Case Study: Custom Steel Storage Solutions for ATCO Gas

The Challenge

At a busy ATCO Gas supply warehouse operated by Harvard Developments in Western Canada, the storage system had slowly fallen behind the demands of a modern industrial operation.

Over time, a patchwork of aging shelving units, wooden storage structures, and light-duty steel racks had taken shape across the warehouse floor. While these systems once served their purpose, they were no longer aligned with the safety standards and operational efficiency expected in a professional gas supply environment.

The warehouse team needed a complete transformation. Their health and safety officer required improvements to stability, compliance, and structural reliability throughout the facility. At the same time, the team needed a system that would maintain their existing workflow while improving organization and durability.

The project needed to solve several key challenges:

• Aging shelving with improper height-to-depth ratios created tip and stability risks

• Wooden storage, workbenches, and tool shelving needed replacement with compliant steel systems

• Pipe nipple and gas fitting storage units were showing structural failure, including buckled shelves and weakened frames

• None of the shelving systems were anchored to the floor, creating a facility-wide safety concern

• The warehouse required deeper, stronger industrial grade steel shelving to increase load capacity and usable storage space

  
  

This was not simply a shelving replacement. The warehouse required a fully integrated system of industrial grade steel shelving designed specifically for the equipment, fittings, and materials handled every day.

Before Westbow Systems

Our Approach

Before designing a solution, Westbow Systems worked closely with the ATCO Gas team to understand how their warehouse truly functions. Every material category, storage requirement, and workflow pattern was reviewed to ensure the new system would support the team without disrupting their routines.

Despite the project being coordinated remotely, every detail of the warehouse layout was carefully planned. The result was a complete storage system built around industrial grade steel shelving, designed to support both safety compliance and operational efficiency.

Each shelving bay, divider section, and work surface was configured to match the inventory the team handles daily. By replacing outdated units with properly rated industrial grade steel shelving, the warehouse could achieve the durability and stability required for a gas supply operation.

The custom system included:

• Full industrial shelving upgrade Heavy-duty industrial grade steel shelving installed throughout the warehouse, replacing all wooden and non-compliant storage units with systems designed for industrial loads.

• Pipe nipple storage system Custom pigeonhole divider bays integrated into the industrial grade steel shelving layout, sized precisely for different diameters of black steel pipe nipples to ensure every size is separated and easy to access.

• Gas fitting organization Dedicated pigeonhole storage sections built into the industrial grade steel shelving for Schedule 40 gas fittings, with individual compartments for each fitting size.

• Steel workbench and tool storage A purpose-built steel workbench and integrated storage unit constructed to match the team’s existing layout while aligning with the durability standards of the surrounding industrial grade steel shelving.

• Anchored safety system Every shelving bay anchored securely to the floor, ensuring the entire industrial grade steel shelving installation meets health and safety requirements.

• Remote project management Westbow Systems coordinated consultation, design drawings, delivery, and installation logistics remotely while ensuring the final industrial grade steel shelving system matched the operational needs of the facility.

  
  

The Result

Today, the ATCO Gas warehouse operates with a storage system designed specifically for the demands of industrial gas supply.

The upgraded facility now features durable industrial grade steel shelving that provides consistent organization, improved safety, and dependable structural performance. Every item has a clearly defined place, allowing the team to move efficiently through their daily operations.

The transformation delivered measurable operational improvements:

• Health and safety compliance Every unit of industrial grade steel shelving is anchored and secured, eliminating tip risk and meeting the facility’s safety requirements.

• Purpose-built organization Custom pigeonhole systems integrated into the industrial grade steel shelving ensure pipe nipples and Schedule 40 fittings remain organized and easy to locate.

• Industrial durability The new industrial grade steel shelving replaced all wooden and light-duty storage with systems built for the heavy loads of a gas supply warehouse.

• Operational continuity The new layout mirrors the team’s previous workflow, allowing the staff to work the same way they always have, now supported by stronger industrial grade steel shelving.

• Seamless remote execution The entire project was coordinated remotely, proving that the right industrial grade steel shelving solution can be delivered efficiently regardless of location.

  
  

Clean, organized, and built to last, the warehouse now reflects the professional standards of the operation it supports.

After Westbow Systems

Looking for Industrial Grade Steel Shelving in Western Canada?

If your warehouse is struggling with aging storage systems, industrial grade steel shelving can transform both safety and efficiency.

Westbow Systems designs and installs industrial grade steel shelving and custom warehouse storage systems across Western Canada, helping industrial facilities organize inventory, improve compliance, and maximize usable space.

Learn more at: westbowsystems.ca