Rack to the future
June 1st 2009 Better known for its forklift trucks, Jungheinrich has also provided storage systems for over
20 years. Steve Richmond, who heads the UK systems and projects division, says the
forthcoming stringent FEM CEN standards could make many of the existing UK standards
redundant – and advises those buying new racking to ensure it is future-proof
Racking is one of the keys to
optimising efficiency within the
warehouse," says Steve Richmond,
general manager of Jungheinrich UK's
systems and projects division. "We believe
that when it comes to specifying racking
and shelving, consideration must be given
to the whole life costs of the solution.
Robust, well designed equipment is
essential in this regard but so too is the way
that the system components interact.
Systems that are robustly designed, built
and installed will be resilient to damage and
offer the best return on investment and the
lowest costs over their lifetime."
Although best known for its forklift trucks
Jungheinrich has provided a full range of
racking and storage systems as a core part
of its product portfolio for over 20 years,
including adjustable pallet racking, drive-in
and drive through systems, mobile,
cantilever and high bay racking, pallet and
carton live storage as well as long span and
small parts shelving. The firm says all are
designed to the highest and most relevant
FEM standards.
FEM – the European Federation of
Materials Handling – has represented
European manufacturers of materials
handling, lifting and storage equipment
since it was founded in 1953.
The FEM racking and shelving product
group is currently developing four CEN (the
European Committee for Standardisation)
Standards within the CEN Committee for the
Racking industry, namely CEN TC 344 'Steel
Static Storage Systems', as well as
manufacturers Standards on Drive-in
Racking, Cantilever Racking.
"Jungheinrich understands that these
new standards are likely to be extremely
stringent – certainly more so than the
standards to which many UK-based
suppliers currently work to," says Richmond.
"Some people in the industry believe that
once the new standards are adopted within
the UK many of the existing regulations will
become redundant. The CEN standards will
be based around the FEM guidelines and
will become the European Norm (EN) which
is why Jungheinrich currently builds to the
FEM guidelines and intends to adopt the
new EN as soon as possible."
He adds: "I would certainly advise anyone
considering investing in a new racking
project to ensure that their supplier's
product meets the new standards as a way
of future-proofing their system."
Jungheinrich's racking comes with a two
year warranty against defects in quality and
a five year warranty against the steel
structures themselves. However, one of the
biggest causes of rack collapse is poorly
installed or maintained racking.
"Because we are aware of the high
importance that each installation process
bears, we provide professional installation
and management teams," says Richmond.
"This is particularly important for all sorts
of reasons, not the least of which is on-site
health and safety. Customers are
responsible for safety on their site and if
workers – even contractors – are injured
they could be held accountable. Have the
workers installing racking at your site
carried out a risk assessment? Are they
trained to the necessary standards and
regulations? Do their working methods
comply with the Work at Height
regulations? If not, with tough Corporate
Manslaughter legislation now on the
Statute Books, the consequences of an
accident on site could be extremely serious
for everyone."
Jungheinrich provides a range of racking
inspection and maintenance services to
racking system customers. The services are
tailored to the needs of each particular user,
but if damage is spotted, Richmond advises
that the number one rule is do not, under
any circumstances, allow warehouse staff
to attempt to adjust the racking structure
themselves. "We can have a technician onsite
within hours of a client registering a
problem or concern about their racking but
until we arrive we stress that everyone
should be kept away from the damaged
racking." More articles from Jungheinrich UK Ltd: | 
