Docks Seal and Shelter Guide

Dock seals and shelters provide extra security and help maintain the internal climate of your plant or warehouse. In fact, the money spent on a dock seal is typically recouped within months thanks to the increased energy savings. In addition to saving energy, dock seals/shelters keep workers and products out of inclement weather. They can also increase storage by allowing trailers to become temperature controlled extensions of the building.

When purchasing a dock seal or shelter it is important to consider the following.

• Size and style of trailers to be serviced
• Grade of approach
• Size of overhead door
• Dock height
• Dock bumper size
• Mounting surface

It is important to get a dock seal/shelter system that works with the most common trailer sizes. No system is going to work for every trailer. Figure out the most common trailer size that visits your dock and buy accordingly.

Saving Money with a Generic Brand

While browsing our main website you may have noticed our Cascade Equipment brand. The only real difference between this generic brand and a well advertised brand is the cost. This is the main reason why generic brands like Cascade are becoming more and more popular. Well advertised brands are just that. You are paying for their advertising and overhead, not their product.

Here’s is just a small sampling of the Cascade products we sell.

•Pallet Rack
•Cantilever Rack
•Wire Containers
•Bulk Shelving
•Casters
•Pallet Jacks

View the full list of Cascade Equipment Products.

Our Cascade brand pallet rack interchanges with many of the top Teardrop “I” Series racks on the market. Our Cascade caster line is also interchangeable with the most popular caster brands. All Material Flow has done is taken a page out of the generic pharmaceutical book. So the next time you need an equal quality product for less, browse through our Cascade products or call us at 1-800-338-1382 and ask if we have a generic version of what you’re looking for. We have sold these products for over 10 years and have saved our customers a lot of money in the process.

The Basics of Mobile Shelving Systems

Mobile shelving or storage systems can seem complex at first glance but in reality they are very simple. Shelves and racks are installed on wheel carriages that are mounted to rails or tracks. The shelves then move on the rails to create an aisle. A mobile storage system can increase storage capacity by 100% as compared to a fixed system taking up the same amount of space. Mobile shelving takes up so much less space because instead of having an aisle for each shelving unit, it only needs one aisle for the entire system.

Other Benefits of Mobile Storage/Shelving System:
•Maximum density with 100% selectivity in most cases.
•Works with most order picking methods and equipment.
•Money is spent on storage, not aisles. Standard storage systems are typically only 40% storage and 60% aisle.
•Units provide extra safety and security when in the closed position.

A mobile storage system does cost more than standard storage rack. Here are a few examples of when a mobile storage system may be justified.

•If cost and availability of land or floor space is at a premium.
•If security is a problem.
•If energy prices are too high. (A smaller footprint takes less energy to heat or cool)
•If reduced stocking and picking time are desired.
•If reduced labor costs are desired.

Horizontal Powered Conveyor Guide

While gravity conveyors are great for items of similar sizes and weights, powered conveyors allow items of all dimensions to be moved with a positive flow, meaning that items won’t smash together at the end of the line. Here’s a rundown on the different types of powered conveyors.

Slide Bed Belt Conveyor: The most popular powered conveyor. It has a solid steel bed and is relatively simple to run and install. Assembly and general transport are it’s most common uses. Slide bed belt conveyors don’t work well with heavy live loads because of the friction between the bed and belt.

Roller Bed Belt Conveyor: The roller bed belt conveyor has a belt that goes over rollers instead of a steel bed. This reduces friction and allows for heavier loads.

Live Roller Conveyor: Live roller conveyors are available in two styles, belt driven or chain driven. These are useful for applications where boxes must be pushed across the conveyor for unloading. Pushing a product across a belt conveyor causes tracking problems. Accumulation is possible on a live roller conveyor but only for a very brief time.

Accumulating Conveyor: The same basic construction as a live roller conveyor except this system allows for accumulation. If your operation must do sorting, strapping, or staging on the conveyor line this is the conveyor for you. There are two types of accumulating conveyors; zero pressure and minimum pressure. Minimum pressure conveyors applies some back pressure to the packages but usually not enough to damage them. A zero pressure conveyor uses rollers that sense accumulation and reduces accumulation from the zone preceding the sensing roller. Proper setup is critical for zero pressure conveyors. Any reputable conveyor distributor should be able to help you out.

Industrial Steel Storage Rack Overview

Industrial steel storage racks are designed to store palletized, containerized or large unit loads placed in the rack by material handling equipment. Think of steel storage racks as a super heavy duty shelving system. Here are the most popular types of steel storage rack systems.

Selective Pallet Racks: Made up of upright columns, cross braces and shelf beams, this simple system forms a storage level which allows loads to be placed. A single row of selective pallet rack can be accessible from both sides.

Moveable Shelf Racks: Movable shelf racks have the same basic features as selective pallet rack, the only difference being that the shelves are adjustable allowing shelving to be changed to match the loads being placed on it. The shelves can also be used as pallets when not in use.

Drive-In and Drive-Through Racks: This style rack allows fork lift truck operators to drive through or into the rack unit. This reduces the amount of aisle space taken up by the rack unit. Drive-In and Drive-Through racks are made up of anchored and braced upright columns attached at the top with load rails attached to the upright columns. Drive-In rack only allows one entry point while Drive-Through rack is accessible from both sides.

