Storage system and storage container

A storage and retrieval system comprising:

• a track system including a first set of parallel rails or tracks, and a second set of parallel rails or tracks running transversely to the first set of parallel tracks, in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern including a plurality of grid spaces or grid cells;
• a plurality of stacks of storage containers located beneath the track system, and wherein each stack of the plurality of stacks of storage containers occupies a single grid space or grid cell, wherein the plurality of stacks includes storage containers including a metallic container body, the metallic container body including a base portion formed as a single unitary body and having a container bottom wall and upwardly standing base sidewall and end wall parts to define a tray, and having a separate upper portion having upper sidewall parts and end wall parts upwardly extending from and connected to respective base sidewall parts and end wall parts of the base portion to form a box-like structure with an open end for receiving one or more items within the box-like structure;
• and
• a plurality of load handling devices being supported and guided by the parallel rails, each of the load handling devices including a container-receiving space and a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism being configured to lift at least one storage container from the plurality of stacks of storage containers into the container receiving space.