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."

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