Duplex racking – Racking steelwork

Timet is the world’s largest supplier of high quality titanium metal products. Due to its metallurgical properties titanium is the material of choice for many applications from aeroplanes to golf clubs.  Timet converts the ore and stores the metal in a variety of forms including the bars shown below.

The group’s UK operation, based in Birmingham, wanted to improve the efficiency of their storage operation where the titanium was stored at ground level.  In order to maximise the storage capacity of the site, improve stock control and reduce damage Timet called upon the services of Worcester based Wickens Engineering.

Wickens Engineering manufacture a variety of out-door racking products that are galvanized by Hereford Galvanizers.  Neil Bates, Wickens Engineering’s Sales Manager said “Our heavy duty cantilever racking was the storage solution to Timet’s issue however, not only did they want the corrosion protection that galvanizing offers but they wanted it to look good and colour-match the existing site.  Hereford Galvanizers came up with the answer.”

The racking steelwork was first hot dip galvanized by Hereford Galvanizers’ sister plant Shropshire Galvanizers, the galvanized steel was then linished to a high standard before being etched and powder coated the specific blue as requested by Timet.  In addition Shropshire Galvanizers stencilled the various maximum weight loadings onto the cantilever arms.

Timet were delighted with the results.  Neil Bates of Wickens Engineering said “The powder coating finish was consistently excellent.  Outsourcing all coatings to one supplier meant that there was no double handling and the racking was installed on site within the tight deadline.  Six months on and the powder coating is still equal to the pounding it is receiving from the heavy titanium bars”.