Description, Usage, and HACCP-Compliant Materials HACCP of Refrigerated Storage Shelving
A refrigerated storage shelving unit is a modular shelving system specifically designed for refrigerated environments, such as cold rooms used for food preservation. These shelves are part of cold room furnishings and are made with materials resistant to cold and humidity, ensuring stability and hygiene even at sub-zero temperatures.
Their modular structure allows for optimal use of available space within the cold room, maximizing vertical storage without obstructing cold air circulation. This way, fresh and frozen foods can be safely organized on multiple levels, preventing direct contact with the floor and ensuring easy access and visibility for each product.
From a construction standpoint, refrigerated shelving typically consists of corrosion-resistant metal uprights and crossbars (usually anodized aluminum or stainless steel) and food-grade plastic shelves. This combination provides lightweight durability: the metal ensures structural stability, while the plastic shelves are moisture-resistant and easy to clean.
The result is a long-lasting shelving unit that maintains its integrity in low-temperature, high-humidity environments. In summary, refrigerated shelving is essential for orderly and safe food storage in cold storage facilities, combining durability, modularity, and hygiene compliance.
➡️ Usage of Shelving in Cold Rooms
The use of shelving in cold rooms is crucial for efficient and safe management of refrigerated products. These shelves allow for organized storage of food and raw materials across multiple levels, separating product categories (meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, fish, frozen goods, etc.) according to hygiene regulations.
This helps prevent cross-contamination between different foods and facilitates the first in, first out (FIFO) stock rotation principle, which is vital for maintaining product freshness.
Another practical aspect is that modular shelving for refrigerated spaces maximizes available storage: the height, width, and number of shelves can be customized based on the cold room's dimensions and storage volume. The shelves are often configurable and may include corner units to utilize every inch of space.
In daily use, keeping shelves organized simplifies inventory management and quick retrieval of ingredients in professional kitchens or retail settings. Additionally, elevating goods off the floor facilitates cleaning and ensures better cold air circulation, maintaining uniform temperatures.
Ultimately, dedicated shelving in cold rooms enhances both operational efficiency and proper food storage conditions.
➡️ Materials Used and HACCP Compliance
Refrigerated shelving units are built with food-safe materials and comply with strict regulatory standards, particularly HACCP guidelines.
The most common materials are anodized aluminum and stainless steel for the frame, paired with food-grade plastic polymers for shelves. Anodized aluminum (with anti-corrosion coatings, e.g., 20 microns) ensures lightweight durability and resistance to rust, unaffected by low temperatures or humidity.
Stainless steel (typically AISI 304 grade) offers even greater mechanical strength and is entirely rust-proof, ideal for highly humid environments or heavy-duty applications. Shelves are often made of high-density polyethylene or polypropylene—non-toxic, food-contact-approved plastics—that remain stable even at freezing temperatures and resist liquid absorption.
Many shelves are removable and may feature smooth or perforated surfaces to improve air circulation. All components (including boltless snap-fit assembly systems) are designed to prevent rust and allow thorough cleaning.
Compliance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards is mandatory for these shelving systems. HACCP is a set of hygiene protocols required in the food industry to prevent contamination and health risks during food storage and handling. According to these regulations, cold room equipment must be made of easy-to-clean, non-toxic, and corrosion-resistant materials.
HACCP-compliant shelving is designed to eliminate crevices or sharp edges where dirt could accumulate, featuring smooth or grated surfaces for easy cleaning and structural stability even after frequent washing and temperature fluctuations. For example, shelves must not have paint coatings that could chip or wooden components (porous materials are prohibited in food refrigeration).
Both aluminum and stainless steel shelving with plastic shelves meet these requirements: they resist rust, do not release particles, and can be sanitized with food-safe cleaners without damage.
Many models are also certified to international food safety standards (e.g., NSF), further validating their suitability. In short, choosing HACCP-compliant shelving ensures a hygienic and safe storage environment where every component contributes to maintaining food quality.
➡️ ALUPLAST Shelving ALUPLAST (aluminum frame, plastic shelves)
The ALUPLAST shelving is a modular shelving system designed specifically for cold rooms, featuring an anodized aluminum frame and food-grade plastic shelves. This model is among the most popular aluminum shelving for cold rooms, combining aluminum's lightness with the practicality of plastic shelves.
