How to Choose a Strack Containment Variant by Load Type

When a load sits square on a pallet, the open frame is sufficient. When the load is soft, round, prone to leaking, or a cylindrical load of specific design, the rack has to match the load, not the warehouse habit. That is the logic behind Strack: use a family of welded steel nestainers and then change the containment detail by load type.

The benefit is not just safety. In the referenced Strack configuration, loaded stacking and empty nesting work together, and empty racks can reduce the floor footprint by approximately 70% to 80%. The forklift-ready base geometry, custom sizing, and options for side grates, side bars, wire mesh decks, and cylinder-specific frames allow one product family to cover many warehouse behaviors without fixed racking.

Start with the open frame when the load is already stable

For palletized boxes, stretch-wrapped cases, or other unit loads that already hold their shape, an open frame is usually the cleanest option. The rack lifts the load as a unit, keeps floor stacking under control, and still offers the stacking and nesting benefits of the Strack family. In the referenced case set, the dimensions were built around a 1200 × 800 mm pallet base, with a clear internal size of 1300 × 900 × 1900 mm, an overall size of 1400 × 950 × 1980 mm, and about 100 mm of empty stacking clearance to suit the forklift fork thickness. These figures are case references, not a universal standard, but they show how the geometry is adjusted to the actual load.

If you are planning a temporary warehouse zone or a seasonal buffer area, the open frame is the baseline for comparison. When the pallet and film already do the stabilizing work, adding unnecessary lateral containment only increases the amount of steel and the friction in handling.

Use side grates or side bars when the load can tilt, bulge, or roll

Woven bags need lateral control because the soft bag walls expand and shift. That is why the side grate version matters: the vertical grate gives the load a boundary and reduces outward tilting during forklift movement or stacked storage.

Drums and pails behave differently. Their center of gravity is round, not flat, so lateral containment bars are the best answer. They prevent plastic pails from sliding sideways and reduce the chance of a round container wandering inside the rack when the truck brakes or turns. For chemical or food packaging, this simple difference matters more than a generic stronger frame.

The rule is simple: if the load can deform, select a boundary that prevents deformation from becoming a spill, a tilt, or a damaged corner. Choose containment by the product shape, not by habit.

Choose a wire mesh deck when the risk is falling, not lateral sway

Small parts, mixed-size items, and leak-prone containers need a deck that closes the bottom opening. The wire mesh version does exactly that. It is not there to replace lateral containment; it is there to prevent smaller goods from falling through an open base and to support irregular footprints that do not sit cleanly on a standard pallet surface.

This is the right choice when the warehouse is handling loose components, small boxes, or mixed packaging that would otherwise need extra trays or liners. The mesh deck turns the rack into a more controlled unit load carrier without forcing you to use fixed shelving.

Use the cylinder version only for cylinder-specific projects

Gas cylinders are a different class of load. They are tall, narrow, and safety-critical, so they need a project-specific configuration with dedicated chain containment and a frame designed for cylinder spacing. That is why the cylinder variant should be treated as a special-case solution, not as a general warehouse substitute.

If a site handles cylinders, the right questions are not "Can we reuse the bag rack?" but "What cylinder diameter, what chain position, what access path, and what handling sequence are required?" The answer belongs to the project design, because this version is about load safety first.

What to confirm before ordering

Before finalizing the configuration, confirm four items: pallet footprint, load height, load behavior, and return logistics. The profile references heavy-duty use in the 1000–2000 kg range depending on configuration, but the final design should determine the exact rating. If the load is soft or round, choose containment. If it is already stable, keep the open frame. If the warehouse needs empty rack return or storage efficiency, keep nesting in the specification so the empty footprint remains compact.

That is the practical advantage of Strack. One family, multiple containment options, and a selection rule directly tied to load shape.

Aplicações

• Large FIBC bag loads and other soft bags that need lateral control
• Plastic pails or drums that need anti-roll containment
• Small parts and leak-prone items that need a mesh deck
• Gas cylinder storage only for projects with chain containment

FAQ

When is an open frame sufficient?

When the load is already palletized, wrapped, and stable enough to hold its shape during forklift handling. In that case, the open frame offers the cleanest path for stacking and nesting.

Why not use one containment style for everything?

Because bags, drums, boxes, and cylinders fail in different ways. Lateral sway, rolling, and falling are not the same problem, so they should not share the same solution.