Page 22 - MetalForming January/February 2022

Planning Considerations for Vertical Storage and Material Handling Systems
Tracy Buck
Sales Engineer Ross Industrial LLC/ Dexco Structural Racking Systems www.rosstechnology.com
Traditional floor storage of coils consumes excess floor space, can lead
to costly material damage and threatens worker safety. Vertical racking, storing coils on custom cradles, helps metal formers organize their material, optimize floor space, reduce material damage and improve worker safety.
How can metal formers justify the expense of a new racking or material- handling system?
Establishing goals and defining the expected financial benefits are critical for winning approval of any new capi- tal project. As operators we tend to focus on obvious goals like freeing up more floor space for production and organ- izing inventory so it’s easier to find. While these goals are important and offer a tangible ROI, take the time to tie those benefits, and identify others, that will align the proj- ect with the company’s strategic goals. For instance, deter- mine throughput rates required to achieve desired sales growth next year and 5 years down the road. Armed with that information, identify existing material-flow bottle- necks that will prohibit you from achieving those rates to establish a holistic plan that resonates with executives.
What safety factors should I consider when evaluating various rack styles and construction?
Most buyers ask about the total load capacity of a rack- ing system, but metal formers should address several addi- tional factors related to safety and durability. Be sure to identify differences in physical characteristics, such as the shape of the steel (roll formed vs. channel vs. wide-flange I-beam, for example), grade of bolts, and size and location of welds. In addition, ask how the rack design accommo- dates uneven loads and what safety factors are engineered in. The answers to these questions will affect how you can load your new racks, the maximum storage density possi- ble and how resistant the system will be to damage from material-handling equipment.
Is my current lift equipment adequate or optimal?
Once you’ve selected a racking design, it’s time to evaluate whether your material-handling equip- ment can efficiently and safely service the newly pro- posed system, or if you need new equipment. For exam- ple, an overhead crane equipped with a C-hook cannot load coils into traditional coil racks, so you’ll need to con- sider an alternate means of handling—a fixed-mast crane, for example. With regard to fork trucks, a side loader allows for much narrower aisles compared to traditional forklifts, which will free up space for additional storage or production.
How does the building layout impact the racking design?
Identify column center lines, floor-drain locations, and floor pitch and uneven surfaces that could impact the rack layout. Determine concrete strength and condition to ensure that it will meet the required loading capacity. Establish building heights (at the peak and eave) and locations of sprinklers, cranes and other equipment to define site and other building constraints.
What role does packaging play?
Evaluate how your raw materials are (or could be) packaged when they arrive at your
facility and try to narrow down the type of racking and transport equipment needed. For example: Wide-span racking accommodates slit coils on pallets shipped “eye- to-the sky” better than traditional coils chocked and shipped eye-to-the-aisle.
PARTNER CONTENT
20 MetalForming/January-February 2022
www.metalformingmagazine.com