Capital Equipment News February 2016

NEW SAFETY LOCKING MECHANISM ensures warehouse racking stability and longevity

A PC Storage Solutions SA, the South African specialist in warehouse stor- age solutions and warehouse auto- mation, has introduced the Mecalux inte- grated safety pin, or locking mechanism, for connector systems on racking beams. The recently developed mechanism is at- tached permanently to racking beams and cannot be removed accidently or by ma- licious intent, ensuring enhanced lasting stability and safety in all APC Storage Solu- tions SA racking installations. The safety locking mechanism forms part of the rack end plate. As a permanent fixture it cannot be lost like its predecessor could, cannot be accidently knocked out, and once the installation is assembled it cannot be ex- tracted without completely dismantling the beam. Some advantages of these improved locking mechanisms include a marginal time-saving with regards to installation and significant time saving when inspections are carried out; permanently increases racking stability; and enhancing overall warehouse safety. “Its operation is simplistic, yet effective,” ex- plains Ettienne Meyburgh, General Manager KZN Region and Automation, APC Storage

Solutions SA. “The new safety pin is welded on to the beam where the previous safety clip was attached, so that on installation the beam slides easily in to place. The safety pin has a spring within its barrel which slides against the upright and is pushed back. Once the beam is in place the pin shoots back into place, safely securing the now connected beam. Removing the beam is just as easy as the safety pin is released by pull- ing back on it enabling easy beam disman- tling while the safety pin remains in place.” The Mecalux integrated safety pin was in- troduced to the South African market in August 2015 via APC Storage Solutions SA, and each of the company’s new installations since have the refined locking mechanism as a standard feature. “This is at no extra cost to our customers,” Meyburgh empha- sises. He adds that the older pins are still in use in the company’s existing installa- tions, so customers retain the same sys- tem throughout the warehouse. “However,” he adds, “as soon as any of those existing facilities require upgrades or expansions, the new integrated safety pins will be used across the structures.”

process applied to all Mecalux racking, providing protection against corrosion and ensuring durability. “Mecalux conducts approximately 8 000 tests to each prod- uct it develops before it is introduced to market,” Meyburgh concludes, “so the ro- bustness and longevity of this product is unquestionable.” APC Storage Solutions SA is the sole suppli- er of Mecalux storage solutions and acces- sories to southern Africa. ❂

The locking mechanisms, as standard beam parts, undergo the electrostatic painting

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