Creform Corporation, a manufacturer of products for material handling and commercial use, has designed and built a “supermarket” heavy-duty flow rack for an automotive parts supplier.

The flow rack is one of 25 used by the manufacturer to hold inventory of 24 hours’ worth of interior automotive parts that support its assembly plant. 

The flow rack’s design is ideal for picking individual SKUs that make up a manufacturing kit. The flexibility of the rack could also be used for general warehousing of pull-to-ship parts or when connected to other flow racks to create a large-scale picking supermarket.  

The flow rack pictured is 107″ W x 49″ D and 65″ T and is rated for 1200 lb. load capacity. It has angled bracing for structure rigidity and features 12 heavy-duty threaded “feet” for floor leveling capability.

It features three levels for product presentation and each level features six lanes.  When an associate moves the front box of a lane out, others in the lane automatically flow down to fill the position. This guarantees first in-first out (FIFO) inventory management.

The vertical presentation face allows the levels to be easily moved up/down with simple tools. It incorporates low friction precision skate wheel conveyors that allow for shallow flow lane angles suitable for both plastic returnable totes as well as cardboard boxes.  Intermediate support beam provides conveyor reinforcement.

The flow rack pictured is 107″ W x 49″ D and 65″ T and is rated for 1200 lb. load capacity.

Options include empty container return, casters, lane dividers and Placon enhanced skate wheel conveyor.

As with all Creform flow racks, higher capacity, sizes and configurations are possible. A wide variety of pipe colors are available for ESD applications, and accessories can include information sheet holders, label holders, tool storage, hooks to hang tools and other supplies. Creform flow racks are suitable for warehouse or manufacturing plant use. They are available as a kit or an assembled structure or in the component form for a complete DIY solution.     

The 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.