Outokumpu Nirosta Modernises Shipping Warehouse with OHRA Cantilever Racks
Flexibility in Sheet Metal Warehouse
Outokumpu Nirosta GmbH, one of the world’s leading producers of corrosion, acid, and heat resistant stainless steel flats has modernised it’s shipping warehouse at the Dillenburg site with cantilever racks from OHRA. The rack system, with it’s freely suspended rack supports, not only provides the necessary flexibility for the secure storage of the continually changing sheet metal formats, it also reduces warehouse maintenance and repair costs.
In Dillenburg Outokumpu Nirosta produces high quality stainless steel sheet metal in a wide range of products, surfaces, and dimensions. In the logistics department the sheet metal was stored in packages weighing up to two tons, order picked, stored, and shipped in individual customer packages. However, after a number of decades in use the warehouse’s cantilever racks were no longer able to meet demands in terms of flexibility and functionality. In particular, the rigid, welded rack supports proved to be a disadvantage. The dimensions of the sheet metal produced changes continually, however it was not possible to adjust the rack system accordingly – or only with considerable effort. Furthermore, in the event of damage the rigid rack supports had to be welded , resulting in correspondingly high warehouse maintenance and repair costs.
Thus Outokumpu Nirosta decided to replace it’s old rack system with a system from OHRA. The company, with headquarters in Kerpen, Germany, is European market leader and specialist for cantilever racks. In the case of OHRA racks, the rack supports are inserted into the stands, not welded. Even under load the inserted supports remain flexible and mobile and deflect in the event of impacts from the forklift truck or goods. The supports and goods remain undamaged. The rack stands are perforated in a 100 mm grid and so can be adjusted to meet changing storage needs. Furthermore, the rack supports can be adjusted without the need for tools.
At the beginning of 2013, OHRA installed a total of 160 meters of racks with seven storage levels in Outokumpu Nirosta’s shipping warehouse during ongoing production. The load bearing capacity of the cantilever racks varies between 1,500 and 2,000 kilograms. In some cases the supports are fitted with mesh shelves so that compact sheet metal or small pallets can also be stored. With it’s customer-specific finish the new rack system blends in harmoniously with the colour scheme of the shipping warehouse.
