pallet racking systems built to help your team move product safely and efficiently. Contact us today for a quote.

Storing Non-Standard Loads on Pallet Racking | Accessories That Keep Items Secure

Storing goods in your warehouse or distribution centre means keeping items stable and secure – protecting them from damage while preventing hazards to staff during loading, unloading, and storage. Pallet racking accessories play a key role here, helping to minimize accidents and reduce the risk of injury.

GD Liquidators carries a wide selection of pallet racking accessories to help organize your goods and meet your storage needs. Whether you’re outfitting a new facility or upgrading your existing pallet racking in Edmonton, choosing the right accessories ensures your storage system works safely for the loads you handle.

What are Considered Non-Standard Loads?

Pallet racking loads that are non-standard (awkward, narrow loads) include barrels, reels, loose boxes, and odd-shaped equipment or items that don’t fit safely on pallet racks without a support accessory.

If odd-shaped items don’t sit flat on standard pallet racks, they can create an unstable base. When items are loaded or unloaded from the pallet, or there is movement on the warehouse floor, this can impact safety and cause damage if the correct accessories are not in place.

A drum’s cylindrical surface, for example, has to be secured using cradles or spacers while on a pallet; otherwise it will likely slip and potentially spill the hazardous substance it contains. Coils present a similar stability risk and require the same type of support to prevent rolling or shifting.

Load Behaviour and Choosing Pallet Accessories

Figuring out the load behaviour of your items stored on pallets, and what pallet racking accessories you need to support different loads, is essential to a safe environment in your warehouse, distribution centre, or manufacturing plant.

Load Stability and Shape

Understanding how the load behaves under its own weight, how its weight is distributed, and how it responds to impact, movement or uneven support will determine what accessories you need to avoid accidents and injuries.

If your goods are unstable, accessories such as wire mesh decking, shelf panels and crossbars help stabilize them and create a balanced surface so they don’t spill, roll, shift, or tilt.

Protecting Your Racking and Goods

Pallet racking system accessories are vital to keeping your goods secure and preventing safety hazards during loading, unloading, and storage. With multiple accessory options available, choosing the right one depends on your specific load type.

To check what type of accessory you need, below are a few common questions to ask yourself:

Is it a point load or a distributed load? Drum cradles help distribute weight on the pallet.
Are your items unstable or have no flat base? Use decking or shelf panels.
Is there sagging? Crossbars sit between the beams, adding support points.
Does your forklift need a fork clearance bar for safe placement and retrieval? This adds balance support during handling.

Rack Protection and Containment

Are cylindrical items like drums or coils at risk of rolling? Use pallet racking cradles or spacers to keep them secure.
Do your pallets extend beyond the beam or risk falling through gaps? Wire mesh decking or pallet supports keep loads properly contained.
Is there a risk of forklifts colliding with your racking uprights? Column or upright protectors guard against structural damage.
Are adjacent racking rows too close together, risking accidental contact between loads? Row spacers maintain safe distance between back-to-back racks.
Could a load shift or fall from the front of the rack? Safety pins, clips, or rack guards keep beams locked in place and loads contained.
Is inventory stored at height where falling debris could pose a risk? Safety netting or wire mesh backing adds a layer of fall protection.

Choosing the Right Accessories

Asking the right questions upfront – about load type, stability, sagging, and forklift handling – helps you avoid the safety risks and product damage that come with mismatched pallet racking accessories. The right combination of cradles, decking, crossbars, and protective accessories keeps your goods secure and your team safe.

GD Liquidators has a wide selection of racking accessories that can enhance your pallet racking’s functionality, safety, organization, and efficiency. Our team will help you decide which pallet racking system and accessories best fit your unique needs and space requirements. Browse our selection, or contact us for details.

Proudly Canadian: Celebrate Canada Day with GD Liquidators

Happy Canada Day to all of our fellow Canadians! As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our nation, we at GD Liquidators are feeling proud to be a part of this incredible country. In the spirit of celebration, we’re excited to share some of the ways we’re helping Canadian businesses thrive.

Proudly Serving Canadians

At GD Liquidators, we’re dedicated to providing Canadian businesses with the tools they need to succeed. We offer a wide range of new and used office furniture, pallet racking, shelving, warehouse materials, storage solutions, and tools – all at competitive prices. Whether you’re setting up a new office in Edmonton, expanding your warehouse, or simply looking to upgrade your equipment, we’ve got you covered.

Our commitment to quality and customer service sets us apart. We carefully inspect all our used items to ensure they meet our high standards, and we offer delivery and installation services to make your life easier. We’re proud to be a trusted partner for businesses across Canada and are always looking for new ways to support our local economy.

Celebrate Canada Day with Us

As we celebrate Canada Day, we want to thank our customers for their continued support. We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and we’re committed to helping you achieve your business goals. From our GD Liquidators family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy Canada Day filled with joy, laughter, and pride in our great nation. Happy Canada Day!

Pallet Racking Safety Add-Ons: Wire Decking, Guards, and Row Spacers Explained

Pallet racking solutions are essential for safety and performance in an industrial environment. If you’re investing in new pallet racking in Edmonton, it’s important to ensure that you purchase safety add-ons.

