Staff Lockers are an excellent way for companies to utilize vertical storage space. Most modern organizations that prioritize their reputation and company welfare invest in lockers. Besides providing storage space, these staff lockers enhance the premises’ aesthetic appeal and professionalism.
However, lockers come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. It can be challenging for companies to choose between the various types of lockers. The global locker market is expected to be worth $5.64 billion in 2024 and reach $14.81 billion by 2029. Plastic, stainless steel, and wood lockers are a smaller niche market. As companies realize the importance of lockers, the market size will increase.
Lockers can benefit everyone, whether manufacturing, construction, finance, retail, warehouses, or healthcare establishments. What are the different types of lockers? Which businesses and sectors should invest in lockers? This blog will highlight the five main types of locker materials. Let’s get started.
5 Types of Locker Materials
Whether its staff lockers or general lockers, they come in different types. We will discuss the five main types of lockers that businesses use.
1. Metal Lockers
When someone mentions metal lockers, it reminds us of American movies. These movies depicted American kids in high school and college, where everyone had a locker. Lockers found in schools and colleges are the most common ones. These lockers are made of 16-gauge steel and come in various shapes and sizes, such as single-tier or six-tier lockers. Besides these standard metal lockers, we can also find some other varieties of metal lockers.
Deluxe Metal Lockers
Similar to standard metal lockers, these deluxe lockers offer additional features like a smoother finish, a wider variety of colours and a sturdier build. They are ideal for fancy establishments like gyms and spas.
Powder-Coated Steel Lockers
Powder-coated steel lockers are high-performance, low-maintenance, and durable, yet affordable. Businesses can choose from different options to match the theme of the premises. Powder coating uses a dry finish process. Dry fine powder mixed with resin and pigment is sprayed on the metal. The only drawback is that powder-coated lockers can’t withstand high humidity.
Stainless steel Lockers
Stainless-steel staff lockers are slightly more expensive than other metal lockers but are highly durable and last longer. Designed for prolonged rough use, they are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean and maintain. They are also rust—and moisture-resistant.
2. Phenolic Lockers
Phenolic lockers are the perfect choice for businesses experiencing high foot traffic, such as gyms, schools, recreational centres, hospitals, and offices. Industrial locker manufacturers follow a complex process to make phenolic lockers. They inject kraft paper sheets with a thermosetting resin, then inject melanin-based raisins into the source. Lastly, they subject the material to pressure and heat to create a new material.
These phenolic lockers are durable and easy to clean. Their biggest drawback is that they are vulnerable to mould.
3. Wood Lockers
Wood lockers are often made of solid wood or composite materials. Composite wood is usually a mix of wood, plastic, or additives. Wooden lockers are installed in businesses that prioritize aesthetics and design. Composite wood lockers offer greater durability and resistance to nature’s elements. Businesses that use wood lockers the most include gyms, schools, retail stores, offices, spas, and salons.
We can further divide wood lockers into other subcategories, including the following.
Solid Wood Lockers
Manufacturers use solid wood planks such as oak, maple, and birch as the basic materials for these lockers. Solid wood lockers lend a classic look but can be expensive and susceptible to moisture.
Wood Veneer
Compared to solid wood lockers, veneer wood lockers are more affordable. These lockers consist of thinly cut wood slices stuck to the fibreboard of plywood. Not only are wood veneer lockers more resistant to humidity, but they are also more aesthetically pleasing.
Laminate Lockers
Laminate lockers are made of high-pressure laminate to resemble wood grain. They are cost-effective and offer multiple design options. The downside is that they are less durable and aesthetic than real wood lockers.
4. Plastic Lockers
As the name suggests, plastic lockers are made of durable plastic. They are synthetic and highly resistant to moisture, rust, and corrosion. They are also lightweight, low-maintenance, and can last a long time. Most importantly, they don’t require repainting, and they have sustainable alternatives.
HDPE (Polyethylene) Lockers
The most common material used to make plastic lockers is high-density polyethene, a highly durable and chemical-resistant plastic derived from petroleum. It is customizable and easy to weld and fabricate, making it popular among schools, gyms, and offices.
Polypropylene (PP) Lockers
Compared to polyethene lockers, PP lockers are low-density and highly heat-resistant. They are durable and moisture-resistant, popular in saunas, gyms, and pool areas.
ABS Plastic Lockers
ABS plastic lockers are made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. In simple language, ABS plastic is a mix of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. ABS plastic lockers can withstand damage, including dents, scratches and high-impact collisions. Schools, gyms and swimming pools use ABS plastic lockers the most.
Bioplastic Lockers
Bioplastic is specialized plastic made from renewable materials like corn starch, vegetable oils and fats, straw, sawdust, recycled food waste, and similar materials. These materials are not commonly used for lockers, but environmentally friendly establishments have a preference for them.
Plastic and Metal Hybrid Lockers
Some locker manufacturers combine metal and plastic to create hybrid lockers. These hybrid lockers combine the durability and strength of metal with the tensile strength and affordability of plastic.
5. Fiberglass Lockers
Fiberglass lockers enjoy a good reputation because of their lightweight nature, strength, and corrosion resistance. They are ideal for humid and moist environments, and hence, schools, swimming pools, water parks, hotels, resorts, and restaurants use them. People can clean these lockers easily. However, the only drawback is that they are susceptible to scratches and cracks.
Summing Up
As seen above, the market has many varieties of staff lockers. As time passes, we will see many other materials used to make lockers. The growing popularity and demand for sustainable and affordable materials will compel locker manufacturers to challenge their limits and diversify their offerings
Wood, metal, and plastic are the most commonly used materials for lockers. Businesses that prioritize durability, cost-effectiveness, and customization will opt for metal and plastic alternatives. Locker shapes and sizes, cost, ventilation, durability, space availability, aesthetics, and ease of installation are other factors that companies will consider when shopping for staff lockers.
Trends will also change in the future, which may further impact businesses’ choices. If you are unsure about making the right decision concerning lockers for your business, talk to other business owners or consult an expert.
Read also: Top Reasons Mini Lockers Are Perfect for the Modern Workplace
