Search the GFME glossary for key terms used throughout our courses.
This highly informative resource is perfect for anyone looking to expand their fixture mobilization knowledge.
A
- Adapter yoke
- A fixture mobilization accessory required for installing pallet rack skates to pallet rack uprights.
B
- Back panel
- A key component of retail shelving, providing a peg board surface for displaying merchandise and enhancing the overall display structure
- Back plane cap
- A metal strip placed between the uprights, above the back plane, that helps connect and stabilize the fixture.
- Base bracket gondola
- This is a type of base structure made up of several pieces. It requires manual assembly—connecting the bottom shelf and uprights to the base bracket. It acts as both the structural support and part of the product display area. Base bracket fixtures usually sit directly on the floor and are often deeper than the upper shelves. They’re held together using welded or bolted brackets.
- Base deck
- The bottom shelf of the gondola fixture.
- Base foot
- The bottom frame of the gondola that rests on the floor. It’s what keeps the entire structure steady and determines how you’ll position the Scorpion III skates during mobilization.
- Base structure
- The base unit of a gondola. The base structure contains the optional, adjustable gondola feet and supports the uprights and bottom shelf.
- Bay
- A single fixture configuration. A bay contains only one set of shelves and uprights.
- Bill of Lading (BOL)
- A legal shipping document that acts as a receipt for the contents, a contract between shipper and carrier, and proof of ownership.
C
- Connector bars
- Used to link multiple Scorpion III skates together. This keeps them aligned and prevents them from “snaking” during movement.
- Cozza casters
- 5-inch wheels designed to help the fixture glide smoothly and turn with minimal effort.
- Crossbeam
- Rails that mount to the uprights on either end of a pallet rack to provide support for the fixture and the merchandise or material stored.
D
- De-merchandise
- The process of removing merchandise from the shelves of the fixture before mobilization.
- Destination area
- The new location for the fixture during a mobilization.
E
- End caps
- Any fixture attached to the end of a run and perpendicular to the rest of the shelving and racking bays.
F
- Fixture mobilization
- The process of relocating fixtures to a new destination. Fixture mobilization requires specialized mobilization equipment.
- Flue space
- The perpendicular clearance between each pallet rack fixture.
- Full gondolas
- A free-standing fixture with a base structure and shelves on both sides of the back plane.
G
- Global Fixture Mobilization Expert (GFME)
- A specialist certified in fixture mobilization. Fixture mobilization experts understand the different types of fixtures and skates, proper mobilization practices, and safety precautions.
- Gondola fixture
- Fixtures used by retailers to display merchandise. Gondolas include a base structure, vertical uprights, and a back plane.
H
- H-style base
- A solid base gondola (the base structure is a single piece) with legs attached to the gondola’s feet.
- Half gondola
- A fixture that is not free-standing with the base structure and shelves on only one side of the back plane. The other side of the back plane must be affixed to a wall.
- Heavy-duty pallet rack
- A pallet rack that holds heavier merchandise, such as bags of concrete mix. Heavy-duty pallet racks use thicker uprights and larger beams than light-duty pallet racks.
I
- Integrated lift mechanism
- The built-in lifting system in the Scorpion III skate. It allows you to raise heavy fixtures using a ratchet wrench—no external jacks needed.
K
- Kick plate
- A panel attached to the base of the fixture that adds extra stability and helps keep items from rolling underneath.
L
- Leveling foot wrenches
- A fixture mobilization accessory that helps make sure the fixture is even, confirms that the fixture is raised the minimum amount off the floor, and sweeps for any obstacles that could interfere with the move.
- Lift bar extensions
- Extra length attachments for lift bars, used when mobilizing wider shelving sections like H-style gondolas.
- Lift bars
- Heavy-duty bars that support and lift the fixture. They’re the main load-bearing part of the system.
- Lift mechanism
- The key feature that lets you lift a fixture using the Scorpion III skate system. It’s operated with a ratchet and built right into the skate.
- Light-duty pallet rack
- A pallet rack that holds lighter merchandise, such as air conditioners in a home improvement store. Light-duty pallet racks use thinner uprights and smaller beams than heavy-duty pallet racks.
