Stillage Cages Perth | Rackman Australia
Overview of Stillage Cages
The term stillage generally refers to a heavy-duty container or pallet-sized support used for material handling. Stillage cages are like pallet cages but often built for more rugged use or specific industrial purposes. They might not always have mesh sides – sometimes they are open steel frames or have solid side panels. Rackman Australia’s stillage cages Perth are designed to handle heavy loads and harsh conditions, making them popular in industries such as manufacturing, mining, metal fabrication, and logistics where standard pallets or packaging aren’t strong enough.
Stillage cages can include:
- Metal stillages: Open-topped steel frames used for holding heavy components (e.g., engine parts, castings). They may be shaped or have cradles to secure specific items.
- Cage stillages: Similar to pallet cages, usually sturdier and possibly custom-fitted to products (e.g., a cage that holds a certain part in a fixed position).
- Post stillages: Pallet bases with removable corner posts or sides, forming a stackable support for loads like bar stock or sheet material.
- Specialised stillages: For example, A-frame stillages for glass, drum stillages for holding barrels, tyre stillages (like our Tyrespan cages), etc.
The key is that stillages are about supporting and protecting goods in storage/transit, often serving as both a storage unit and transport unit. Many stillages are designed to be moved by forklift and stacked.
Key Features of Rackman’s Stillage Cages
- Stillages we provide are typically custom-fabricated or heavy-grade to meet the particular load requirement. Whereas a pallet cage might use mesh and lighter sections for moderate loads, a stillage cage often uses thicker steel sections, plate or bar reinforcements, and heavy welds. This gives them higher load capacities – for instance, a stillage might be rated for 1000kg or more even in stacking with Cages & Stillages. We ensure any stillage design accounts for stacking load (so the bottom unit can handle the weight of several full stillages above it) and dynamic load (forklifting without deforming).
Often, the best stillage is one tailored to what you store. We work with clients to incorporate features like fork pockets in optimal positions, latchable gates or doors for access, dividers or compartments to separate components, or even dunnage (rubber/wood) lining to protect surfaces of parts. For example, a mining client may need a stillage to transport drill rods – we’d include circular cutouts or brackets to cradle each rod so they don’t shift. A manufacturer sending parts to an assembly plant might have stillages that exactly fit their part shape, making a sort of “kit” container. By designing around the product, stillages improve safety (parts don’t move) and efficiency (easy to load/unload with minimal packing material).
Like pallet cages, our stillages are usually made to be stackable. Many have integrated stacking locators (often steel corner posts with cups or alignment pegs). This allows vertical stacking when loaded, which is vital for space saving in warehouses or transport. When empty, some stillages can nest or disassemble to save space. For instance, post stillages often have removable posts – you can remove them and stack all bases together and posts together, significantly reducing volume for return transport. Some cage stillages might fold or have collapsible sections as well. We can design stillages with these space-saving features if your operation benefits from collapsing them when not in use.
Given their heavy use, stillages usually have a galvanised or heavy paint finish. Many prefer galvanised for longevity, especially if stillages are outdoors or might get wet (paint can scratch and rust, galvanizing offers better long-term protection). We supply stillages either hot-dip galvanised or powder-coated based on needs. If being used in food or clean environments, we can do food-grade stainless steel stillages (for example, for wineries or meat processing). The finish is matched to purpose, to ensure the stillages remain functional and safe throughout years of usage.
Benefits of Stillage Cages in Industrial Use
Stillages serve as their own storage container, meaning you don’t need additional packaging (like boxes or crates) for many items. You can place items directly into the stillage, and then move the stillage as a whole. This reduces packing time and materials. When shipping between facilities, stillages ensure products are kept secure without repacking; the same stillage that sat in your warehouse racks can be loaded on a truck. This one-touch system (load once into stillage, then move the stillage around) cuts down multiple handling steps. It also simplifies mechanized handling – forklifts love stillages since they’re built for forks.
Many heavy industrial parts are also precision components that shouldn’t be scratched or impacted. Stillage cages protect such items by providing a dedicated slot or compartment for each part, often padded or shaped. This is far superior to putting parts on a pallet separated by cardboard. For example, automotive parts or aerospace components shipped in stillages experience far less damage. In mining, using robust stillages for heavy spares means even if a crate tips or bumps during transit, the steel stillage absorbs the force, not the part. Additionally, if you need to quarantine or lock up items, a cage stillage with lockable doors can secure high-value goods better than a wrap on a pallet.
