Basic HTML Version
improper use, shipping, handling,
or disassembly-reassembly. With all
the unknowns, used rack can end up
costing as much or more than new
racking.”
Another consideration in the USA is that
used rack may have difficulty meeting
the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI)
requirements typically used by OSHA
when evaluating storage racking. “RMI
specifies that racking can have no
damage,” says Maloney. “Any damaged
rack must be repaired or replaced,
which drives up the cost of used rack
considerably.” According to Maloney,
the RMI Guidelines also require that
storage rack be properly labeled for
capacity, which can be a challenge with
used rack.
“It’s often difficult to identify the
carrying capacity of used rack,” says
Maloney. “Many manufacturers use
different material thicknesses in their
frames and beams. Even if a used
frame looks just like one next to it, it
may not be the same capacity. And
what do you do if there’s no identifying
rack brand, product number, or the
manufacturer is out of business?”
For phase 2, Glacier Transit and
Storage added another 85,000ft
2
. to
the facility, bringing its total storage
capacity to 170,000ft
2
. The company
chose to work with Wisconsin Lift Truck
and purchase new drive-in rack.
angle rails similarly ‘guide’ pallets, while
welded rail stops prevent loads from
being pushed off and improve safety.
Compared to installing about 6000
pallets of used drive-in rack in four
months for phase 1, almost 8000
pallets of new Steel King drive-in rack
was installed in just over a month for
Glacier’s phase 2.
Regarding installation, Maloney says
that independent installers charge
less to install Steel King drive-in rack
because its arm and rail connection is
easier to install than typical systems,
which can require sliding multiple tabs
into place while supporting a rail that
can weigh about 150 lbs. Once rack is
installed, however, the bottom line is
how efficiently it stores product. On
that account, the new rack is doing well.
“Our new Steel King drive-in rack
is about 25% more efficient from a
storage standpoint than our used
rack because of the way it’s designed
and laid out,” says Nothem. “Since
the new rack is engineered the way
we need it and integrated with forklift
operation, our forklift operators are
also about 15% more productive using
it, compared to the used rack,” adds
Brusky. “Had we known the new rack
would end up costing us less than the
used rack without the headaches, we
never would have chosen used.”
“With new rack, it’s easy to optimize
storage efficiency by adjusting
rack dimensions to the warehouse
before it’s built or shipped,” says
Maloney, whose engineers made
adjustments to the racking about 7-8
times to accommodate the changing
requirements of Glacier’s cold storage
customers. “With used rack, you
essentially buy what you can find then
make do the best you can.”
Rack reliability and longevity was an
important concern of Glacier’s. Drive-in/
drive-through rack is subject to more
abuse than any other rack structure
because forklifts drive directly into the
rack. At Maloney’s recommendation,
Glacier chose SK3000 pallet rack,
a rugged bolted rack with structural
channel columns, by Steel King
Industries, a pallet rack and storage
system manufacturer. A number of
rack features helped the cold storage
company meet its rack strength,
durability, and maintenance goals.
Compared to typical racking, SK3000
pallet rack constructed of hot-rolled
structural channel column with full
horizontal-diagonal bracing offers greater
frame strength, durability and cross-
sectional area. All grade-5 hardware
provides greater shear strength, and a
heavy 7-gauge wrap-around connector
plate ensures a square and plumb
installation with a tighter connection and
greater moment resistance.
“Since Steel King’s drive-in rack is
structural channel steel, it’s built to
take abuse,” says Maloney. For added
protection against forklift impact,
Wisconsin Lift Truck recommended and
Steel King provided options to further
safeguard vulnerable rack areas. To
limit forklift-caused damage, front
to back rub rails serve as structural
guardrails built into the rack. Front
rack column deflectors, made of angle
iron, similarly limit rack damage by
deflecting potential forklift impact. “For
rugged drive-in use, the rack rub rails
and deflector plates help with rack
reliability and longevity,” says Nothem.
According to Maloney, some standard
Steel King drive-in/drive-through
rack features also enhance Glacier’s
drive-in cooler application safety and
productivity. For instance, flared rail
entry ends ease bay access to forklifts,
while space-saver low profile arms
increase clearance and decrease
possible product damage. Structural
Front rack column deflectors, made of
angle iron, similarly limit rack damage by
deflecting potential forklift impact.
Steel King’s drive-in rack is
structural channel steel, and is built
and designed to take abuse.
46
Logistics Business Magazine | November 2015
Racking Safety