The purchase of an industrial racking system is an investment that will have a significant impact on our warehouses and the company.
With a good analysis of the needs and realities of our warehouse, and relying on suppliers that provide us with value, we can be sure to undertake the purchase of industrial racks in an appropriate manner.
The continuous growth in sales is creating a bottleneck in the warehouse. Delivery times are no longer being met as they were last year, productivity is falling, more materials are being damaged, there are more accidents and shelf damage, and errors in shipments are increasing.
The warehouse manager no longer knows what to do with the available means and urgently requests to increase storage capacity and improve the existing infrastructure.
While our warehouse manager in the previous case is pondering what is happening in the warehouse, on the same industrial estate, on the plot next door, another company is finishing the construction of a new warehouse to store its products and with which it intends to provide better service and delivery times to its customers.
The project manager is now faced with the task of equipping the warehouse with industrial racking to make the most of the space in the new warehouse. He has a lot of questions:
- Are there any rules that have to be applied?
- What legislation needs to be taken into account?
- What is the best storage system for my needs?
- What responsibilities are there in the acquisition and use of the racks?
The two examples above are two typical cases in which it is necessary to purchase shelving.
In the first case, the starting point is an ongoing operation and in the second case it is a case of setting up a completely new warehouse. Both companies are faced with the task of having to acquire industrial storage systems that allow them to achieve their objectives and make the most of their facilities.
The purchase of industrial storage systems
The purchase of industrial storage systems is a technical purchase. It is a product, that of metal racking, designed to store a large quantity of loads at height.
It is also work equipment and is therefore subject to the legislation and standards that apply to it.
The best thing we can recommend to those who are faced with the task of acquiring an industrial storage system is to seek the best possible advice and consider all the variables that influence the design and operation of the racks.
The most important factors to consider when purchasing an industrial racking system
- Available space and characteristics of the building: lighting, access, columns, load capacity of the floor, condition and levelness of the floor.
- Nature of the operations, storage needs, goods flows, turnover volume.
- Definition of the loading units (dimensions, weights), type of auxiliary elements to be used (Euro pallets, etc.).
- Types of handling equipment used (forklifts) and their characteristics that must be taken into account for the sizing of the racks, such as load levels or the aisle width required.
But the attention we must pay to industrial storage systems does not end with the purchase. Industrial metal racking is a durable working equipment, which will accompany us for a long time, and it is a fundamental working element in warehouses.
On the one hand, racks deteriorate with use. Most damage and risk situations occur during the manoeuvres of depositing and retrieving the load units from the racks.
In addition, forklifts are constantly moving between the rack alignments, and the risk of impacts and accidents is high.
In view of the above, periodic internal inspections must be planned in accordance with the warehouse risk assessment, and at least once a year the racks must undergo a technical inspection carried out by an external entity outside the company.
It will also be necessary to allocate a budget for repairs and replacements of damaged racking elements.
Additionally, warehouse operators must be trained to use metal racking correctly, avoid actions and behaviours that lead to dangerous situations, and become aware of the risks inherent in the use of racking and the handling of unit loads at height.
At Noega Systems we are dedicated to the design, manufacture, installation and inspection of metal and industrial shelving and all types of storage systems. If your company needs advice in this area, do not hesitate to contact us.
