The Vertical Storage System: Better Organization for Panels and Long Items
When people think of shelving systems, they usually picture one thing: goods stored horizontally, with tiers stacked on top of each other, and access from the front. These classic systems work well—until space suddenly becomes tight when dealing with long items or sheet materials. That’s because boards, strips, profiles, or sheets not only take up floor space, but they also quickly make your warehouse cluttered and hard to navigate. This is exactly where vertical storage comes in: storage in a vertical orientation instead of the “classic” horizontal layout.
What Makes a Vertical Storage System Unique
A vertical storage system is a shelving system that stores goods in an upright position. Instead of horizontal shelves, it features vertical dividers—shelf dividers or partition brackets—that can be flexibly repositioned. This creates clear organization, especially when items of different sizes are stored together or when there are many odd-sized pieces involved.
An important detail: Depending on the model, the compartment dividers taper toward the top. This is particularly relevant when storing delicate materials such as particleboard. The even contact ensures that the material is stored more gently.
What types are available, and what are they designed for?
Vertical storage systems come in two variants: VLP, the vertical plate storage system, for plates and flat goods, and VLS, the vertical storage system, for long items such as pipes, profiles, strips, or boards. Depending on the storage layout, both designs can be accessed from one or both sides and can be expanded modularly thanks to their modular design.
| Criterion | Type VLP | Type VLS |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for | Sheets, metal plates | Long items such as pipes, profiles, strips, boards |
| Technical features | Compartment dividers tapering upward | Adjustable partition brackets |
| Clear compartment width 400 mm | Usable depths: 450 mm, 700 mm / Heights from 2430 mm to 4864 mm | |
| Usage | Side-loading and unloading of goods (via roller system) | Can be used on one side or both sides |
| Expansion | Depth extension for larger particleboard panels | Base rack + add-on rack in 2 bay widths |
When it’s worth it
Vertical storage is always worthwhile when materials fit better “upward” than horizontally. It’s also particularly effective for mixed sheet and custom formats when space is limited, since vertical storage often saves floor space in these cases. And in woodworking shops, it really shines when it comes to scrap pieces: Everything remains neatly sorted and easily accessible until further processing.
Not the best choice when...
However, not every material is well-suited to vertical storage. For very bulky, voluminous, or heavy goods that simply cannot be stored vertically, the concept reaches its limits. Very small items or irregularly cut scraps are also often too “unpredictable” for a neat, logical shelving system. And if, in day-to-day operations, heavy loads are primarily picked using machines or the process is already fully automated via conveyor systems, a vertical storage system is usually not the right solution.
In a nutshell
Whether panels or profiles: vertical storage systems store materials in a vertical orientation, bringing order to the warehouse. VLP systems are designed for panels and boards, while the VLS variant is intended for long items such as strips, pipes, or profiles. The result: material-friendly storage, modularly expandable with a modular system, clear organization even with mixed formats and scrap pieces—and, above all, fast, direct access to stored items.