Finding the Correct Cantilever Rack for Your Warehouse

Cantilever Rack is one of the most common industrial storage systems found in warehouses today. You will find products such as lumber, steel, tubing, furniture and other products stored on these rack systems. Cantilever racking is defined as an industrial storage rack that consists of an upright column, a base and cantilever arms in which the products are stored upon. These racks can be manufactured from roll formed and structural steel and there are several cantilever manufacturers throughout the United States.

How to Find the Correct Cantilever Rack for Your Warehouse 

These questions will help ensure that you are receiving the correct rack system for your warehouse or industrial application.

- What type of product will you be storing?

- Length of Product?

- Width of Product?

- Height of Product?

- How much weight per bundle of product?

- Type of Cantilever Arms? Standard Slight Incline, Inclined to _______.

- Length of Arm?

- Arm Options: Pipe Socket or Lip

- Capacity of Arm? divide the total weight of the load by the number of arms

- Are you looking to load and unload from one side or both sides?

- Height of the top load?

- What is your Maximum forklift lift height?

Other factors to remember when figuring upright height... Local Building codes, Ceiling Height, Sprinkler Systems



With the above questions answered you are on your way to designing the right cantilever rack system for your operations. At  AK Material Handling Systems we specialize in Cantilever Rack Systems and work with multiple manufacturers ensuring that we offer the right product for your application. Everything from custom jobs to standard storage applications let us help you on your next Cantilever Project. Cantilever Quote Request.





Contributor: Jason Kasanezky

Guidelines for Warehouse Shelving Installation (Selective Pallet Rack)

  Hello and welcome back to our warehouse safety blog series. Today we are focusing our attention on some guidelines for installing our Ridg-U-Rak pallet rack products. As a major stocking distributor of Ridg-U-Rak Ridg-U-Tier pallet rack products we feel it is necessary to share with you some helpful guidelines when installing our Ridg-U-Rak product line. Although we always recommend our professional installation services, here are some hand picked favorites from the Ridg-U-Rak guidelines for installing Ridg-U-Rak Selective Pallet Rack.

• Do not store materials outdoors. Extensive damage may occur. The standard paint finish is not intended for outdoor storage.
• Compatibility and correctness of materials supplied by other manufacturers for use with the rack system in not the responsibility of Ridg-U-Rak.
• The rack must be installed using all components and hardware specified.
• All beams must be locked in place with beam locks or automatic locks.
• Use of racks as scaffolding, or climbing on the rack is not recommended. Persons using the rack for these purposes shall do at their own risk.
• Never install beams from both ends of the row at same time. Always start at one end only, or from the center of a row and work both ways.
• Always engage both ends of the beam at the same time, and be sure it has fully engaged the column before seating to install locking devices.
• Do not hammer on ends of beams to install and seat. If seating is difficult, get a piece of 1" x 1" x 1/8" angle x 6" long. Stand it up on top of the hook and hit downward, seating the hook.
• Normally a rawhide faced hammer or urethane hammer may be used for installing beams.


In addition to the Ridg-U-Rak list of guidelines we have also created some installation tips of our own. 

• Mark the beam levels on the uprights with a marker before standing them up. This will ensure you are in the correct location.
• Always use Row Spacers when placing pallet rack back to back.
• Use chalk lines to keep your runs of racking consistent.
• Always use lift equipment when available
• Mark your beams with capacity labels for safe loads.
• Floor anchors are always recommended.
• Change in beam elevations WILL alter capacity.


In summary we hope that these guidelines will improve your installation experience. If you need any rack system installed professionally please call 800-722-5908 or visit www.akequipment.com

Contributors: Jason Kasanezky - Josh Smith - Safety Sandy

AK Named to the 100 Best Companies to Work For

 

 On April 18th 2013 AK Material Handling Systems was named to the Minnesota Business magazine - 100 Best Companies to Work For. This is the second year in a row that AK has been honored on this list. 

"The 100 Best are chosen using data gathered from an anonymous employee satisfaction survey administered by an independent research group. Only the top Minnesotan companies, as judged in areas such as work environment, employee benefits, employee happiness, and leadership, are selected for inclusion in the list." Learn more about this competition and see the rest of the list here.. http://minnesotabusiness.com/100best2013

Some reactions from the team...

 

"Together we stride to create an amazing brand and it's an honor to work with an amazing team."

Joshua Smith

"AK is not just a place of work, we're family. I'm proud to be part of such a great group of people."

Brenda Harrison

 

"Everyday is enjoyable coming to work. We have a great team that makes AK what it is!"

Adam Hansen

 

"Congrats to Al, Josh and the rest of the leadership team! They have worked hard to create a great company and an awesome work environment. I am very grateful to be apart of this team!"  

