Before you start looking at different types of workbenches think about your needs an requirements.
Granted, industrial shelves are built tough to last, and features like adjustable racks and open shelving add to convenient and efficient use. However, there are also a variety of peripheral add-ons that give your shelving a bit of extra toughness and stability where you need it most, as well as the opportunity increase efficiency and even salvage a unit should minor damage occur. Here are just a few of the important shelving peripherals that could save you a ton of time and money in the long run.
Are your employees engaged in metal or woodworking, which would require workbenches to support heavy loads and withstand potential harm from heat or sharp tools? Are workers assembling items that feature small parts, where they might need ergonomic solutions to avoid work-related injuries? Are you working with harmful chemicals that could be hazardous to certain work surfaces? Here’s an easy one – do your employees stand or sit?
All of these details will determine the type of workbench you choose and the features that will create the greatest ease of use for employees. Here are just a few factors you’ll want to consider when selecting the right workbenches to suit your operations.
Materials
Choosing the right materials is essential to ensuring you have work stations matched to the tasks at hand. Whether you choose wood, metal, resin, or other types of work surfaces, they need to hold up to the type of work you’re doing and the supplies and equipment you’re working with. Think how a heavy-duty platform supports the weight of automotive engines or if you’re working with chemicals that could mar certain surfaces. Having the right materials for your workbenches makes a huge difference in what you’re able to accomplish and the relative longevity of work stations.
Dimensions
When it comes to sizing, your workbenches need to suit the needs of your workers, but they also must fit in your space. It’s important to take precise measurements and note the layout of your space before you start buying workbenches to ensure that the products you choose will fit in your work space, and in a layout to maximize efficient work flow.
Keep in mind, there are modular products that offer a variety of interchangeable and customizable work stations you can arrange and build on to create personalized workbenches that perfectly suit your space and the needs of your workers. Adjustable solutions could also prove handy for both task-oriented and ergonomic purposes.
Mobility
Do you frequently reconfigure your work space to accommodate seasonal upticks in work flow or various projects? Are you planning to increase staffing in the near future? Do you need flexible workspace solutions that allow you to adjust as needed?
Not every operation will require mobility from workbenches – some will need heavy-duty options that are bolted to the floor for stability and safety purposes. If, however, you need a greater flexibility in how you utilize and arrange workbenches, mobile solutions are a must.
Extras
Workbenches may come with a variety of features and add-ons, including shelving, bins, drawers, task lighting, and so on. You may even have opportunities to customize storage for your needs. Having a clear idea of intended usage going in will help you to select appropriate features so that you can engineer the most efficient work stations for your staff.
Knowing what you need before you purchase commercial or industrial workbenches, will save you time and money!