{"id":132,"date":"2026-11-10T10:49:41","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T03:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cavemekar.com\/blog\/?p=132"},"modified":"2026-11-10T10:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T03:49:41","slug":"ruang-rak-thinwall-styrofoam-wadah-kosong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cavemekar.com\/en\/blog\/ruang-rak-thinwall-styrofoam-wadah-kosong\/","title":{"rendered":"Thinwall and Styrofoam: Comparing Shelf Space for Empty Containers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated 10 November 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

How do you compare shelf space for unused thinwall and styrofoam containers?<\/h2>\n

To compare shelf space for thinwall and styrofoam, stack the same number of empty containers as you would on the working shelf. Measure each stack’s width, depth and height. Leave room to take one container without moving other stock. Include separate lid storage. The result helps arrange the shelf, while the requirements for using the containers need separate confirmation.<\/p>\n

At a packing station, a model that looks compact in a photograph may be awkward to store on the shelf. Rim shape, opening direction and lid position affect the space it needs. Start with the task that the shelf serves. A front shelf might hold one shift’s stock, with full cartons kept behind the work area. Compare container samples on the shelf used to take one unit. If you need to calculate storage for full cartons, measure the delivery cartons on a separate record.<\/p>\n

What should you measure before placing the containers on the shelf?<\/h2>\n

Measure the usable width between dividers, the depth from the inside of the shelf lip to the back wall, and the distance from the shelf base to the overhead obstruction. Look for rails, labels and protruding bolts within that space. On a shelving unit with several levels, measure the level you will use. Two levels in one unit can have different clearances because of a top panel, reinforcing bar or support clips.<\/p>\n

Use the same count for each model, for example 24 container bases and 24 lids if lids form part of the arrangement. Build each stack with samples of the same model. Set it down without pressing the containers together more firmly than usual. If the lid is attached, record its storage position and measure the stack in that position. If lids are separate, mark the shelf or location for them on the observation sheet, including a different level if applicable.<\/p>\n

\"Empty
Catalogue example of a container and lid. Measure stack height with the model you will actually store.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Record length and width at the widest points, including rims and tabs. Take height from the actual stack. Multiplying the height of one unit by the count can be misleading when each unit sits partly inside the one below it. If your team refills the shelf in two different quantities, perhaps 12 during busy periods and 24 at the start of a shift, measure both. This shows whether a half stack that is easy to access remains accessible when full.<\/p>\n

How do you account for lids and the room to remove one container?<\/h2>\n

Imagine a shelf with a 60 \u00d7 35 cm usable area and a 30 cm clear height. These figures are only a recordkeeping exercise. The 24 bases in stack A measure 22 \u00d7 17 \u00d7 18 cm. Lids for A sit beside the bases and take up 22 cm of width and 17 cm of depth. With both stacks side by side across the shelf, they occupy 44 cm of width and 17 cm of depth. If you move the lids behind the bases, measure the depth again and try retrieving a lid. Moving the lids may save width while making them harder to reach.<\/p>\n

In example B, 24 containers with attached lids occupy 23 \u00d7 18 cm and stand 25 cm high. The calculation leaves 5 cm above the stack. That clearance alone does not show whether staff can lift one container over the interlocking rims. Try the motion on the actual shelf. Repeat from the usual standing position, wearing gloves if the station’s procedure calls for them. If the stack lifts with the container or a hand hits the shelf above, record where the obstruction occurs before moving the stock.<\/p>\n
Record<\/th>Example A<\/th>Example B<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Container count<\/th>24<\/td>24<\/td><\/tr>
Arrangement<\/th>Bases and lids side by side<\/td>Lids attached to bases<\/td><\/tr>
Occupied shelf area<\/th>44 \u00d7 17 cm<\/td>23 \u00d7 18 cm<\/td><\/tr>
Retrieval check<\/th>Reach a lid without bumping the bases.<\/td>Lift one unit without hitting the shelf above.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n
\"Styrofoam
Catalogue example of a styrofoam box. Check retrieval clearance on the shelf with a sample of your chosen model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do you test the arrangement when the shelf is full and almost empty?<\/h2>\n

Take one unit when both sides of the stack border the stock normally kept on the shelf. Watch the hand and the stack from the side. Check whether a neighbouring stack moves, whether staff can distinguish one lid from another model’s lid, and whether they can take the container directly to the workbench. Avoid creating extra room by clearing all stock to the left and right if the shelf will be shared.<\/p>\n

Repeat with two or three units left. A low stack can be harder to reach from the same position, especially if it is set far back. If staff need to move another container first, mark the obstruction. For separate lids, count the remaining lids and bases at the refill point. Record any difference. Lids that regularly run out earlier can prompt a review of storage and counting with the team before you ask for a change in container size.<\/p>\n

If two models look similar, label each position with the model code and retrieval direction. Keep one photo from the front when the shelf is full, one from the side during a pick and one when stock is almost gone. Put a ruler on the plane being measured so others can interpret the image. Note the model, sample count and what obstructed the hand. If deliveries in different quantities change the arrangement, mark the new photo with the count so you can repeat the trial.<\/p>\n

Also observe the transfer from a reserve carton while some stock remains on the shelf. Staff might bring 24 new containers when six older ones are still at the front. If the procedure calls for picking older stock first, refill the shelf in that order. See whether the six containers can stay at the front without blocking access to the lids. If two stacks need to stand side by side briefly, measure that extra space. If the shelf only fits one arrangement, try a partial refill and note where the rest can stay. In a narrow workspace, check whether the reserve carton blocks shelf access while staff transfer the contents. Add the result to the comparison alongside stack height. This lets the team choose a reserve location and refill count from the workflow as it happens, rather than from the dimensions of the shelf once it is tidy again.<\/p>\n

What should you send when requesting samples from the product team?<\/h2>\n

See the models in the Cave Mekar Group catalogues for thinwall containers<\/a> and styrofoam containers<\/a>. Send the shelf photos, clear dimensions, container count per refill and lid storage method to the Cave Mekar Group contact team<\/a>. Ask for a sample of the model you want to try and describe which direction staff will take it out. Keep use requirements, such as food conditions or temperature, separate from the shelf notes. An arrangement that is easy to pick from only answers the space and workflow question.<\/p>\n

Follow Cave Mekar Group on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n

Does container capacity tell me how much shelf space I need?<\/h3>\n

Capacity tells you how much the container holds. Measure stack length and width, stack height and retrieval clearance using the same number of each sample.<\/p>\n

Should lids count in the comparison?<\/h3>\n

Yes. Include the lid storage space when lids sit separately. If lids are attached, measure the arrangement as stored.<\/p>\n

Can I measure one container and multiply its height?<\/h3>\n

Measure the stack with the number you actually store, because some shapes can sit partly inside the container underneath.<\/p>\n

What should I check if my hand touches the shelf above during retrieval?<\/h3>\n

Observe the direction of withdrawal, hand position and shelf lip. Try a shorter stack or a different location, then repeat the pick.<\/p>\n

Does fitting the shelf mean a container is suitable for hot food?<\/h3>\n

Shelf fit only describes storage for empty containers. Confirm suitability for food or a particular temperature separately.<\/p>\n