Sheet material storage challenges
Sheet materials present a distinctive storage problem. Standard 2,440 mm × 1,220 mm steel or aluminium sheet, 3,000 mm × 1,500 mm stainless panels and glass sheets of varying dimensions are all too large for standard shelving and too flat for cantilever arms unless the system is specifically designed for them. Sheet metal stored vertically in A-frame racks takes up significant floor space and makes individual sheet selection difficult. Horizontal cantilever storage with close-spaced, flat arms supporting the full sheet area allows sheets to be stored in grades, thicknesses and alloys and picked individually without disturbing adjacent stock. Rackstor UK designs sheet storage systems for steel service centres, metal stockholders, glaziers, fabricators and composite panel distributors.
Sheet products stored on cantilever racking
Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet in thicknesses from 0.7 mm to 25 mm is stored flat on close-spaced arms, with heavier gauge sheets on reinforced systems. Stainless steel sheet in grades 304, 316 and duplex is stored with protective interleaving to prevent contact damage. Aluminium sheet and tread plate in various alloys is stored alongside aluminium composite panel and cladding systems. Glass — float glass, toughened safety glass, laminated glass and fire-rated glass — requires purpose-designed arms with rubber or nylon pads, and must be stored in accordance with glass handling and storage guidance. Composite panels, insulated roof and wall panels, and GRP sheet are all accommodated on appropriately specified systems.
- Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet
- Stainless steel sheet — 304, 316, duplex
- Aluminium sheet, tread plate and composite panel
- Float glass, toughened and laminated glass
- Fire-rated glass and specialist glazing
- Insulated roof and wall panels
Designing a sheet metal storage system
Sheet storage systems require arms set at a close pitch to support the full sheet without deflection between support points — typically 300 mm to 500 mm centres for standard steel sheet gauges. Arm surface protection is critical for stainless and aluminium grades. Load per arm must account for the weight of the stack above each arm, which can be considerable for dense steel sheet. Rackstor UK carries out a free site survey and designs a sheet storage system around your sheet sizes, grades and stock volumes.
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