Odd Size Storage: Long Loads

Long Loads are loads such as carpets, linoleum and engineering materials such as rods, bars and tubes that require special storage and handling.


Cantilever Racking

Items with such odd shapes can be loaded in a horizontal racking but this can involve manual handling of the bars into position.

As seen in the attached pictures, the rods are held horizontally onto the racks. This is using the cantilever principle that stacks the rods at different levels. Mechanical handling is usually by means of side-loaders, four directional reach trucks or overhead cranes, which enable access without requiring especially wide aisles.

Pigeonhole Racking

Pigeonhole Racking (as shown above) gives good protection and good access to the stock. The gangway area in front of the racking must be wider than the length of the items being stocked, which reduces overall space utilisation. There are also various systems for mechanised storage of long loads.

The advantages of Long Loads system are:

• Easy storage and retrieval;
• Flexibility of design - number and length of arms, inter-arms spacing, height of the rack, etc., can be suitably designed to store any type, size and weight of material;
• For long and small items, storage channel or a panel can be provided;
• Can be made as single-faced or double-faced units; and
• Tie-bar can be provided at the top for extra stability of the system.