Below are its key features, advantages, and primary applications:
✴️ Lightweight, anti-corrosion structure: ALUPLAST features uprights and crossbars made of anodized aluminum, a rust-proof material that withstands humid environments. Aluminum's lightweight nature simplifies assembly and reconfiguration while supporting substantial loads (up to 150 kg per shelf) due to its robust design.
The structure remains stable and unaffected at temperatures as low as -40°C, making it suitable for both chilled (above 0°C) and freezer (sub-zero) applications without warping or weakening.
✴️ Removable food-grade plastic shelves: ALUPLAST shelves are made of high-strength food-grade plastic (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) that tolerates low temperatures.
A major advantage is that they are fully removable, allowing easy extraction for cleaning and sanitization. They can be washed in industrial dishwashers or soaked in disinfectant solutions, ensuring impeccable hygiene.
The shelf surfaces are smooth (or perforated, depending on the model), with no crevices for dirt accumulation, making them fully compliant with stringent hygiene standards (HACCP shelving).
✴️ Snap-fit modular system (easy assembly): ALUPLAST is designed as a modular shelving system for refrigerated spaces with simple assembly. The structure is entirely snap-fit, requiring no screws or bolts: uprights and crossbars quickly connect with dedicated joints.
This feature simplifies installation (even in tight spaces like cold rooms) and allows reconfiguration or expansion by adding modules or shelves. Dimensions are flexible: standard lengths (e.g., 600 mm to 2000 mm, adjustable in 100 mm increments) and various shelf depths (typically 300, 400, 500, or 600 mm) accommodate any cold room.
Upright heights are also customizable (usually 1600, 1800, or 2000 mm), maximizing vertical space without interfering with the ceiling.
✴️ High durability and hygienic design: Despite its lightweight construction, ALUPLAST is highly sturdy and stable. The combination of thick aluminum (adequately sized tubular uprights) and reinforced structural design ensures reliable support for heavy loads (e.g., crates of food, bottles, bulky supplies).
The design also prioritizes aesthetics and safety: the shelving has no sharp edges or protruding parts, with a clean, professional appearance. This makes it suitable not only for cold rooms but also for visible areas like retail spaces or labs.
The absence of external bolts eliminates rust risks and simplifies cleaning, while the anodized aluminum and plastic maintain a polished look and do not degrade over time. This shelving combines functionality with aesthetics.
✴️ Advantages and applications: ALUPLAST shelving offers numerous benefits. First, it ensures maximum hygiene: every component is washable and sanitizable, ideal for settings where cleanliness is critical (food labs, professional kitchens, grocery stores).
Its cold and humidity resistance makes it suitable for all refrigerated areas, from small retail cold rooms to large industrial storage. The modular flexibility adapts to diverse needs: it can serve as supplemental shelving in kitchens, primary storage in meat cold rooms, or display shelving in climate-controlled spaces.
Many businesses appreciate its easy assembly and mobility: for example, during deep cleaning or warehouse reorganization, the shelving can be partially disassembled and relocated effortlessly.
In summary, ALUPLAST is an innovative, high-quality solution for cold room organization, blending practicality, hygiene, and longevity. It is particularly suited for those seeking reliable, easy-to-manage aluminum shelving for cold rooms, with applications across various food industries (detailed below).
➡️ INOXPLAST Shelving INOXPLAST (stainless steel frame, plastic shelves)
The INOXPLAST shelving is another cold room shelving model, distinguished by its stainless steel frame paired with food-grade plastic shelves. It belongs to the category of steel shelving for cold rooms, designed for applications demanding maximum durability, high load capacity, and impeccable hygiene.
Here are its features, advantages, and typical applications:
✴️ Robust AISI 304 stainless steel structure: INOXPLAST uses stainless steel uprights and frames, a material renowned for mechanical strength and complete rust immunity. The steel construction enables this shelving to support very heavy loads without bending, making it ideal for storing large quantities of products or heavyweight items.
