It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
—Herman Melville
Why Choose Rakks?
Keivan Towfigh—a brilliant mechanical engineer, inventor, designer, craftsman, professor, composer, entrepreneur, and more—started designing the Rakks product line in the 1960s, and founded our company, Rangine Corporation, in 1971. You can read more about him here. He invented all the modular, adjustable, elegant products we offer.
Rakks Shelving and Supports offer a plethora of advantages to architects, designers, builders and individuals, who have been specifying our products for years. Rakks systems tend to get passed down to younger generations instead of ending up in a landfill. Many classic, mid-century modern designs attract imitators and Rakks is no exception. You may have even seen some out in the world.
Of course, people care for so many diverse styles of interiors and Rakks, though it is very aesthetically flexible, may not be for everyone. Clients weigh a number of considerations, including lead times, quality, price, responsive service, custom options, color choices, load ratings, sustainability, location of manufacture, and aesthetics, among others. Marketing campaigns or other products you’re considering may look like Rakks at first glance, and initially they may seem comparable. But all may not be as it appears, and we do believe you get what you pay for. So here’s a guide to spotting imitations, weighing factors, and discerning the difference when selecting custom shelving and support hardware that best suits your objectives.
LOCATION OF MANUFACTURE Is it made in the USA or overseas?
Since 1971, Rakks products have been made in the USA. We have never picked-and-packed foreign-made, stock components from a warehouse. We fabricate locally, in an excellent working environment. Virtually all materials are sourced within 300 miles or less of our factory, where we design, cut, machine, and weld everything in-house. We also are certified Build America Buy America suppliers. Some competitors are open about foreign manufacturing but, unfortunately, some claim they manufacture in the USA when they are, in fact, not made domestically.
QUALITY AND FINISHING Are the shelving and hardware components finished to a high degree of quality and consistency?
At times, customers come to us having purchased competitors’ components, only to find cuts at the wrong angle, misaligned hardware, and dangerous, sharp edges. In contrast, we buff each component to ensure there are no razor edges or shavings. Rakks systems and hardware are made of high-grade aluminum, finished by hand and carefully quality-controlled. We invest in employee education, an internal culture of innovation, and improving quality at all stages of the value chain.
COLORS Does it come in any RAL color or anodized finish you would like, or do you have to choose from a limited palette?
Rakks products offer more custom colors and finishes than most shelving lines. We currently offer a vetted palette of 36 colors, but we can also finish your system in just about any matte, semi-gloss, or glossy shade, including matching brand colors.
CUSTOMIZABILITY Can it be fabricated in any dimension or application you specify or are you limited to stock parts and sizes?
Rakks systems are tailored to perfectly fit any space. Our team of engineers, designers, and craftspeople create custom solutions that expressly suit our clients’ needs. Our ability to prototype on the spot, utilizing our master fabricators’ skills to iterate unique solutions, has made us the company of choice for architects, designers, and builders, as well as people in residential spaces. We aim to satisfy our clients’ particular needs through innovation and quality. The new Rakks Shelving Composer™ also helps individuals create their own designs in addition to making the specification process more efficient for professionals.
LEAD TIMES Are there competitive lead times or will you be waiting months to receive your items?
Rakks’ lead times are some of the best in the business: 1-4 weeks depending on finish. We design, engineer, fabricate, and ship from a single location, meaning we don’t have to wait for shipping containers to travel across the globe and delay your work on the job site or at home. A short supply chain, locally-sourced materials, lean manufacturing, and a focus on reducing waste—these all contribute to our ability to turn around custom orders faster than competitors in most cases.
SUSTAINABILITY Are the products made and packaged sustainably or are they packed with plastic in a wasteful factory?
Rakks packaging protects and organizes your order—including room-by-room boxing—to ensure installation is smooth. Rakks products are made according to lean principles out of recycled, recyclable materials, in a facility that runs on 92% renewable energy. They are shipped in packaging that is 99% recyclable. We are working on eliminating the 1% of our packaging components that is not recyclable.
EASE OF SPECIFICATION AND INSTALL Are the products easy to specify and install or will I have to go back and forth on revisions?
Rakks’ encyclopedic illustrated install guides, our engineering, sales, and service staff, as well as our proprietary, in-house-developed configurator, the Rakks Shelving Composer™, are among the best in the shelving world.
SERVICE STAFF Is the firm you’re looking at responsive and courteous?
Rakks’ staff strives to be of service, to supply you with the best technical and design support, and to share inspiration. Whether it’s a working-from-home space or a 50-office institutional application, the service crew is here to help streamline your project.
INNOVATION Can they create new products on the spot that solve tricky design problems or are you limited to stock parts?
Rakks designs, prototypes, and manufactures brand new products in response to requests from clients on a regular basis, in many cases with a dizzyingly fast turnaround. Our experienced craftspeople are equipped with state-of-the-art robotic welders, 3D printers, CNC laser cutters, a sprawling machining center, and the support of our design staff. If you can imagine it, we can make it.
DURABILITY Will the products last? Will they function well and look pristine now and in the years to come?
Rakks products stay materially and aesthetically fresh and many folks pass them down from generation to generation. We’re in our sixth decade of operation so we have data to support this. When you’re ready to move to a new space, our staff is here to help you bring your Rakks system with you and adapt it to seamlessly fit in its new home. Timelessness, durability, and longevity are some of the outcomes of maintaining the highest standards of quality. In the long run, this saves money and the environment.
BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS Can they work with you to create a system that achieves your purposes but also fits within your budget?
Of course, some products on the market cost less than ours, and some more. Rakks provides beautiful shelving with a
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING Do they ship internationally?
Rakks ships internationally. Overseas shipping logistics can be complex and sometimes costly, but we work closely with international customers to make the best possible arrangements in terms of design, time, and budget.
IS IT A COPY OF RAKKS? Did they design what they’re selling or is it a knock-off ?
You can always ask us if you are not sure if a product you’ve seen in an ad or out in the world is from Rakks. Even if they look similar, knockoffs can carry quality and service issues that our customers tell us are not worth it in the long run. Rakks products will show the hallmarks of quality, service, custom design solutions, excellent lead times, and greener processes. We design and make everything we sell in Massachusetts, USA and understand the DNA of our designs better than any imitator ever will. This helps us seamlessly build in modularity and expandability, and keeps us moving toward the future.