Product category:
Storage hardware and storage and racking systems
News Release from: Wickens Engineering | Subject: Racking layout
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 September 2007
Metals stockholder gets new racking
layout
Understanding exactly what a metals stockholder requires as regards storage racking and easy accessibility is why a storage systems supplier was asked to design a racking layout.
Metalfast is a specialist UK stockholder of aluminium plate and bar, tube and extrusions As a result of recent expansion the company moved to larger premises in Manchester
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Mar 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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A large cantilever racking system for aluminium extrusions firm MCM in Avonmouth was supplied by Wickens Engineering.
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Wickens Engineering installed cantilever racking at the Alimex warehouse in Milton Keynes, UK, for the storage of heavy aluminium plates.
The 12,000ft2 warehouse is four times bigger than their previous warehouse and required a storage system that could realise the potential of the space.
Wickens worked with Metalfast to design a racking layout that best suited the needs of the Manchester operation.
One of the many benefits of working with Wickens is their willingness to work closely with other suppliers and subcontractors.
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Metalfast had recently bought a new forklift truck which works in very narrow aisles and it was vital that their guide rail system was compatible.
"Wickens had a very good understanding of this" commented Metalfast's director of operations, Mark Woodward, "Alan [Wickens sales director] worked closely with Hubtex to ensure they were compatible - they took away the 'pain' of sorting it out".
Metalfast keep their costs down by using every last bit of available material, the downside of which is that they have large amounts of off-cuts.
They have struggled to store these due to their small and varying sizes.
Wickens worked closely with Metalfast to design a storage container for their various off-cuts.
Having facilitated with the design Wickens put Metalfast in contact with a company that could manufacture them.
Similarly Wickens were happy to put Metalfast in contact with a pallet rack supplier for their larger off-cut sections.
Woodward was impressed by the service saying, "Metalfast has a long history working with Wickens.
They know their business and we have always received excellent service.
They worked with us and their subcontractors to design the best possible solution.
They especially understood that we use every inch of space and without that knowledge we couldn't have completed this project".
Wickens designed and installed a series of special 8 metre high cantilever racks with inbuilt pigeon-hole racking at the base and vertical racking.
The cantilever racks are designed to be versatile enough to hold special steel baskets which hold Metalfast's off-cuts or to hold lengths of aluminium extrusions.
The integrated guide rail system protects the racking from forklifts in the warehouse.
* About Wickens Engineering storage/racking systems - all Wickens storage racks are designed to suit the needs of their customers.
For example, when asked to design and manufacture a cantilever rack to store delicate roof cladding a different style arm had to be found.
Wickens specially designed flush top arms have the two bolt fixing concealed below the top surface of the arm.
Delicate items such as roof cladding can be stored on the arms without sustaining damage from any fixings.
The racking was required to store varying lengths and sheet sizes.
The rack and arms therefore needed to be as flexible in design as standard arms.
The new flush arms are still bolted and vertically adjustable meaning the rack is still versatile enough to hold varying product sizes.
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