FEATURE COVER STORY


STORING HEAVY, AWKWARD LOADS need not present a challenge


Couzens Storage Solutions has addressed the growing need for efficient storage of heavy and awkward loads and materials with its vertical lift and storage systems


D


ealing with conventional product storage with goods on pallets, in


totes or containers is relatively straightforward using established equipment and technologies such as forklift and reach trucks, narrow-aisle equipment and adjustable pallet racking. However for engineering, service and assembly functions working with raw materials such as bar or plate, jigs, tools and other heavy and awkward loads, standard lifting and storage equipment has severe limitations. As a result many companies over the


years have settled for boxes and pallets on the floor or materials stacked up against a wall or on an ‘A’ frame. All of which means stock is difficult to control and access and most of the cubic area of expensive floor space remains unused. Many companies have recognised that


vertical lifts and carousels provide a more efficient way to store and manage engineering components and materials, reducing floor space required by up to 90%, releasing significant room for other functions and in some cases preventing the need to relocate. However there are many organisations or even industries which need to store heavier loads in large quantities and often of a size not easy to accommodate in many designs.


SPACE-EFFICIENT STORAGE In recent years Couzens Storage Solutions has identified the growing need for efficient storage of heavy loads and materials in industries fighting to stay competitive in a country with some of the highest land costs in the world. For example, the Modula vertical lift


and storage system now comes with 30% more tray load capacity up to 990kg, providing more space-efficient heavy- duty storage and picking. Total load capacity is 60 tonnes, providing 209 m² of usable storage area with 60 trays in just 18.34m² with an external picking bay. Width, depth and load capacity tray variants provide 32 different options up to 4.06m x 0.857m, delivering 3.48m² usable space and 990kg per tray. Modula machines are already used


extensively in engineering and manufacturing environments.


6 SEPTEMBER 2014 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT


International hydraulics component manufacturer and distributor I.M.M. Hydraulics (UK) has three Modula storage units for storing a diverse range of items including hydraulic hose and fittings, adaptors and couplings, assemblies and testing and flushing machinery. The 6.1m high units each provide 183


m² of storage space on a footprint of only 14.32m² with access to any item stored in seconds, providing a total load capacity of 39,000kg per machine. They replace pallet racking storage which meant staff had to use warehouse steps to access levels above 1.5m which was a slow, cumbersome process. Further typical users include paper packaging system specialist Easypack which employs Modula machines for components storage and metal profile building systems company SAPA. In contrast, machine manufacturers, service and repair organisations and the


All Couzens vertical lifts and carousels operate and work with the latest stock management software and systems


like may also need to store small, high value items such as electronic components or precious metals. Couzens’ Modula model NEXT provides


unrivalled control, stock management and security for such items with each individual storage location allowing access to just one specific and nominated compartment at a time, preventing access to any other location. No-one can access the machine without authorisation with all stock movements and operator identification tracked and traceable by the machine’s software.


UNRIVALLED CAPACITY For the biggest and heaviest loads TowerMat vertical lift storage and retrieval machines provide unrivalled capacity and space efficiency. Each storage cassette can carry up to 5,000kg, holding components up to 10m in length and close to a million kg capacity in machines 18m high. Specially designed to tackle heavy, awkward and ‘ugly’ items, TowerMat provides secure, space saving storage with fast, safe and accurate material selection. Each cassette can be selected using a


PLC controller or in conjunction with a PC and software then presented away from the machine to allow stored items to be safely lifted transported by powered lifting and handling equipment such as a fork truck or overhead crane. All Couzens vertical lifts and carousels


operate and work with the latest stock management software and systems, helping users to know where stock is, quantities and where space is available. With machine-mounted PCs and screens, bar code readers, Put-and Pick-to-Light technologies, standalone systems or linked to users’


in-house MRP or ERP


software, every unit becomes an efficient, secure and space-saving storage and retrieval warehouse in its own right, helping to make assembly, manufacturing and service operations more efficient and productive.


Couzens Storage Solutions T: 01442 250010 www.verticalcarousel.co.uk Enter 300


/ FACTORYEQUIPMENT


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