Mobile Racking

Mobile racking in fruit stores may look the same as for freezer stores but there are differences that need to be accommodated. 2. If sprinklers are a possibility, is best to make the mobiles slightly wider so that the gap between the frames becomes 250mms and the nominal gap between pallets is 150mms. Pallet support beams are advised for all pallet positions even on the mobile bases where the pallets have the standard  1000mm side  facing the aisle. Fruit pallets now come in varying lengths to maximize container stowage with the smallest being 1176mms. With the rack load beams placed at 1100mms outside to outside,  this reduces the margin of error. Pallet support beams provide additional support Pallets should be placed on the pallet support beams so that the center block is over the support beam for maximum effect. Other types of pallet support including grids have been discussed in another article. Please click here for the link.

Farming techniques have been changing and developing since the dawn of agriculture; however, a recent development is vertical farming. Rather than having to spread out crops across fields, we are now able to stack and rack them up in vertical layers indoors. With mobile racking, one aisle can serve multiple mobile bases, increasing growing capacity, volume utilization, and overall operating efficiency. Vertical farming with mobile racking is a viable solution to ending global food insecurity. Benefits Challenges Vertical farming is not perfect and has its own set of challenges. Initially, it can be costly to set up and requires more energy to establish and maintain. Additionally, growing plants indoors is not a simple task and will require skilled technicians to run and maintain. The Future Vertical farming with mobile racking is an innovative solution to achieving a greener future. The concept in essence is growing food smarter, more sustainably, and where it is needed. Through more innovation and research, vertical growing with mobile racking could be the answer to global food security, ensuring that anyone, anywhere in the world can grow fresh, healthy produce. Source of images: Vertical Farming – Bruynzeel (bruynzeel-storage.com)

“Barpro Storage SA (PTY) Ltd Increases Le Roux Group’s, Fruit-2-U, Cold storage capacity by 4012 Pallet positions through the installation of a Mobile Racking System” Barpro Storage SA was appointed by Jeff Wedgwood Consulting Engineers to design, supply, and install a storage solution for Fruit-2-U’s 31621.78 m³ packhouse & Cold storage Facility, outside of Wellington in the Westen Cape. The Mobile Racking Systems were designed to allow for typical Fruit pallets with a height of 2450 mm, weight of 1500 KG, and ability to go up to 4 pallets high. Barpro was involved in the project from an early stage to maximize the storage capacity. An existing room was extended. Both internal columns and access were important design features.  The floor was laid in sections using rail supplied from Barpro’s local stock.  The imported bases and racking were delayed by the ongoing port problems but were quickly installed when on site. Barpro added its wooden bumpers to protect the mobile bases as well as pallet support beams. These help in the placing of pallets and their support. With Mobile & Static racking, Barpro Storage has been able to achieve a total of 4012 Pallet positions, 3144 of which are in Mobile racking and the remaining 868 are in Static racking placed among the Mobile racking systems and structural columns. Through the incorporation of mobile racking Barpro Storage has been able to maximize the volume utilization, while bearing in mind the client’s requirements for pallet accessibility and through-put. With the project being completed in December 2023 on time and schedule, the system is set to be commissioned and in service before the beginning of the 2024 Fruit Harvest.