Most Systainer organization is foam and guesswork. Tools shift in transit. Small parts migrate to corners. You spend more time hunting hardware than using it.
Engineered storage removes that friction. Modular bins that nest cleanly. Fitouts designed around access patterns, not just tool shapes. Organization that travels as well as it works at the bench.
This is the guide to what works—and why it works better than foam.
The problem with foam
Foam wears out. Custom-cut inserts look clean at first, but six months in they’re compressed, torn, or holding tools that no longer fit your kit. Every tool change means new cuts. Every project shift means new compromises.
Foam is consumable. Engineered storage is infrastructure.
Start with where your parts live: Systainers and Sortainers
The foundation of engineered storage is the container itself. TANOS designed Systainer³ and Sortainer systems to stack, transport, and organize—but the interior is up to you.
Systainer³ standard shells
General-purpose containers in M, L, and XXL sizes. Drop in loose tools, or add engineered organization.
Systainer³ Organizer (M 89 and L 89)
Transparent-lid Systainers with modular insert grids for visual inventory. M 89 uses a 7×5 layout. L 89 extends to 9×5 for higher density.
Best for: Small parts that need quick visual identification—fasteners, bits, consumables, marking tools.
Sortainer systems
Front-loading drawer units that let you access contents without unstacking. Sortainer/2 has one low and one high drawer. Sortainer/3 has three low drawers.
Best for: Mid-stack access to frequently used hardware or accessories.
SYS-ORG bins: Modular organization that moves with you
SYS-ORG bins bring structure to the interior of Systainers, Organizers, and drawer systems. Each bin maintains consistent external dimensions for cross-system compatibility.
Bin types
- Half-height bins — Low-profile storage for fasteners, bits, and compact accessories. Stack two per Systainer height zone for maximum density.
- Full-height bins — Standard depth for larger hardware, batteries, or grouped tool accessories.
- Pod Bins — Purpose-built for SYS-GRP pods, fittings, hoses, and vacuum accessories. Sized to prevent crush damage while keeping grip surfaces protected.
- Multi-division bins — Drop into Systainer³ Organizers (M 89 or L 89) for structured small parts storage with visual inventory through the transparent lid.
Where bins work
- Inside Sortainer drawers: Drop bins directly into drawer compartments for organized transport and mid-stack access.
- Inside Systainer³ Organizers: Use multi-division bins in the modular insert grid for structured small parts storage with instant visual inventory.
- Inside drawer systems with SYS-GRD grid plates: Create a modular grid base when your drawers do not match the TANOS grid system. Bins drop into the grid without permanent dividers.
- On bench surfaces: Stage parts by project so you stop searching and start building.
The bins don’t require adhesive, cutting, or permanent mounting. Reconfigure as your workflow changes.
SYS-FIT fitouts: Purpose-built inserts for high-value tools
Where bins handle loose parts and consumables, SYS-FIT fitouts are precision inserts designed for specific tools and system components. They replace foam with structured retention—magnetic holds, saddles, and compartments engineered for repeated deployment cycles.
Grabo Fitout — Systainer³ M 237
Dual Grabo or Grabo Pro storage with battery bays and magnetic retention. TPU saddles keep units positioned during transport. Magnets provide tactile feedback when units seat correctly.
Best for: Mobile crews who deploy handheld vacuum lifters on multiple jobsites.
Compatibility note: This fitout is for storing handheld Grabo units only—not compatible with Nexus baseplates.
Nexus Dock — Sortainer/2 (M 337)
Designed to store the Nexus baseplate with a Grabo or DeWalt Grabo attached as a single assembly. Includes compartments for valves, short hose runs, and small vacuum system hardware.
Best for: Bench and jobsite setups where Nexus is the primary vacuum interface.
Pairing tip: Combine with Pod Bins in the same Sortainer stack to keep pods, hoses, and fittings organized together.
Pod Dock — Systainer³ S 76
Build-your-own fitout for AnchorDogs, rail inserts, and BenchGrip pods. Configure compartments based on your most-used hardware.
Best for: Shops with established SYS-GRP workflows who want fast changeovers without hunting parts.
Pre-configured options: Verso and Max bundles ship with Pod Dock fitouts already laid out for the included hardware.
AnchorPod FORG3D Edition Fitouts — Systainer³ S 76
Complete vacuum workholding systems packaged in a FORG3D Edition Systainer³ S 76 with precision fitout. AnchorPods, Edition pods, Argos bench driver, hardware, gaskets, spacers, tubing—everything needed to anchor vacuum workholding into your bench infrastructure.
Magnus kit: Heavy-duty precision for challenging stock.
Maximus kit: Balanced versatile workholding.
Best for: Makers ready to integrate permanent vacuum workholding with a complete system that deploys immediately.
Choosing your storage strategy
Your storage strategy depends on how your workflow moves—between transport and bench, between jobsite and shop, between active projects and inventory.
If you’re mobile-first
Transport is the primary constraint. Protect high-value tools with SYS-FIT fitouts. Organize vacuum accessories in Pod Bins. Keep loose hardware in half-height bins that stack efficiently. Use Sortainers for mid-stack access to frequently grabbed items.
If you’re bench-first
Stationary storage with fast access. Use Systainer³ Organizers for visual inventory of consumables and small parts. Install SYS-GRD grid plates in drawers that lack the TANOS grid, then drop bins into the grid. Use Pod Dock to stage SYS-GRP hardware near your bench.
If you move between both
Portability with bench-level organization. Prioritize bin systems that work across Systainers, Organizers, Sortainers, and drawers. Keep fitouts limited to tools that justify dedicated space—Grabo, Nexus, and high-use pod sets. Plan for bins to move freely between mobile and stationary zones.
System integration: Where storage connects
- With SYS-GRP: Pod Bins protect vacuum pods and fittings. Pod Dock stages AnchorDogs and rail inserts near your bench. Nexus Dock keeps your vacuum source ready for deployment.
- With SYS-GRD: Grid plates create modular organization in drawers that lack the standard TANOS grid system.
- With Systainer³ Organizers: Multi-division bins create structured compartments for consumables with instant visual inventory.
- With SYS-PLT and SYS-MNT: Mounting plates and brackets extend organization outside the Systainer for fast access on the bench or jobsite.
Explore the system
Primary: Explore SYS-ORG and SYS-FIT storage solutions
Secondary: Build your system. Start with the storage that removes friction from your workflow.