Stacker Racks: Also known as AS/RS and high rise racks, these racks have a much taller footprint than their standard rack counterparts. Some systems are built up to 100′. Stacker racks incorporate a fixed track design that that can service systems much higher than standard lift equipment. Many times these systems are constructed with the building to from r rack supported building.

Cantilever Rack: Cantilever rack is a basic rack system that is made up of two vertical columns attached to two load bearing arms. This type of rack works well with long items including, sheets of wood, pipe, and carpet rolls.

Pallet Flow Racks: Pallet flow racks use the same basic framework as selective rack but have inclined conveyor wheel sections running from front to back. The pallets are loaded at one side of the rack and selected from the other. This is an excellent system for fast moving products and allows the first loaded pallet to be the first taken pallet, great for products with an expiration date.

Pallet Stacking Frames: This simple setup allows pallets to be stacked on top of each other. Quickly disassembles when not in use.

Guide to Industrial Steel Containers

Industrial steel containers increase productivity and space utilization. With industrial steel containers, items of any size, weight or shape become unit loads that can be easily lifted, tilted or transported. In this post we’ll go over the two most popular types of industrial containers.

Welded Wire Containers: These containers are commonly used for shipping and storage. Some models can be folded down for return shipment or to save space. Welded wire construction holds up well to punishing loads and movement. Some features include,

• Light weight / uniform tare weights
• Contents of containers are visible
• Stackable

Corrugated Steel Containers: Corrugated steel containers provide maximum protection of contents and can be moved by horizontal and overhead handling systems. Some benefits of corrugated steel containers are,

• Practically maintenance free
• Rigid or fold down models available
• Stackable
• Fireproof
• Can be cleaned with liquid or steam

Consider the following when choosing an industrial steel container for your plant or warehouse.

•What is going to be stored? How big? How heavy? These are the main factor in configuring a container system.

• Decide if the containers will remain in the building or will be used for shipping. Shipping and dunnage is expensive, don’t get a heavy container if you don’t need one.

Shelving Users Guide

Choosing and setting up shelving can be a difficult task. There are many steps involved and poor decisions can lead to damaged products or serious injuries. Following the steps below will make purchasing and installing shelving easier.

1. Codes: Before installing shelving it is very important to check federal, state, local, fire and building codes. Many times your shelving supplier or local municipal engineer can help you with code compliance.

2. Layout: Consider all dimensions of shelving, keep in mind the width and turning radius of fork trucks.

3. Shelf Selection: Carefully consider the load that is going to be placed on the shelving. Multiple stacking of items is acceptable but will reduce post capacity. Also keep in mind that shelves are rated using evenly distributed loads. Deflection must also be considered, some deflection is acceptable but might be unwanted due to functionality or aesthetics.

4. Upright Post Loading: After selecting a shelf, select the upright posts. Remember that as distance between shelves increases the capacity of posts decreases.

5. Bracing: Side and back bracing prevents sway and lateral movement. There are many types of bracing available including bars, straps or angles placed in an “X” shape. Bracing must be placed in the proper position to be effective. Any reputable shelving distributor should be able to assist you with shelving bracing.

6. Plumbness: Installing shelving on an uneven surface can reduce the overall load rating. Use shims to keep your shelving plumb on an uneven floor.

7. Anchoring: Anchoring is one of the most important shelving components. Without proper anchoring shelving can overturn or shift position. The most popular anchoring system is a steel footplate attached to the vertical post with a bolt running through the footplate to the floor. Another less common method is to attach the shelving unit directly to the building. A qualified engineer must check the building’s structural integrity before using this method of anchoring.

8. Collision Protection: Material Handling vehicles pose a risk to all types of shelving systems. Collisions can not only knock items off the shelves but may permanently damage and reduce the load capacity of the shelves. Corner protectors and guards do a good job of keep fork trucks, stackers, and pallet jacks away from expensive shelving.

9. Floor Protection: The type and capacity of the floor the shelving system is mounted to also plays a role in determining the overall capacity of a shelving unit.

10. Concentrated Loads: All theoretical load capacities are based on the idea of an evenly distributed load. Unfortunately, a perfectly evenly distributed load doesn’t exist in the real world. A non-evenly distributed load will put more stress on the shelf. Most manufacturers factor in this variable but it is important not to stretch the capacity.

11. Impact Loading: Dropping an item on a shelf creates an impact. Impacts are not part of an evenly distributed load and can cause failure if care is not taken. Reinforcements or angles can help with impact loading.

12. Maintenance: Shelving should always be inspected for loose bolts, damaged posts or shelves and proper seating of shelves and clips.

The Benefits of High Quality Shelving

A well organized shelving system can benefit any business in a number of ways. By keeping the most popular equipment or products at eye level time can be saved in order picking or equipment pickup. Shelving also keeps floors clear and reduces the amount of bending and lifting employees perform each day. Even though it is a basic item, shelving is a key component to any warehouse, production or storage environment and should not be overlooked. Here are some examples of effective shelving in action.

This shelving system is a two level unit used in a Midwestern Harley dealership.

A local government houses their electronic voting machines on Lyon Shelving. A much better solution than stacking equipment.

Row upon row of Lyon shelving holds industrial supplies for large distributor.

To get the most out of your shelving it’s important to have an efficient layout and design. In addition to selling high quality shelving Material Flow has a staff of shelving experts than can assist you in determining the best layout for your business.