The first low-carbon shelving system – and why RAECKS is filling a gap in the market
Shelving units rarely take center stage, but they’re found in every warehouse. A standard product in inventory management. Not exactly a market ripe for innovation – or is it? That’s what RAECKS – the shelving experts – thought: The company makes warehouse shelving units configurable digitally and in 3D, making them easy to order. Online and just a few clicks instead of a catalog and waiting time – and then came the idea of a sustainable shelving solution.
RAECKS actually wanted one thing above all else: to sell boring storage racks in a different way. But the more the company analyzed the market, the clearer another trend became: customers were increasingly asking for sustainable solutions – not as a marketing gimmick, but as a measurable factor.
Within the corporate group, the idea emerged to integrate low-carbon steel into the product range. In collaboration with thyssenkrupp Schulte, RAECKS developed RAECKSgreen. These are the first storage racks on the German market to use low-carbon steel for the load-bearing components – and despite the sustainable material, they are offered under the same terms as the standard product and without any compromise on quality.
thyssenkrupp Schulte supplies the low-carbon steel, and thanks to the validated Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data also provided by thyssenkrupp Schulte, the carbon footprint of the raw materials used can be transparently traced. This means that sustainability at RAECKS is not just a stance, but a verifiable product advantage.
Technically uncompromising – but good for the climate
Many customers start out with the same questions: Can low-carbon steel support the same loads? Is it just as strong and durable? RAECKS makes it clear: The more sustainable option meets all technical requirements and adheres to the same load-bearing and quality standards as conventional steel. The only difference lies in the significantly reduced carbon footprint of its production.
At the same time, expectations within the industry are shifting. More and more companies are incorporating sustainability metrics into their procurement decisions – but only if this data is transparent and easy to understand. This is exactly where RAECKSgreen comes in: In the 3D shelving configurator, CO2 savings are calculated in real time and displayed immediately. Each configured shelving variant receives an individual “emissions profile,” which makes options comparable and facilitates climate-friendly decisions.
Sustainability thus becomes not only technically possible but also immediately visible in the digital customer experience.
An offering that is transforming the market
RAECKSgreen combines digital innovation with CO2-conscious steel, leveraging thyssenkrupp Schulte’s PCF transparency. The result is an approach that demonstrates how sustainability can be effectively implemented in day-to-day warehouse operations – without treating it merely as a passing trend.