ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
Increasingly automated, these centres require robust racking systems which can withstand daily knocks and bumps from packages, forklifts, and robotic systems. Advanced high strength steel grades from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products are helping distribution centre owners to develop lightweight, robust, and durable racking systems which will keep us supplied with our daily necessities well into the future.
High strength low alloy (HSLA) grades such as Amstrong® (AHSS) and Amstrong® Ultra (UHSS) are already being utilised to create low maintenance racking systems which are very cost effective over their entire lifetime. When treated with a high quality metallic coating such as Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal, the life of the racking system is extended even further.
A racking system made with Amstrong® or Amstrong® Ultra grades can cope with significantly heavier loads than structural steels of the same thickness. For example, replacing the standard S235 JR grade with the same thickness of the UHSS Amstrong® grade 700MC can double the load-bearing capacity of the structure. If load weight is not an issue, the thickness of the grade can be reduced, resulting in a lighter and more cost-effective structure.
From left to right: Samples of S235 JR (structural grade), Amstrong® 500MC (AHSS), and Amstrong® Ultra 700MC (UHSS) following a single, 1000 joule impact
Forklift truck impacts result in significant maintenance costs for racking system owners. Each collision, even a small one, has an impact on the load-bearing capacity of the system.
The risk of collapse is significantly reduced when AHSS or UHSS are used. The higher strength of these grades can help to preserve initial load bearing capacity even after impact. As well as being safer, maintenance is reduced.
| S235 JR (Structural grade) | Amstrong® 500MC (AHSS) | Amstrong® Ultra 700MC (UHSS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width: | 250 mm | 250 mm | - | 250 mm | = |
| Thickness: | 3 mm | 2.5 mm | -16.7% | 2 mm | -33.3% |
| Weight saving: | Reference | - | -5% | - | -10% |
| Cost saving: | Reference | - | -5 to -10% | - | -5 to -10% |
Benefits of using AHSS and UHSS in industrial racking systems
(estimates based on a five-tonne coil)
For more information about ArcelorMittal’s high strength steels for racking system applications visit:
