With warehouse space at a premium throughout the Twin Cities region, maximizing your current facility's potential has become a strategic necessity for competitive operations.

Industrial vacancy rates remain historically low across the metropolitan area. Key logistics corridors near the airport, along I-35W, and in northeast Minneapolis face exceptionally tight capacity, making it difficult for expanding businesses to secure additional square footage.

By leveraging vertical space through elevated platform installation, warehouses can dramatically increase storage and production capacity. These systems enable facilities to expand upward while maintaining full use of ground-level space for normal operations.

The Case for Mezzanines Over Facility Relocation

Businesses that have exceeded their facility capacity often face expensive and disruptive relocation scenarios. Elevated industrial platforms provide a cost-effective, minimally invasive expansion method that eliminates the need for moving your operation.

From small warehouses to large-scale distribution centers, these platforms accommodate diverse operational needs. Implementation is relatively quick, and a well-planned installation delivers impressive productivity gains and strong financial returns. Available solutions span from off-the-shelf prefabricated units to bespoke, multi-tier engineered structures.

Key Benefits of Industrial Platform Systems

These structures deliver more than just additional square footage and improved density. The elevated position gives management teams excellent visibility across warehouse operations, supporting better oversight of workflow and safety protocols.

Industrial platforms come in numerous configurations serving various purposes. Common designs integrate office components, providing dedicated space for employee break areas, administrative functions, and collaborative workspaces in addition to storage expansion.

Assembly is typically straightforward for most platform systems, and they can be taken down if circumstances require. Structural changes to your building are almost never necessary. Your platform can evolve alongside your business needs. Reconfiguration is simple as operational requirements develop.

Upper deck access commonly includes heavy-duty stairways, and loading gates accommodate forklift traffic for material handling. Numerous designs incorporate mechanical lifts or vertical conveyors to streamline product movement between levels.

Categories of Warehouse Mezzanine Systems

Freestanding: These structural platforms make the most of available floor space with efficient installation and removal capabilities. They're ideal for storing parts and finished products.

Rack Supported: Platforms built above pallet racking, sometimes called catwalks, add usable storage space over existing rack systems. These designs typically feature several gates for pallet loading and unloading operations.

Shelf Supported: For expanding capacity for smaller goods, platforms can be constructed above shelving units. These economical systems have more limitations compared to freestanding or rack-supported configurations.

Platform Solutions for Twin Cities Warehouses

If you're evaluating platform options for your facility, we provide systems suitable for operations of every size and type. Our team understands the specific obstacles warehouses encounter in this market and can create a solution tailored to your space and budget.

Reach out to a material handling expert at Associated today to discuss your warehouse platform project!

The Associated Minneapolis service area includes Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Bloomington, Duluth, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Woodbury, Lakeville, Blaine, Maple Grove, St. Cloud, Eagan, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley, Minnetonka, Edina, St. Louis Park, Shakopee, Mankato, Moorhead, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Richfield, Inver Grove Heights, Roseville, Andover, Savage, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Ramsey, Chaska, Prior Lake, Oakdale, Rosemount, Elk River, Shoreview, Owatonna, Chanhassen, Austin and all surrounding areas.

Associated | Minneapolis Material Handling Equipment Supplier

8210 Courthouse Blvd Suite 100
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
(651) 688-6175