A racking installation specially designed to maximise storage capacity while minimising space requirements has been completed by Pro-Dek Storage Systems for PWS Worksurfaces, a major manufacturer of kitchen and commercial worktops based in County Durham.
PWS Worksurfaces is a division of PWS, a leading distributor of furniture hardware and components both in the UK and through overseas distributors. When the company decided to open a new production facility to meet increasing demand for its worktops, Pro-Dek was appointed to install a cantilever racking system for timber worktops that would take full advantage of the building height in order to maximise the area available for production.
The completed installation has 200 metres of racking 9.6 metres high in single-sided and double-sided runs. With eight arms fitted throughout, some 1,800 linear metres of storage have been provided. The arms are 900mm long and support loads up to 700kg. They can be adjusted vertically in increments of 100mm and have a pre-manufactured rake of two degrees.
Arm lengths and column spacings have been designed to accommodate a wide variety of worktop sizes from 1.5 to four metres long and 620mm to 960mm deep. All locations accept all product variations. A heavy-duty guide rail system bolted to the front face of the racking bases allows efficient operation of a large multi-directional sideloader and also reduces the risk of damage, while minimising aisle widths. The installation, carried out in two stages to meet PWS’s operational schedule, was completed on budget and on time.
