Check engineering performance standards when selecting an industrial storage racking system and supplier

Sourcing a rack system to store large, heavy materials requires thoughtful planning that extends beyond acquiring efficient storage space. While increasing room for production and streamlining manufacturing processes are certainly driving factors, it’s equally critical to ensure the design provides adequate safety for employees, delivers long-term reliability for the intended application and offers sufficient protection for the products being stored.

Based in Leola, PA, Ross adheres to the strictest standards when designing and manufacturing its Dexco racking solutions to help manufacturing professionals achieve these critical objectives.

Dexco Racks are engineered to American Institute of Steel Construction Standards (AISC) performance standards, which are used for structural steel construction projects like buildings and bridges. AISC standards typically exceed those set by the Rack Manufacturer’s Institute (RMI) for industrial storage equipment. Engineering to AISC standards also allows Ross to manufacture systems capable of providing vertical storage for products traditionally thought of as too heavy.

Why is Ross so stringent? 

The answer is simple: while industry guidelines safely address many storage applications, Ross believes that industrial projects involving heavy loads require an additional measure of safety to reduce the risk of injury and property damage.

Ross engineering reduces risk in a number of significant areas:

• All rack arms, columns, bases and shelf beams are manufactured using wide flange or standard shape I-beams with a 50 KSI minimum yield, offering greater strength and durability compared to roll-formed steel.
• All rack arms are fully welded and connected to columns with heavy hex structural ASTM A325 bolts with oversized heads. Arms are welded around the entire perimeter of the I-beam at the connector plate to increase support and provide protection from uplift loads caused by material handling equipment. A325 bolts are the same bolts used for bridges and buildings and are hot-dipped galvanized to increase protection against corrosion.
• Cantilever racks are designed by factoring a 100 percent load utilization, meaning a double-sided cantilever rack can be fully loaded on one side while the other remains empty, a condition that frequently occurs when loading a system for the first time.
• Cantilever rack arms are engineered by calculating the effects that the maximum unbraced arm length has on the maximum allowable arm stress, otherwise stated, the load being stored is not factored as a brace that prevents the arm from twisting under strain.
• Coil cradles are engineered to be fully load-bearing without relying on the supporting beams to prevent deformation. This is an important factor for storing narrow coil sizes. Ross adjusts the angle, width and thickness of cradle supports to handle the highest load at the weakest point – the center of the cradle.
• Coil cradles are designed for tangential contact so that the coils always rest on a flat surface as opposed to the edges of the cradles, which can lead to severe creasing or flattening.
• Tool and Die Racks shelves are also engineered to be fully load-bearing without relying on the supporting beams to prevent deformation, so heavy but compact manufacturing equipment will not compromise the integrity of the shelf.

Ross has been recognized nationwide for its ability to handle the most challenging jobs and commonly receives referrals from other rack manufacturers for unique or high-load applications.

Ross adheres to exacting standards for quality manufacturing processes and works continuously to improve product quality.

Download technical data sheets, load capacity charts and drawings or contact a Ross representative today.