Cold Link Africa Jan/Feb 2017 | Page 45

FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

Mobile racking in

South African fruit stores

By James Cunningham of Barpro Racking

How has racking in South African fruit stores changed over the years, and what are the advantages of mobile racking?

Traditionally, pallets of packed fruit were stored by securing steel corner posts to each pallet and then storing another level of pallets on top of it. While doubling store capacity, this form of block storage effectively prevented stock rotation, increased stock damage and, in some situations, prevented adequate cooling. As fruit packaging became further differentiated, accessing stock quickly for an order became practically impossible.

Pallet racking was introduced into existing fruit stores to solve these problems.‘ Drive in’ racking made better theoretical use of the chilled space and reduced product damage. However, the accessibility problem was not solved, leading to‘ drive in’ lanes being only partially used for immediate access to individual product lines. The alternative was to use fixed selective racking, giving immediate access to
every pallet, but greatly reducing
storage capacity.
Mobile racking was first used
in 1997 in a fruit store outside
Grabouw in the Western Cape.
The mobile bases were 30 pallets
long and stacked four pallets high,
with a top beam level of 8 251mm.
Designed to take a combination
of 2 200mm and 2 400mm pallets
with a maximum weight of
1 000kg, the pallets were stored
with the 1 000mm side facing and
the 1 200mm side in the depth of
the racks.
Rail support stool. The excess
threaded rod is removed when the
What is mobile racking?
rails have been levelled.
Mobile racking consists of special
rails that are laid in the floor during construction.
Rails can also be retrofitted in existing rooms, provided the floor is suitable, by levelling the rails on the existing surface and pouring a 150mm reinforced slab. A low ramp is needed at the entrance. The mobile bases run on the rails and support pallet racking that
is specially designed for use in a mobile application. The bases are motorised and energy efficient. Maximum tonnage per base varies, but should not exceed 360 tons. In larger stores, mobiles are arranged in banks of up to 10 bases, each with its own moving aisle. The bases are controlled either by push buttons, remote
South African fruit store with mobiles 30 pallets long.
All images courtesy of Barpro.

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