Dach Walter expands storage capacity with OHRA pallet rack

Dach Walter, one of the leading medium-sized specialist roofing dealers in Thuringia, central Germany, has expanded its storage capacity with an OHRA pallet rack.

Equipped with metal gratings, it offers flexible storage options for a wide variety of materials. But this is only the most recent project – Dach Walter has been continuously investing in OHRA racking for over 15 years. The roofing materials wholesaler is thus responding to the constantly growing range of materials in the industry, which places very different demands on storage.

Solid-walled profiles offer greater stability than cold-walled equivalents

Established in 1992 and drawing on over 30 years’ experience with racking solutions, Dach Walter has been supplying its customers in Thuringia with building materials for roofs and façades. “Racking systems made from folded sheet metal profiles are often damaged during operation, and replacing them is time-consuming,” says Managing Director, Thomas Walter. Since 2009, the company has therefore relied on racking solutions from OHRA – a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty storage technology in Europe. The pallet and cantilever racking from the Kerpen-based manufacturer is made from solid, hot-rolled steel profiles and therefore characterised by its high load-bearing

capacity, impact resistance and durability.

Customised racking solutions in demand

However, OHRA’s range of customised racking solutions offered was also important. This is the only available method for efficiently storing the different materials. For example, some of the pallet racking is equipped with metal gratings to accommodate non-standardised disposable pallets. In the cantilever racking, cantilever arms, each with a load-bearing capacity of up to 1,200kg, enable safe storage of timber up to 13m long.

Weather protection included

“Our customers also expect an increasing number of building materials to be stored and protected from the weather,” Thomas continues. This is made possible, among other things, by the rack supported buildings built by OHRA at both of the company's sites. The cantilever racks also serve as a load-bearing structure for the roof and walls; this is cheaper and quicker to realise than building a separate building in which the racks are then placed. OHRA fitted additional external racking with an integrated roof as well as providing the structural analysis and planning required for approval, to ensure the process could be completed quickly.

Teamwork to find the right storage solution

The racking manufacturer also worked closely with Dach Walter on the planning of a new branch in Petersberg – a former car dealership. The building presented special challenges due to its unfavourable geometry and load-bearing columns on the usable area. Together with the forklift specialists from Kirchner & Partner, Weimar, a customised utilisation plan was developed for the building. The columns were integrated into the racking, and the use of an Aisle Master articulated forklift truck allows the warehouse to be operated efficiently even with narrow racking aisles.

The combination of OHRA racking’s technical properties, the broad portfolio, customisability of the storage solutions and planning expertise continue to convince Thomas as to the many benefits: “We’ve found a sustainable supplier for long-term, safe and economical storage solutions,” he finishes.

About OHRA

OHRA has been a European market leader in heavy-load storage technology for over 40 years. A specialist in the storage for particularly long, heavy and unwieldy goods, OHRA cantilever and pallet racks have proven themselves on the storage technology market. These are characterised by a particularly high load-bearing capacity, robustness and durability. The portfolio ranges from simple racking solutions, through complete racking halls, to complex, fully automated storage and order picking systems for all sizes of company and diverse sectors. All OHRA products are produced at the company’s own factory in Kerpen, Germany. Today, OHRA is represented by its own sales offices in 14 European countries, and in a further 14 others by its trading partners. For further information, see www.ohra.co.uk.