1.0 Introduction
Racks are storage systems used in industries, homes, institutions etc.
Rock of interest of this project is the type of rack found in homes and some other institution. This is a minim rack or wall rack as it is normally called. This rack is hung on walls and partitioned within small ranges where material of small size can be kept.
Industries steel storage racks as they are known today did not exist 35 y ears ago. Rail road cars filled with material in cardboard cartons were hand unloaded into four wheeled platform tracks that were pushed to the elevator of a multistioned ware house and the cartons hand unloaded into stacks on floors with 10 metres high ceilings. People used the same various trucks to assemble orders from the various stacks pushing the loaded truck to the elevator and then to the shipping dock where they were unloaded into vehicles for store delivery. Such rudimentary distribution has been radically changed by some relatively simple innovations.
Forklift trucks have replaced man powered vehicles and loading methods. They have been on the materials handling stage since the early 1900s and received their biggest impetus during World War II when forklifts were the logistical workhorses of the army and navy.
Unit loads of 2000 — 400016 that are easily picked up and transported by forklift trucks make highway trailer loading and unloading matter of minutes compared to the many hours for the hand unload method.
Industrial ware house buildings with one story ceiling heights of 30ft and wide column bay spalings replaced the multi stored ware houses and are ideally suited for use with the unit load and forklift concept.
Industrial steel storage racks proved to be the fourth necessary materials handling device to maximize the efficiency of the previous three because of “selectivity” and carton crish out. If one unit load is tried on top of another up to 30ft ceiling height, the bottom load cannot be shipped unless the top ones are removed.
Computer technology has recently been added to all the foregoing to optimize the use and operation. Today's modern computes tell the distribution manager when to store the incoming unit loads, when and where to move to the picking face, the sequence in which to pick, and what and when to record. All these component together have provided an efficient system that distributes the food, shelter and clothing of our oriented society.
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