Implementing stillages for regular workflows can introduce standard unit loads. Instead of random pallet load sizes, you might define “one stillage = one batch” or similar. This helps with inventory counting and tracking. It also makes best use of container/vehicle space – if the stillage is designed to fit, say, exactly 2 across in a truck, you optimize freight. Many companies also attach ID plates or RFID tags to stillages, turning them into trackable assets that carry information about their contents. This can automate inventory systems: a stillage ID could be associated with the parts inside it, so scanning the stillage updates what’s in it, etc. The robust nature means the ID stays with the container for a long time (unlike labels on pallets that can fall off).
In warehouses, stillage cages can be used where normal pallet racking or shelving falls short. For instance, extremely heavy items might risk damaging regular shelving – but if they’re contained in a strong stillage, you can stack those or place them on the floor with stillages without worry. They effectively become modular “mini-rooms” for heavy gear. They also allow stacking of irregular shapes that otherwise couldn’t be safely stacked. For example, large sheet metal pieces might flex or slip if stacked conventionally, but put them upright in a stillage with supports and you can now stack another stillage on top safely. This unlocks vertical storage for things previously limited to single-layer floor storage.
Rackman’s Stillage Cage Solutions and Services
Consultation for Custom Needs:
Because stillages are often custom, our team will work closely with you. We gather details like: What item(s) will it hold (dimensions, weight, quantity per stillage)? How will it be used (stored long-term, moved daily, shipped overseas, etc.)? Do you need special features (like a drop door, crane lifting lugs, water drainage holes, etc.)? With that, we either suggest a pre-existing design if it matches or engineer a new design. We can create CAD models for your approval before fabrication.
Quality Fabrication:
Our stillages are fabricated by experienced workshops that understand load-bearing steel structures. Welds, material thickness, and design features are all done to a high standard. Especially for heavy-duty stillages, we may have a prototype made and perform load testing – for instance, load it with weights to ensure it holds up and stacks properly. Only once we’re satisfied do we proceed to production of the batch. We treat these as investment assets for you – they should work reliably for many years, so we build them accordingly.
Fleet Supply and Management:
If you need a large number of stillage cages (say, 100+), we can batch produce and even manage staged deliveries. We can also assist in setting up a returnable packaging system if these stillages will circulate between locations or customers. Our team can advise on identification (like color coding or numbering). We’ve supplied clients who use hundreds of stillages in loops – we get how important consistency and easy identification is in those scenarios.
Integration:
If you use forklifts, we ensure fork access is good. If using cranes, we add lift hooks or make sure the structure is suitable for slings. If you plan to rack the stillages, we confirm the stillage dimensions suit your racking (or vice versa). Essentially, we don’t deliver in a vacuum – we align the stillage design with your entire handling system.
After-Sales Support:
Our relationship doesn’t end at delivery. We stand behind the products, so if any stillage shows an issue under normal use, we’ll address it (perhaps reinforce a section or fix a latch). If your needs change (you modify a part design, and now the stillage needs a new insert or bracket), we can often retrofit or modify the cages. We keep design records, so even years later we can produce identical or tweaked stillages to expand your fleet.
Order Your Stillage Cages
When standard solutions won’t do, Rackman Australia can provide tailored stillage cages that give you a handling edge. Let us help you protect and manage your valuable or heavy products with a custom stillage solution in Perth or beyond.
Contact us at 1300 722 626 to discuss what kind of stillage you’re interested in. Our experts will ask about your application and guide you through options. If you have drawings or specs of the item to store, even better – share those and we can start formulating a design right away.
Alternatively, send us an inquiry with details or any concept you have. We often collaborate with your operations or engineering teams to refine the requirements.
While we produce custom designs, we may also have some standard stillages listed on our site or available (like popular stackable mesh stillages). Check our Cages & Stillages section on the online shop for examples and specs.
Investing in quality stillage cages can greatly improve workflow, safety, and product protection. Stillage Cages Perth by Rackman Australia means you’ll get a solution engineered for your challenge, with the durability you need. Reach out today and let’s design the perfect stillage for your business!
Nobody knows racking like Rackman Australia
We’ve got racking auditors right across Australia and will provide inspections from 20 pallet spaces to 20,000. No matter the job, what remains consistent is our level of detail, efficiency, reliability and affordability. If you’re ready to get a Perth racking audit – let’s get your storage sorted.