These safety solutions include wire decking, guards, and row spacers to protect warehouse staff and inventory and decrease the possibility of injuries and accidents.

Pallet Racking Safety Add-Ons

In a warehouse, safety is your number one priority. Our pallet packing systems have a variety of safety add-ons that will help keep warehouse, retail, and distribution personnel safe.

The safety and performance accessories listed below are available at GD Liquidators, Edmonton’s premier warehouse and office supplier. GD Liquidators sells high-quality pallet systems, including used pallet racking in Edmonton.

Wire Decking

One of the key safety add-ons in an industrial warehouse is wire decking – a grid-design mesh support that is attached to pallet rack beams and other supports to improve air circulation and increase visibility of stored items between pallets.

The use of wire mesh decking is important to prevent pallets or goods from falling and to provide versatility in pallet organization. Wire decking, which is easy to install, is also used in bulk racks for compact storage in smaller spaces.

Pallet Guards

Rack guards are installed along the edges of pallet beams to protect them from coming into contact with the racks. If a forklift bumps into a pallet, for example, and shifts goods off the rack or breaks, installing a pallet guard minimizes the risk of injury to people in a warehouse or retail store aisles.

Row Spacers

Row spacers are typically used when your pallet racking needs stability by connecting rows of pallet racking. This structural design element also prevents extra force between pallets, maintains a flue space (fire protection), and provides adequate spacing between rows.

At GD Liquidators, contact us to get started on finding the best pallet racking safety and performance add-ons.

Office Desk Layouts That Work: Choosing L-Shaped Desks vs Straight Desks for Small Offices

When designing a compact workspace, every square inch counts. A poorly planned layout can quickly make a small office feel claustrophobic, while the right furniture configuration can make that same room feel open, organized, and efficient.

What makes or breaks your space is your workstation. If you’re currently shopping for furniture for a tight layout, you’ve likely found yourself weighing the pros and cons of L-shaped desks vs. straight desks for small offices.

Both styles have their advantages in tight spaces, but the right choice depends entirely on your daily workflow and room layout.

Straight Desks: Efficient and Flexible

Linear straight desks are staples in office spaces. When floor space is limited, its simple, predictable footprint offers versatility.

Spatial Planning: The 8-Foot Rule

When designing an office, a good rule of thumb is the 8-Foot Rule. If the primary wall where you plan to position your workstation is less than 8 feet wide, a straight desk is almost always the better choice. Its clean lines sit flat against the perimeter, preventing the boxed-in feeling that happens when a bulkier piece is placed across a narrow room.

Advantages for Small Spaces

Maximized Footprint: Straight desks offer a high surface-area-to-footprint ratio. This leaves more open floor space for your team to push office chairs back and get up.
Linear Workflow and Single-Task Focus: If your daily routine revolves primarily around a single computer screen or a laptop, a straight desk acts as a focused canvas. It encourages a natural forward-facing, neutral spinal alignment.
Layout Adaptability: Because straight units are easy to move, they offer maximum flexibility if you ever need to rearrange your office layout down the road.

The L-Shaped Desk: Wraparound Layout

While it’s easy to assume an L-shaped desk is too large for a small office, it can actually deliver spatial efficiency if used correctly.

Spatial Planning: Reclaiming the Corner

The L-shaped desk is excellent at turning dead space—like an empty, underutilized corner—into an asset. By tucking into the corner, L-shaped desks free up the room’s central traffic lanes.

Advantages for Small Spaces

Zoning: An L-shaped desk provides two distinct, connected work surfaces. This allows you to split your space into separate zones without needing a second piece of furniture (ie: one section for digital tasks and the other for paperwork, reviewing blueprints, or housing auxiliary tech like printers and charging docks).
Superior Ergonomics: An L-shape creates a cockpit-like layout. Rather than reaching or stretching across a wide, flat surface to access your tools, everything remains within a comfortable arm’s length.
Multi-Monitor Capability: For professionals who require dual or triple monitors, an L-desk naturally accommodates a wrap-around screen setup, allowing you to angle screens along your natural visual arc to minimize neck strain.

Quick Decision Checklist: Which Layout Wins?

Choose a straight desk layout if:

Your office room is long, narrow, or serves multiple purposes.
You prefer a minimalist setup with fewer visual distractions.
You primarily work off a single monitor or laptop.

Choose an L-shaped desk layout if:

You have an empty corner that can be completely dedicated to a command center setup.
Your workflow requires clear physical separation between different types of tasks.
You manage heavy equipment setups or multiple display screens.

Smart Sourcing for Small Offices

When you’re furnishing a smaller office on a budget, you don’t have to compromise on commercial-grade quality or settle for flimsy home-office alternatives. Finding premium, heavy-duty desks that fit your exact dimensions is all about knowing where to look.

At GD Liquidators, we carry a range of high-end new and used straight desks and L-shaped desks for small offices and large operations. If you’re ready to optimize your workspace layout, visit us to explore our massive, ever-changing inventory. From ultra-compact straight configurations to space-saving corner desks, we have the solutions to keep your business operating efficiently.

Contact GD Liquidators today to start shopping!