DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR POWERED PALLET RACKS

Powered Racks are high density storage banks with SPR mounted on mobile bases that are electrically operated to move aisles to enable access to required pallets.

Powered Racks are easily justified when refrigeration cost is high, land cost is also high and the land position is unique.

Powered Racks are mobile bases fitted with double sided racks that can be designed with a SWL of 10T per bay. The racks are fitted with several safety features.

Powered Racks are suitable for:

• Reducing cubic capacity and resultant operating costs.
• High land cost.
• Taking advantage of a unique location.

Advantages

• Lowest cubic capacity.
• Low operating expenditure (as a result of low cubic capacity).
• Lowest insulation cost (also a result of lowest cubic capacity).
• Only small land area required.
• Only one aisle required in a storage bank of up to 20 double sided racks.
• Access to all pallets without moving any other pallets (FIFO).
• No special trucks required.

Disadvantages

• High capital outlay.
• Limited storage height (12m)
• For lowest cost, the project should be a Greenfield project.

WITH REACH TRUCKS (MEDIUM AISLES)

• Aisle widths – 2.8 to 3.2m (one aisle only).
• Storage area – can be up to 95%.
• Operating aisle area – can be as low as 5%.
• Lift height – up to 10.5m.
• Through-put rate – 14 – 18 pallets par hour (pph)

WITH COUNTERBALANCED TRUCKS (WIDE AISLES)

• Aisle widths – 3.8 to 5.5m
• Storage area – can be up to 90%.
• Operating aisle area – can be as low as 10%.
• Through-put rate – 18 – 22 pph.
• Lift height – up to 8m.
• (Cubic capacity is based on pallet height and available clear storage height).

Powered racks should be considered for all Greenfield’s refrigerated storage projects when operating costs should be at a minimum, land position is unique and land cost is high.

Benefits are lowest operating expenses.