Ever wondered what goes into making premium steel shelving for garage storage that keeps your space from descending into chaos?
From the raw cold-rolled steel DC01 to the final powder-coated finish, every garage shelving unit undergoes a fascinating transformation that combines industrial precision with practical design.
Let's take you on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how our shelves are born – it's more interesting than you might think!
Step 1: Foundation of Steel Shelving – Cold-Rolled DC01 Steel
Every high-quality garage shelving unit starts with superior materials. At Apple Shelving, we use cold-rolled DC01 steel, a premium-grade steel known for:
- Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
- Smooth, uniform surface
- Consistent thickness and high dimensional accuracy
- Greater structural integrity for heavy-duty storage
Our steel shelving frames begin life as massive coils of DC01 steel, which are then precision-cut using CNC-controlled lasers. This ensures each panel and beam is perfectly sized — essential for shelves that are easy to assemble and built to last.
Why DC01?
Compared to regular mild steel, DC01 offers up to 20% higher yield strength, meaning our garage steel shelving can bear heavier loads without bending or warping. Its clean surface is also the ideal base for our powder coating process.
Step 2: From Flat Steel to Form – Manufacturing the Components
Next, the flat steel sheets undergo a series of automated processes that transform them into the components of your future garage storage shelving:
- Precision Pressing: Using 250-ton hydraulic presses, we form shelf panels with reinforced edges for added load capacity.
- Robotic Welding: Our heavy-duty models undergo robotic spot welding for unbeatable joint strength and long-term durability.
- Edge Finishing: All edges are rolled or deburred to ensure safety during assembly and everyday use — especially important for garage shelving often accessed in tight spaces.
This is where raw steel becomes usable, modular, and versatile — ready to take on your garage’s toughest storage demands.
Step 3: Powder Coating – Protection Meets Style
Once formed, every part of our steel shelving systems is powder-coated to create a tough, attractive, and corrosion-resistant finish. Here's how the process works:
- Chemical Pre-treatment: A 7-stage chemical wash ensures optimal coating adhesion.
- Electrostatic Spraying: Charged powder particles are evenly applied to every surface of the grounded steel.
- Curing Oven: Components are baked at 200°C to fuse the coating into a seamless protective layer.
Why Powder Coating Matters:
Our powder-coated garage shelving is highly resistant to scratches, chips, moisture, and UV damage. It’s built to survive harsh Australian environments — from steamy Brisbane garages to dry Gold Coast workshops.
Step 4: Ready for Duty – Smart Packaging & Delivery
Once your steel shelving passes final inspection, it’s carefully prepared for its journey — whether that’s delivery to your doorstep or ready for pickup at our warehouse:
- Components individually film-wrapped – to prevent scratches during transit (e.g. crossrails)
- Cardboard packaging – added to uprights and shelf inserts to minimise transport damage
- Clear, easy-to-follow assembly instructions – so setup is smooth and frustration-free
- Optimised, low-waste packaging – designed to protect your order and the environment
Garage Shelving That’s Built to Do More
Our garage shelving systems are more than just storage – they’re long-term solutions built on quality engineering and Australian reliability. From DC01 steel to precision welding, from powder coating to quality testing, every Apple Shelving product is made to help you reclaim space with confidence.
So next time you glance at those tools, boxes, and supplies neatly stacked on our steel shelving, remember: there’s strength, science, and serious craftsmanship behind every shelf.