Jason Kasanezky

The Ultimate Minnesota Network - Our Top 3 Minnesota Business Publications

   Based in Maple Grove, Minnesota we find it very important to stay connected to what is happening around our state in the business realm. When we first ventured into social media it was very difficult for us to find the best outlets for Minnesota business information but over time we were able to identify the best sources for local business information. So in an effort to help other Minnesota Businesses we have decided to create, grow and share our Ultimate Minnesota Business Network. In this series we will feature many different people and publications that you can follow and connect with to grow your business and brand.

  This week we have decided to feature our Top 3 Minnesota Business publications in this series to help our local readers find and follow these companies and connect with them as well. Stay tuned as we continue to grow, share and create the Ultimate Minnesota Business Network.

Our Top 3 Minnesota Business Publications:

---

Minnesota Business magazine

Website: http://www.minnesotabusiness.com
Published by Tiger Oak Media and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Business magazine covers small and mid size companies throughout the state, revealing the successes, challenges, and lessons to be drawn from their experiences. We keep this focus steady across industries, providing a fascinating mix of companies and personalities in every issue. Readers turn to us for not only useful information, but also inspiration as they pursue their success.

 Follow @MnBizMag

---

Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal

Website: www.bizjournals.com/twincities/
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, where you'll find the latest breaking business news, updated throughout the day, some of this week's top stories from the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal and other popular features from the print edition.

Follow @mspbjnews

---

Twin Cites Business 
 




Website: http://tcbmag.com/
Twin Cities Business is Minnesota’s leading provider of business news, insight, and analysis through a monthly magazine, twice-weekly e-newsletter, daily online news stories, events, and an annual business information guide. Along with our readers, we get to know the personalities of our region’s most influential leaders, exploring the “how” behind their success, strategies, and solutions. We discuss today’s most pressing issues, examine trends and outlooks, and provide the context, perspective, and information leaders have come to depend upon.

Follow @TCBmag


 

Harlem Shake - Feed My Starving Children Donation

  Being able to give back to those in need and serve the surrounding community is something that we at AKMHS truly enjoy doing. Back in February of this year we had some fun and to our knowledge performed the only "Material Handling Distributor Harlem Shake for Charity". With a goal of 10,000 views we did the Harlem Shake in our warehouse hoping to feed a family of five for one year. Although we fell short of our goal, we as a company came together and donated enough for a total of 639 meals to Feed My Starving Children (http://www.fmsc.org/). We want to take this time to also thank everyone who watched the video and helped us spread the word. THANK YOU and TOGETHER WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!!!! 

Follow the GBC on Facebook for more of our charity events. 

Keep Your Pallet Rack Standing with End Aisle Guards - Safety Sandy

 

To continue with the theme we’ve mentioned in the last few “Safety Sandy” blog entries (Sandy's Warehouse Safety Blog Series), a complete material handling system isn’t complete without safety equipment. Today, let’s turn our attention to end aisle guards.

End aisle guards are exactly what they sound like – devices installed at the end of a row of pallet rack to prevent forklifts and other powered equipment from colliding with the end of the rack. Like safety netting and

column protectors, items that we’ve previously featured in this space, end aisle guards are intended to protect your inventory, equipment and employees. A collision with a pallet rack can damage both the forklift and the rack; plus, a weakened rack endangers the inventory that sits upon it as well. It’s not hard to imagine a collision that results in ruined inventory and employee injuries.

That’s why end aisle guards can be so critical. A typical end aisle protector is made of steel and secured to the floor with anchor bolts at the end of an aisle of installed rack. Perfectly installed guards will not affect access to the aisles or workflow. Protectors come in both left-side and right-side alignment to be certain that it integrates completely with the installed rack. If a forklift or AGV does collide with an end-aisle guard, the guard absorbs the impact, stabilizes the rack installation and keeps everything standing.

Multiple manufacturers make end aisle guards, and they can typically be adapted to any manufacturer’s pallet rack. Most are painted yellow or another bright color so they easily stand out against colored racking backgrounds. A typical end aisle guard is designed to protect 3-inch or 4-inch uprights, but some can also be procured for other sizes. Likewise, though most styles are for use with standard 42-inch frames, it’s not impossible to install an end aisle guard for another size frame.

Got a question on end aisle guards? Contact AK for more information or visit this page to see some samples.

AK Featured by the Minnesota Business magazine

  At AK Material Handling Systems technology is truly our best friend and we are always looking for ways to improve our operations and our customer experience. The desire for constant improvement and innovation comes directly from the leaders of our company.  CEO Al Boston and Director of Sales and Operations Joshua Smith have teamed up on multiple projects over the last couple years to create a one of a kind material handling experience for our customers. One of their biggest accomplishments over the last year and a half has been the implementation of Ipads in our warehouse.

  Recently the Minnesota Business magazine took notice of this accomplishment and featured AK in their online publication. Please take a second to read this great write up and learn more about the Ipads on ouir Forklifts and how they have improved all aspects of our business.

Why the forklifts sport iPads at AK Material Handling Systems