Creform Corporation, a manufacturer of unique products for material handling structures has designed and produced a mobile heavy-duty flow rack for use in the body shop of a large automotive assembly plant. The flow rack is used to “flow” in production parts on their assembly line.
The rack is built using Creform 42 mm pipe and joints for extra capacity and rigidity, as well as providing for flexibility and reusability by this long-time customer. The unit features a wide Creform Placon® roller conveyor for excellent flow characteristics and strength, while the low-friction skate wheel conveyors allow for shallow flow lane angles that are suitable for both plastic returnable totes as well as cardboard boxes. The gravity flow rack assists in first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory management.
The flow rack is configured with a stair-step design to improve access to parts in plastic totes presented at the two supply levels. Each level features lane dividers to ensure that the totes are loaded within their lane and stay in their lane. Each of the flow rack’s levels can be repositioned or the whole flow rack customized with only simple tools.
The flow rack pictured is 54″ W x 72″ D x 71″ T and has a load capacity rating of 800 lb. It features 4 in. casters—for easy movement when cleaning or repositioning, and six swivel wheels, two of which feature brakes.
Besides lineside use, the Creform flow rack can be part of a supermarket storage area. It is ideal for picking individual SKUs that make up a manufacturing kit, typically appropriate for assembly applications. The flow rack is also useful for general storage of pull-to-ship parts and point of using presentation rack within an assembly work cell.
Per the customer’s request, the unit is built with “Marine Blue” pipe color, but as with all Creform flow racks, a wide variety of pipe colors are available, and accessories can include information sheet holders, label holders, tool storage, hooks to hang tools and other supplies. As well as built with feet, rather than wheels. Creform Structures can be built for ESD for anti-static applications. Available as a kit or an assembled structure or in the component form for a complete DIY solution.
The Creform System is used to create an array of material handling and efficiency-enhancing devices and is a proven component in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing programs. The company partners with customers in developing and implementing these programs.
