Racking issues with higher and heavier loads

摘要

Kevin Mallison of Stow UK considers the racking system issues involved in storing higher and heavier loads. Continuing efforts to reduce costs by optimising space has driven a trend for higher storage facilities holding heavier loads. Over the last three to four years builders have raised warehouse eaves heights to 14 metres, while forklift truck suppliers now offer reach trucks lifting up to 12 metres and narrow aisle machines attaining heights of 13.5 metres. This has produced a growing population of sheds using simple warehousing techniques, such as wide aisle and narrow aisle, to store 70,000 pallets or more. Set with a challenge of storing such a large number of pallets a company would be well advised to talk to suppliers of forklift trucks and racking regarding how high the building needs to be and how much load can be stored because, particularly when it comes to racking, there are a number of significant issues to consider when going higher and heavier.