For years, automotive parts have been shipped in cardboard or wood containers, custom-made for the task, and packed in paper or plastic-based material for protection. However, these containers provide insufficient protection of large, specialised components, particularly Class A surfaces that must be protected from damage or marring. Once used, the containers and packing material are typically discarded after delivery, adding to the overall costs. Now, a growing number of OEMs are turning to a more cost-effective, eco-friendly, solution: Reusable steel shipping racking that prevents part damage and eliminates packing waste. The engineered steel rack is specifically designed to protect sensitive parts with Class A surfaces including body panels, bumpers, grills, lights, dashboard, seats and door pads while maximizing storage density during shipping and warehousing. The steel racks are also designed in configurations that orient and position parts for easy unloading and immediate assembly on the line to reduce labor costs. Minimising damage and waste Although cardboard and wood shipping containers and crates are used throughout the industry, parts can be damaged in transit or storage, which is simply not acceptable for Class A exterior surfaces and interior surfaces. “Since Class A surfaces are ultimately seen by customers, there can’t be any scratching, scuffing, marring, or other damage visible,” says Craig Heil, a manager at Steel King Industries, a leading manufacturer of shipping rack, storage rack, and material handling products since 1970. Cardboard, corrugated, and even wood containers also lack the strength for stacking during shipping or storage, which leaves substantial vertical space unused. Utilizing disposable containers and packing materials also generates tons of waste. Even reusable wooden containers and crates need to be repaired frequently and eventually replaced. “Auto manufacturers want to reduce waste and the time involved with breaking down, recycling, or disposing of cardboard and wooden containers,” says Heil. “Many manufacturers now will not allow that type of packaging in their facilities because they feel it is not a green solution.” Custom steel shipping rack As the automotive industry moves towards more eco-friendly solutions, reusable custom steel shipping rack is gaining in popularity. This was the case when a major automotive OEM that manufactures components in the Midwest and ships to assembly plants in North America sought to minimize part damage during transit and storage. “Using wood and cardboard boxes, parts were getting damaged because 18 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2023 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net Multi-use, steel rack is being employed to prevent damage to automotive parts during shipping, while maximising storage density the stacked boxes weren’t holding up,” recalls the automotive executive involved with shipping. Over a decade ago, the executive turned to Steel King for custom reusable, returnable, steel shipping racks for various components. Steel King specialises in the design and production of a variety of fabricated steel material handling products including storage rack and multi-use rigid, collapsible, and adjustable shipping rack. The company can customize rack size, dunnage, weight capacity, construction materials, and other factors. Steel King’s in-house, professional engineers are experts at analyzing OEMs’ operational systems and processes relative to the parts handled, whether for transport, assembly, or both. CAD solid modeling software and techniques are used to design the steel racks. A variety of dunnage options can be incorporated to cushion and secure components to prevent shifting or movement of parts during shipping. The rack is structurally stable when stacked up to three levels high for shipping, and up to six levels high for warehouse storage. Empty shipping rack can be folded flat, so it takes one- BY Del Williams, technical writer based in Torrance, California PARTS SHIPPING: THE RIDDLE OF STEEL?
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