MSU Assembly
15 January 2026
in  

Level Up Your Workspace: The Ultimate MSU Series Assembly Guide

It’s time to clear the clutter and reclaim your space! Your new Paramount Browns MSU Series shelving is the heavy-duty hero your workspace has been waiting for. You’re just a few steps away from a rock-solid setup that doubles as a functional workbench. 

Roll up your sleeves and grab a teammate—we’ve mapped out the steps to get you from “boxed up” to “built” in no time.

Longspan MSU2020
Long Span MSU2020
Longspan MSU2024
Long Span MSU2024
Longspan MSU2424
Long Span MSU2424

Step 1: Survey Your Setup 

First, let’s make sure you have everything you need to get the job done. Open those boxes and you should see: 

  • 4x Upright Beams (The tall ones!) (A) 
  • 4x Diagonal Beams (For that extra stability) (B) 
  • 6x Horizontal Beams (To keep things level) (C) 
  • 8x Shelf Units (D) and 8x Crossbeams (E) 
  • 2x Hardware Bag: This is where the magic happens—long screws, hex nuts, and lock pins (F).
Survey Your Setup - 4x Upright Beams
4x Upright Beams
Survey Your Setup - 4x Diagonal Beams, 6x Horizontal Beams, 2x Bag of Hardware
4x Diagonal, 6x Horizontal, and 2x Bag of Screws
Survey Your Setup - 8x Shelf Units
8x Shelf Units
Survey Your Setup - 8x Crossbeams
8x Crossbeams

Tool Check: You’ll need a utility knife (to get through the packaging), safety gloves and boots, a Phillips-head screwdriver, and a 10mm spanner wrench.

Tools - Utility Knife
Utility Knife
Tools - Safety Gloves
Safety Gloves
Tools - Screwdriver
Screwdrivers
Spanner Set SC-WR002
Spanner Set

Step 2: Clear the Deck and Prep 

Clear out a wide-open space so you have plenty of room to move around. 

  • Lay all your beams flat on the ground. This makes them easy to identify and keeps them from falling over while you work. 
  • Peel back the bubble wrap and packing material. 
  • Open the box of shelf inserts so they are ready to go when you reach the finish line. 
Clear the Deck & Prep - Uprights
Clear the Deck & Prep - Diagonal and Horizontal Beams
Clear the Deck & Prep - Crossbeams
Clear the Deck & Prep - Crossbeams
Clear the Deck & Prep - Shelf Inserts
Clear the Deck & Prep - Shelf Inserts

Step 3: Build the Upright Frames 

This part is all about the side supports. You’ll be building two identical side frames. 

  • The First Upright: Lean an upright beam against a wall. Align a horizontal beam with the screw holes and secure it with a long screw and hex nut. Tighten it by hand for now. 
Build the Upright Frames
Upright Frames Assembled.
Build the Upright Frames - Upright beam in its standing position
Upright beam in standing position.
Build the Upright Frames - Lining up the upright and the horizontal beams
Lining up the upright and horizontal beams.
Build the Upright Frames - Securing the beams with a long screw
Connect the beams with a long screw.
Build the Upright Frames - Secure the other end of with a nut
Secure the beams with a nut.
Build the Upright Frames - Hand tight the nut on the screw
Hand-tight the nut onto the screw.
  • Connect the Pair: Lay your second upright beam flat and join it to the other end of that horizontal beam. 
  • Add Support: Attach the diagonal beams to give the frame its strength. 
  • The Middle Ground: Add the final horizontal beam in the middle. 
  • The Big Tighten: Once the frame looks straight and aligned, use your screwdriver and spanner to tighten all those nuts and bolts. 
Build the Upright Frames - Connecting the other upright beam
Connecting the other upright beam.
Build the Upright Frames - Securing the beams with a long screw
Securing the beams with a long screw.
Build the Upright Frames - Connect the other horizontal beam
Adding the second horizontal beam.
Build the Upright Frames - Position the diagonal beam
Position the first diagonal beam.
Build the Upright Frames - Lining up the diagonal beam
Lining up the diagonal beam to be secured with a long screw and nut.
Build the Upright Frames - Positioning the horizontal and diagonal beams
Positioning the second diagonal and third horizontal beams.

Pro-Tip: Repeat this for the second frame, and you’re halfway there!

Step 4: Uniting the Frames (The Buddy System!) 

This is where it starts to look like a shelving unit. Assembly is much easier—and safer—with two people. 

  1. The First Click: Pick a slot near the middle and push a crossbeam down into the upright until it clicks into place. 
  2. Join the Frames: Have your partner hold the first frame while you secure the other end of the crossbeam into the second upright frame. 
  3. Balance it Out: Slot the matching crossbeam on the opposite side. Once that level is secure, you can add the rest of the beams at whatever heights you need for your tools and gear! 
Uniting the Frames - Lining up a crossbeam to the upright
Lining up the first crossbeam onto the upright.
Uniting the Frames - Firmly push down until it clicks into place
Firmly push down until it clicks into place.
Uniting the Frames - Having another person hold helps
Having an extra person can help with the balance.
Uniting the Frames - Connecting the other upright
Securing the other end of the crossbeam to the second upright frame.
Uniting the Frames - Slotting the matching crossbeam
Slotting the matching crossbeam on the opposite side.
Uniting the Frames - All crossbeams installed
All crossbeams installed.

Step 5: The Finishing Touches 

You are almost at the finish line! 

  • Move it into place: Put the frame exactly where you want it before you add the heavy shelves. 
  • Drop the inserts in: These should sit flush on the crossbeams. 
  • Bench Top Time: If you’re using the Bench Top accessory, it drops in just like a shelf. Make sure the curved edge is on top and facing toward you. 
  • Lock it down: Grab those lock pins and slot them into the holes by hand. This ensures those beams stay exactly where they belong. 
Finishing Touches - Placing a shelf unit onto the crossbeams
Placing a shelf unit onto the crossbeams.
Finishing Touches - Shelf units should just sit flush
Shelf units should sit flush against the frame.
Finishing Touches - Hand-insert a lock pin into a pinhole
Hand-insert all 16 lock pins.
Finishing Touches - Locking it down with lock pins
Lock pin fully inserted.
Optional Bench Top - Notice the curve edge
Optional Bench Top - Ensure curved edge is facing up.
Optional Bench Top - Bench Top sits flush on top
Optional Bench Top - Sits on top flush against the crossbeams.
recommended mdfbenchtop

Recommended Product

MDF BENCH TOP

Transform your MSU Shelving Unit to a workbench with an MDF Bench Top. Compatible with the MSU2020 and MSU2024 shelving units.

MSU Fully Assembled
MSU fully assembled.
MSU with Bench Top fully assembled
MSU with Bench Top fully assembled.

⚠ Safety Check: Don’t Let it Topple! 

Before you start loading up your new workbench, we have one vital final step. To keep your workspace safe and meet mandatory safety standards, you must secure your unit to prevent it from tipping over. 

We highly recommend one of these “pro moves”: 

  • Anchor it to the wall: Use a safety chain or wall anchors to tether the uprights to a solid wall. 
  • Bolt it to the floor: For maximum stability, you can bolt the unit directly into the ground using sleeve anchors (Dynabolts). 

Need the gear? You can pick up safety chains, wall anchors, and sleeve anchors right here at Paramount Browns. It’s a quick extra step that keeps you and your gear safe! 

Sleeve Anchor
Sleeve Anchor
Treated Pine Screws
Treated Pine Screws
Wall Plug PVC
Wall Plug
Long Link Chain
Long Link Chain

Assembly Complete! Enjoy your new workspace!