The load capacity per shelf reaches approximately 150 kg (and may exceed this in some models), safely accommodating crates of bottles, containers, or bulky food items. Stainless steel also resists impact and wear: the shelving maintains long-term stability even under daily heavy use.
Naturally, stainless steel is perfect for refrigerated environments: it resists corrosion from condensation or contact with acidic/salty foods and tolerates low temperatures and thermal shocks during cleaning (e.g., hot-water washing followed by cold rinsing).
✴️ Micro-perforated plastic shelves: INOXPLAST shelves are made of food-grade plastic, similar to ALUPLAST, but often feature an added benefit: they may include micro-perforations across the surface. These small holes allow cold air to circulate freely between shelves and around stored foods, preventing condensation buildup. Avoiding condensation is especially important for foods that need to "breathe" or age, such as cheeses or cured meats.
Perforated shelves help maintain uniform humidity levels and prevent moisture stagnation, reducing mold and bacterial growth.
Like smooth shelves, perforated ones are removable for cleaning, ensuring easy sanitation. Alternatively, smooth plastic shelves are available for smaller or loose products; all materials remain food-safe and easy to clean.
✴️ Modularity and adaptability: INOXPLAST is also designed as modular shelving, offering versatile space optimization.
Its smart design allows configurations in various sizes and shapes: from linear modules of different lengths to corner or U-shaped setups by combining multiple units. This makes it suitable for both large cold rooms (e.g., aging or bulk storage in production facilities) and compact spaces (like small walk-in refrigerators in restaurants or delis).
Standard upright heights (1600, 1800, 2000 mm, etc.) and shelf depths (typically 400, 500, 600 mm) allow for ideal customization. Additionally, stainless steel's stability enables multi-tier setups without wall anchoring.
Some INOXPLAST systems can integrate special accessories—e.g., hooks for hanging products (like meat carcasses or hams), base casters for mobility, or custom shelves—enhancing versatility.
✴️ Maximum hygiene and easy cleaning: The stainless steel frame and food-grade plastic shelves make INOXPLAST extremely hygienic. Stainless steel has a smooth, non-porous surface, easy to clean and disinfect; it withstands aggressive cleaners and can be sanitized with chlorine or alcohol solutions without corroding.
Similarly, plastic shelves resist staining and odors and can be frequently washed. The absence of wood or painted components eliminates contamination risks from chipping or flaking. INOXPLAST is thus fully HACCP-compliant, ensuring a safe storage environment for sensitive foods.
This ease of cleaning is valued in dairy or meat sectors, where equipment is frequently washed to avoid organic residue. Moreover, stainless steel's longevity ensures the shelving retains its hygienic properties even after years of heavy use.
✴️ Advantages and applications: INOXPLAST shelving excels in exceptional durability, making it ideal for demanding applications. It is perfect for dairies and cheese aging rooms, where heavy cheese wheels require sturdy shelving with optimal airflow for even maturation.
Thanks to perforated shelves, INOXPLAST ensures an ideal aging environment, preventing condensation and preserving the quality of cheeses, cured meats, and other aged products. It is also widely used in butcher shops and delis for storing fresh meat or sausages with maximum hygiene, or in fish markets and seafood labs, where high humidity makes stainless steel the best choice for longevity. In industrial kitchens, canteens, and catering, stainless steel/plastic shelving like INOXPLAST is often preferred for sturdiness and easy cleaning, especially in large-scale cold storage.
Lastly, given its construction quality, this shelving is also used outside the food sector: e.g., in pharmaceutical or hospital settings (cold rooms for medicines, vaccines, labs) where stainless steel and sterilizable plastic meet strict hygiene requirements. In short, INOXPLAST is a versatile, high-performance shelving solution for those needing stainless steel cold room shelving that is robust, reliable, and uncompromising on cleanliness and flexibility.
➡️ Industries Using Refrigerated Shelving
The shelving systems described (both ALUPLAST and INOXPLAST) are used by a wide range of artisans and retailers in the food sector. Any business with cold storage requires HACCP-compliant shelving like these.
Below are some key industries that use refrigerated shelving, with examples of their applications:
✴️ Butcher shops and delis: Butchers use cold room shelving to store fresh meats, hanging carcasses (often on specialized frames), aging sausages, and products ready for sale.
