Optimized Beer Storage Racks for the Craft Beer Industry

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.

The growth comes with challenges, though, — a solid storage and beer transportation strategy tops the list for many. Polymer Solutions International Inc., has created the ideal beer storage racks for the craft beer industry.

40 x 48 ProGenic® 3 Stringer Plastic Pallet

1000 x 1200 ProGenic® GMA+ Pallet

40 x 48 ProGenic® Standard Duty Pallet

40 x 48 ProGenic® Reinforced Plastic Pallet

Factors to Consider in Transport and Storage for Craft Beer

There are numerous factors to consider when choosing the best beer logistics and storage systems:

Cold Chain Performance

The Brewers’ Association recommends keeping beer cold when shipping and storing. That means you need pallets capable of withstanding cold chain temperatures. As an organic material, wood will contract and expand when exposed to temperature changes. These shifts also affect humidity, which can cause condensation. Wooden pallets absorb that moisture, leading to faster deterioration and microbial growth.

Plastic beer storage rack solutions from PSI are engineered for cold chain performance and will help maximize storage in your cold keg room. They won’t warp or chip, and they resist moisture to prevent mold growth.

Vibration Protection

One of your primary concerns you have as a brewer is protecting the exceptional beverage flavors you’ve crafted. Research reveals 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 can pose hazards during manual handling that plastic pallets don’t. For example, conventional options may contain nails, produce splinters or generate dust that can irritate sensitive respiratory systems. They can also warp, leading to pallet load shifts that can cause heavy kegs to dislodge when moving them with warehousing equipment.

PSI’s specialized plastic beer storage rack solutions eliminate these challenges. They’re dust-, splinter- and nail-free with modular designs that safely cradle kegs and simplify forklift or pallet jack use.

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

Plastic has a longer useful life than its counterparts. It also has a very high strength-to-weight ratio capable of supporting heavy kegs.

Improved hygiene

Easy-to-clean plastic resists bacterial growth. There’s less potential for product contamination, and you get higher-quality indoor air.

Lighter mass

The reduced weights lead to lower transportation costs. They also make these solutions easier to maneuver.

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 distinct size, shape and weight of metal beer barrels pose a challenge to warehousing. Traditional pallets don’t provide an ideal keg storage solution.

Our expert engineers designed food-grade pallets specifically to stand up to keg storage challenges. Benefits of these specialized pallets include:

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.