Experts advise focusing on structure, safety, andautomation when implementing new storage racking intoday’s fast-paced temperature-controlled facilities.
WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING A SAFE ANDefficient cold storage warehouse, material handlingexperts say it’s best to start with the basics. And thatmeans the right storage racking, which can serve as abuilding block in today’s fast-paced refrigerated andfreezer environments. The need for freshness meansthat products are moving in and out quickly in thesesettings, increasing the risk of equipment damage andemployee injuries, and putting quality and safety at thetop of any warehouse manager’s operations checklist.Rising demand for cold storage nationwide is exacerbating the trend.
“In these environments, there are a lot of fast-mov-
ing parts [because you’re] bringing in and taking out
product at a very high rate. … People operating lift
equipment are moving at such a fast pace, there’s a
higher probability of damage with the racking itself,”
explains Skip Eastman, former CEO and current board
member at Twinlode Corp., the parent company of
Indiana-based material handling solutions provider
Twinlode Automation. “And if we’re talking about
a freezer, people can’t stay in there for an excessive
amount of time, even with insulated clothing.”
As a result, Eastman and others say good design and
proper installation of racking systems is taking on a
higher profile today, especially as organizations look
toward automated solutions to boost efficiency and
productivity. This applies to all types of rack solu-
tions, from standard storage
racking to pallet flow rack
to systems that incorporate
conveyors and automated
storage and retrieval (AS/RS)
solutions. Whether a compa-
ny is looking for better ways
to maintain its current sys-
tem or ideas for implementing a new one, the experts
say leaders should focus on three essential points:
structure, safety, and automating for the future.
“The racking and storage design in any temperature-controlled warehouse should be, first and foremost, structurally sound, installed with flexibility inmind, and built for the long term,” says Justin Kukal,vice president of automation strategy and implementation for Agile Cold Storage, an Atlanta-based company launched this year that is building a nationwidenetwork of automated and conventional temperature-controlled warehouses. “A quality manufacturerand steel supplier make or break your long-term rackinvestment.”
STRUCTURALLY SOUND
Eastman agrees that structure makes a difference in
harsh environments and says that racks made from
structural steel are the best option for cold or freezer
storage, where lower temperatures can affect the tough-
BY VICTORIA KICKHAM, SENIOR EDITOR
RACKS AND STORAGE SYSTEMS MATERIALHANDLING
Cool solutionsfor coldenvironments
PHOTOCOURTESYOFAGILECOLDSTORAGE