Stainless steel/plastic shelving ensures hygiene and strength for heavy meat loads, easy to clean daily. In delis and artisanal charcuteries, cold rooms equipped with these shelves allow proper aging of cured meats with optimal airflow.
✴️ Fish markets and seafood: In seafood trade, cold rooms store fresh catches and seafood near 0°C. Aluminum or stainless steel shelving with plastic shelves is essential to keep crates of fish and shellfish off the floor, avoiding water pooling and simplifying floor cleaning.
Stainless steel's resistance to salty humidity is key here, as is the ability to remove shelves for thorough cleaning against odors and residue.
✴️ Dairies and cheese producers: Artisanal dairies and cheese agers use HACCP shelving for aging and storing cheeses in temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms. Here, shelving like INOXPLAST with perforated shelves ensures airflow around cheese wheels, preventing unwanted mold and even maturation.
High load capacity allows stacking multiple wheels or cheese boards safely. Additionally, after each aging cycle, shelves can be sanitized for the next batch, complying with dairy industry hygiene standards.
✴️ Delicatessens and food retailers: In retail food shops (e.g., delis, grocery stores), small cold rooms often store raw materials and prepared foods (cold cuts, cheeses, ready meals, sauces, etc.) before display. Here, modular aluminum shelving like ALUPLAST is popular, as it resists rust from salty or humid foods and is easy to clean daily.
In a deli, for example, cold room shelves hold trays of sliced meats, cut cheeses, refrigerated preserves, and other fresh products, all neatly organized by type. Modularity adapts storage space even if product assortments or volumes change.
✴️ Produce and supermarkets: In supermarket produce sections and wholesale fruit/vegetable warehouses, large cold rooms preserve fresh goods.
Aluminum/plastic shelving allows multi-level storage of crates, promoting cold air circulation to maintain freshness. Since produce often generates condensation, anti-corrosion shelving materials prevent deterioration. For packaged refrigerated goods (e.g., dairy, bagged salads), supermarkets use HACCP shelving in backroom cold storage, organizing products by category (dairy, meats, produce separately) as required by regulations.
Supermarkets also value modular shelving for adjustable shelf heights to accommodate varying crate or pallet sizes.
✴️ Restaurants, hotels, and professional kitchens: In professional kitchens, cold rooms (chilled and sometimes frozen) store ingredients.
Chefs and kitchen staff organize raw and semi-prepared foods on shelves, maintaining separation between categories (meat, fish, vegetables, desserts, etc.). HACCP shelving is indispensable for compliance: for example, raw meat must be stored on lower shelves to prevent drips, and modular shelving allows customized layouts.
In hotels or cafeterias, cold rooms are frequently emptied and refilled, requiring durable, easy-to-clean shelving. Models like ALUPLAST and INOXPLAST meet these needs and are often part of cold room furnishings in HoReCa establishments.
✴️ Food manufacturing and production labs: On a larger scale, food industries, production facilities (pasta factories, bakeries, frozen foods), and cold logistics use aluminum or stainless steel/plastic shelving in large cold rooms. In these contexts, mobile or compact shelving (on rails) may maximize storage density, but the foundation remains HACCP-compliant modules like those described.
For example, a pasta factory may use chilled shelving to cool fresh pasta before packaging, or frozen food companies may use stainless steel shelving in -20°C freezers for palletized goods.
In all cases, hygiene, load capacity, and cold resistance are paramount, and ALUPLAST/INOXPLAST shelving provides certified modular solutions for these needs.
Refrigerated shelving is a critical component for most food industry operators, from artisans to large distributors.
Whether for small artisans (like local cheesemakers or butchers) or large commercial enterprises (supermarket chains or food manufacturers), HACCP-compliant aluminum or stainless steel shelving with plastic shelves ensures order, efficiency, and hygienic safety in cold storage. The ALUPLAST and INOXPLAST models described are excellent examples, offering tailored solutions for lightweight modularity or maximum durability and airflow.
With these shelving systems, cold rooms become optimized spaces where every product is stored appropriately, contributing to operational success and profitability.