Rack-clad warehouses – OHRA presents cost-effective timber storage with DIY construction

Rack-clad warehouses, where the racking system also serves as the structural framework for both roof and sidewalls, presents a practical and cost-effective solution for companies needing quick, weather-protected storage. 

These structures offer a substantial cost advantage over conventional buildings with separate rack systems. OHRA takes this affordability further by allowing customers to handle parts of the construction process themselves.

Hungarian timber businesses Farkas-Fa and Sarok-Fa recently took advantage of this approach, using their own wood to construct and mount the roofs of OHRA rack-clad warehouses.

Rapid expansion of storage capacity for both companies

Both Farkas-Fa – a woodworking business – and Sarok-Fa – a timber dealer – faced an urgent need for additional storage to protect planks, beams and other wood products from the elements. Both companies chose OHRA’s rack-clad warehouses with cantilever racks, enabling simultaneous construction of the racking and warehouse structure for faster completion.

Farkas-Fa – efficient design for future expansion

Farkas-Fa’s warehouse features two cantilever racks, each 12.4m long, which form the sidewalls. The hot-rolled steel columns used in OHRA racks provide high load-bearing capacity, allowing for a 15m span between the rows of racks. This design leaves room for a potential third row of racks to be added in the centre of the warehouse when needed.

Sarok-Fa – open-air design for enhanced drying

Sarok-Fa opted for an open-sided rack-clad warehouse, allowing air to circulate freely through the stored timber in order to enhance drying. The structure features three rows of double-sided cantilever racks as the primary support. The flexibility of OHRA’s design is a key advantage – the cantilever arms can be easily adjusted in 100mm increments without the need for tools, so that changes in the product range can be readily accommodated.

DIY roof construction

Both Farkas-Fa and Sarok-Fa utilised a wealth of in-house expertise and a focused workforce to build the roof structures, further reducing costs. OHRA customised the rack supports to suit specific roof designs, ensuring a seamless fit for each company’s requirements.

Enhanced storage capacity & efficiency for all

With the new rack-clad warehouses now complete, Farkas-Fa and Sarok-Fa have significantly increased their storage capacity while utilising the same footprint. Previously, the majority of timber was stored directly on the ground; whereas now, the cantilever racks provide organised, vertical storage, which optimises space and allows for faster, more efficient access to materials.

Watch the construction in action

A detailed video can be viewed via YouTube, which showcases the design, construction and functionality of these rack-clad warehouses: https://youtu.be/dC8gAB4K5gU. By choosing OHRA’s flexible, cost-effective rack-clad warehouses, Farkas-Fa and Sarok-Fa have not only expanded their storage capacity but also improved operational efficiency, thus setting a strong foundation for future growth.

To find out more about OHRA racking solutions, see www.ohra.co.uk.