Craft Beer Storage Racks for Breweries, Distributors, and Cold Rooms
Storage Racks for the Craft Beer Industry
It’s an exciting time to be part of the craft beer industry and supply chain. The number of craft breweries has been growing steadily over the past 15 years, and the industry represents a $28.4 billion market with almost 25 percent of the beer market share.
That growth brings real operational challenges, and a reliable storage and transportation strategy tops the list for most brewers. Polymer Solutions International Inc. (PSI) engineers premium beer storage racks purpose-built for the demands of the craft beer industry.
Factors to Consider in Transport and Storage for Craft Beer
Choosing the right material handling system for your brewery means evaluating several critical factors:
Cold Chain Performance
The Brewers’ Association recommends keeping beer cold when shipping and storing. That requires pallets and racks engineered to perform in cold chain environments. Wood expands and contracts with temperature changes, absorbing condensation and promoting microbial growth over time.
PSI’s plastic keg racks are engineered for cold chain reliability. They won’t warp, chip, or absorb moisture, helping you maximize capacity in your cold keg room while preventing mold before it starts.
Vibration Protection
One of your primary concerns you have as a brewer is protecting the exceptional beverage flavors you’ve crafted. Research reveals that more than temperature affects flavor stability, vibrations experienced during transport also have a substantial impact.
PSI’s specialized craft beer storage racks help guard against unwanted jarring with innovative features like slide-and-lock technology and 360-degree enclosures. We also offer customized dunnage solutions for additional protection.
Effective Cost Management
Managing costs is instrumental for any business, but more so for smaller breweries competing with industry titans who can leverage economies of scale. Logistics is one area where maximizing your budget can pay off significantly.
Plastic beer storage rack systems from Polymer Solutions International Inc. are an excellent investment. They’re versatile enough to use for storage and transport and are reusable. Plus, they’re low maintenance and sturdily constructed, so you’ll spend less time and money on upkeep and replacement.
Facility Safety and Efficiency
Traditional wooden pallets carry hidden hazards:
- Nails
- Splinters
- Dust
- Risk of warping under heavy keg loads
PSI’s keg storage solutions eliminate these risks entirely. Dust-free, splinter-free, and nail-free, our modular designs cradle kegs securely and are optimized for safe use with forklifts and pallet jacks.
The Benefits of Plastic for Craft Beer Distribution
Choosing plastic as a material handling solution for craft beer warehousing and distribution has many other advantages, including:
Durability
A longer service life and a high strength-to-weight ratio make plastic ideal for heavy keg loads.
Improved Hygiene
Easy to clean and resistant to bacterial growth, plastic reduces contamination risk and supports better indoor air quality.
Lighter Mass
Reduced mass lowers transportation costs and simplifies day-to-day handling.
Sustainability
The brewing process consumes vast energy, underscoring the need to make sustainability impacts elsewhere. Plastic pallets are fully recyclable at the end of their product life span.
Hygienic Material Handling Solutions
Polymer Solutions International Inc. has a hygienic shipping solution for your craft beer needs. Our hygienic plastic pallets come in standard 40 x 48 size and 44 x 56 heavy-duty style for cans. Each is manufactured as one piece, and we offer standard, reinforced and heavy-duty types to meet varied shipping requirements. If you prefer a custom design, we can handle that, too
Pallets Engineered Specifically for Craft Beer
The size, shape, and weight of metal kegs create unique warehousing challenges that standard pallets weren’t built to handle.
PSI’s food-grade pallets are engineered specifically for keg storage, helping you:
- Keep your product fresh.
- Ensure the health of consumers by preventing contamination.
- Meet industry guidelines and specifications, including
- the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
- the Consumer Brands Association (CBA)
PSI® Keg Rack Storage Solutions
If you’re looking for a modular beer storage rack system, Polymer Solutions International Inc. can help. We offer two reusable packaging solutions with exceptional versatility and durability, the ProStack® and TierStack® keg racks.
Our ProStack® keg racks hold between three and eight 20-liter kegs (depending on modular rack modifications) and offer a double-leg ratchet for structural support and equipment protection. The innovative design allows for effortless loading and unloading and excellent protection during transport.
TierStack® keg racks offer enough capacity to store four 20-liter kegs per layer. Combine these with the optional low-profile deck for increased weight support.
Each keg racking system stacks up to five layers high to maximize storage space and comes in blue or black. Contact us for custom modification options on either system.
Shipping and storing cans instead of kegs? PSI has solutions for that, too. Choose from options like our 44 x 56 heavy-duty can pallet and companion plastic top frame to protect canned beer better.
Browse Our Keg Rack Storage Solutions and Request a Quote
Polymer Solutions International Inc. is an industry leader in reusable packaging manufacturing. We serve clients in a broad range of industries across the globe, all backed by our innovative engineering expertise and world-class customer service team. View our entire catalog of beer storage racks to discover all we offer. Don’t see the solution that’s ideal for your business? We also offer custom design and manufacturing. Contact our team today to learn more or request your free, personalized quote.
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FAQ's
What are craft beer storage racks?
Craft beer storage racks are reusable storage and transport systems designed to secure beer kegs in breweries, cold rooms, warehouses, and distribution facilities. ProStack’s plastic keg racks help protect kegs, improve storage density, and make handling easier with forklifts or pallet jacks.
Why are plastic keg racks better than wooden pallets for breweries?
Plastic keg racks are often better for breweries because they resist moisture, do not splinter, do not contain nails, and are designed to cradle kegs securely. Unlike wood pallets, plastic racks are better suited for cold chain environments and repeated use in brewery storage and transport.
Can ProStack keg racks be used for both storage and transportation?
Yes. ProStack keg racks are designed for both storage and transportation. Their reusable, stackable design helps breweries and distributors protect kegs during handling, maximize available space, and improve efficiency throughout the beer supply chain.
Does ProStack offer custom craft beer storage solutions?
Yes. ProStack offers custom design and manufacturing for breweries, distributors, and beverage facilities that need specialized keg storage, can storage, transport, or dunnage solutions. Custom options can help match rack systems to specific keg sizes, facility layouts, and handling requirements.