Why tooling storage needs careful design
Production jigs and fixtures are often the most capital-intensive items in a manufacturing operation. A single body-in-white jig for automotive production, a composite layup tool for aerospace or a large-format injection mould can represent hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment. Inappropriate storage — floor-standing in aisles, stacked on pallets or slung from overhead cranes without dedicated racking — risks damage, distortion and loss of calibration. Cantilever racking provides a dedicated, organised storage position for each jig or tool, with support arms positioned to avoid stress points and keep the tooling in the correct orientation for long-term storage.
Tooling types stored on cantilever racking
Automotive body jigs and welding fixtures for car and van body-in-white production are stored on heavy-duty double-sided cantilever systems in production facilities and Tier 1 supplier plants. Aerospace composite tooling — layup tools, autoclave mandrels and bonding fixtures in aluminium, carbon fibre and Invar — is stored on systems with arm pads sized and positioned for the specific tool geometry. Injection moulds and die casting dies in steel and aluminium are stored on systems where the support arm positions are matched to the mould parting face and avoidance of core and cavity features. Press tools, forming tools and blanking tools are organised by press size and part number on cantilever systems that allow rapid tool location and retrieval by overhead crane.
- Automotive body jigs and welding fixtures
- Aerospace composite layup tools and mandrels
- Injection moulds and die casting dies
- Press tools, forming tools and blanking tools
- Checking fixtures and CMM fixtures
- Large-format fabrication and assembly jigs
Specifying tooling storage racking
Tooling storage systems are specified around the maximum tool weight, the tool footprint and the required crane or forklift access envelope. Arm positions must avoid stress points on the tooling and maintain the correct storage orientation. For tools stored long-term, arm pads in neoprene or PTFE prevent galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. Rackstor UK works with manufacturing engineers to understand tool geometries and weights before designing a storage system, and provides a free site survey and quotation within 24 hours.
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