Flatness is an essential requirement of a floor slab in certain categories of industry. Undoubtedly the most important of these categories is that of aisles in high-density warehouses where fixed-path VNA forklifts operate.

Variations in level across the aisle between the wheel tracks of the truck are magnified in proportion to the height of the racking. But this, calculated from geometrical considerations, forms only part of the potential movement at the top of the mast.

Variations in level, both laterally across the aisle and longitudinally down the aisle, induce dynamic movements in the mast and body of the truck and can cause premature failure of welds and disrupt the performance of electrical components.

Floors with poor flatness also create conditions where there is a risk of collision between the load on the truck, or the carrying head of the truck, and the racking. The majority of such collisions are not statistically recorded, as they cause no loss of human life. It is, however, well known that they frequently occur in all countries where there are high density warehouses with typical clearances between the truck's mounted load and the racked loads in the order of 100-150mm and these clearances are related to floor flatness. If the value of this clearance is 100mm then the requirement to produce a higher standard of flatness becomes even more important.

Warehouses are designed to give a throughput of a certain number of pallets per hour, or a certain number of order picks per hour. To achieve this, trucks must operate at their peak performance. Trucks will only run at their peak if the floor has the desired flatness. On a floor that fails to meet this standard, controlled grinding should be carried out and the most suitable grinder for carrying out such works is the LASER GRINDER.

The Laser Grinder is a high-tolerance, semi-automatic machine that was specially-developed to quickly and accurately upgrade floor flatness in operational VNA warehouses.

The Laser Grinder

Our unique, purpose-developed floor grinding machine, the "Laser Grinder", is completely adaptable to suit all makes and models of VNA forklift, and can effortlessly achieve the tightest of floor flatness tolerances with ease.

The "Laser Grinder", manufactured and operated by the Concrete Grinding Group of Companies, is the most technologically-advanced concrete floor grinding system in the world. It is very fast, clean and free from airborne dust.

Grinding is carried out using water to totally prevent airborne dust and keep the machine's diamond cutters cool. The onboard vacuum system channels residual water and swarf to a container at the rear.

This system means there is no need for the warehouse operator to protect stock or racking, as the process is free from air-borne dust and is relatively clean. Grinding can be carried out before, during or after racking has been installed (depending on the type and width of cut required).

While working in one aisle, the remainder of the warehouse can be operated in as normal. The newly-ground aisle can be used immediately on completion.

Grinding can be carried out in a number of formats, to suit wheel spacing of the proposed VNA forklift trucks alone, or the less specific, non-defined requirements of the other warehouse equipment that may use the aisles (ride-on pallet trucks etc).

In the case of a three-wheeled VNA forklift, we will grind for the two outer load wheels and the central drive wheel, producing three cut wheel tracks.

Our three-wheel track grinding method is usually based on three wheel tracks of 300mm wide. Please note that a 300mm cut will only have an active flat path of 240-250mm as the edge of the cutting blades used will round off. The active wheel width must include a tolerance for some side to side movement down the aisle.

To give maximum flexibility of the aisle we can grind the 'whole width' of the aisle, providing one single, high tolerance smooth ground path. With the whole aisle width method you have flexibility in the future to use a different type of truck or the use of low level order pickers.

Concrete Grinding Limited is displaying its full compliment of services at IMHX 2004 in Birmingham, UK on March 2-4 2004. See us at stand 20/C26.

CONTACT US:
Tel: +44 (0) 1484 600080
Fax: +44 (0) 1484 600095
Email: information@concrete-grinding.com
Web: www.concrete-grinding.com