M
- MerchStop
- Magnetic shelf fences that snap into place without tools. They prevent merchandise from falling off the shelves while you’re moving the fixture.
- Mobilization targets
- Flags or other indicators to mark the destination area.
- Move route
- The pathway for moving the fixture.
O
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- The primary federal agency that regulates workplace safety and health standards under the United States Department of Labor.
P
- Pallet racks
- Large, free-standing shelving units commonly seen in both warehouses and big-box retail stores. In warehouses, they’re used to hold pallets of products or materials. In retail, they serve a similar purpose—storing bulk items or displaying larger merchandise. Pallet racks are built for heavy loads and are often moved with forklifts, but may also need to be stabilized or cleared before nearby fixture mobilization.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Safety gear like gloves, helmets, goggles, and masks that protect you from physical or chemical hazards on the job.
- Pivoting movement
- Rotating the fixture while keeping one corner anchored.
- Push and pull bars
- A fixture mobilization accessory that helps move the fixture by pushing or pulling the skate through the move route.
- Push plate
- The flat surface on the front of the skate that makes contact with the fixture base to help guide the move.
R
- Ratchet wrench
- The hand tool used to operate the integrated lift mechanism on the skate.
- Release latch
- A button or lever on the skate used to detach the lift mechanism from the lift bar.
- Restock
- Putting merchandise back on the shelves after it was removed for the move.
- Rotating movement
- Turning the entire fixture left or right (clockwise or counterclockwise).
- Run
- A group of gondola bays connected together to form one long fixture.
S
- Saddle
- A support piece that slides underneath the gondola fixture to help lift and hold it securely during mobilization. It’s designed to cradle the fixture safely while weight is transferred to the skate.
- Scorpion III Mobilization System Expert
- A trained team member who understands how to safely and efficiently use the Scorpion III system to move heavy gondola fixtures—especially in large retail environments.
- Scorpion III skate
- The main platform in the system. It’s the part that sits under the gondola and houses the lift mechanism and wheels.The third-generation gondola moving system from Gondola Skate. Known for its detachable lift bars and easy-to-use design, it works on both newer and older fixture styles.
- Shelves
- Horizontal surfaces where merchandise is placed. The bottom shelf sits on the base; upper shelves attach to the uprights.
- Shipping box
- A reusable, durable container that holds the Scorpion III system, including skates, bars, and tools. It keeps everything organized and protected during transport.
- Snaking
- Occurs when the fixture bays become unaligned and move in different directions. Snaking can cause the metal to bend or other damage to the fixture.
- Solid base
- A type of gondola base made from a single welded piece. Everything is already connected and supported by a beam.
- Staging
- Setting up your team, equipment, and workspace before the move begins. Good staging reduces downtime and keeps everyone coordinated.
- Straight movement
- Moving the fixture forward or backward in a straight line.
T
- T-handle push bar
- An attachable handle used to steer and guide the fixture during movement.
- T-style gondola
- A solid base gondola with a back plane and base structure that forms a T shape. A T-style base sits closest to the ground and does not have legs.
- Top cap
- A metal or plastic finishing piece that is installed at the very top of the gondola’s back panel, spanning horizontally between the two uprights
U
- Uprights
- Vertical posts on the gondola where shelves attach. Uprights also help link fixture bays together.
W
- Wheel guard & wheel brushes
- Protective covers and bristles around the skate’s wheels. They help prevent debris from interfering with movement and protect the wheels from damage.
- Wheel steering tools
- A tool used to turn the skate’s casters in the correct direction before you start moving. This makes pushing the fixture easier and safer.
- Wide span fixtures
- Structural overlays on top of and surrounding a solid base gondola. You can find wide span fixtures on both sides or only one side of the gondola. Wide span fixtures allow you to arrange shelves and beams in unique configurations.
- Wide span fixtures
- Specialized shelving extensions attached to a standard gondola. These allow for more flexible and unique shelf layouts on one or both sides of the fixture.
