'High-rise construction is our specialty'

Companies dealing with goods receiving, storage, inventory management, order picking and shipping face major challenges. Not only are quality warehouse employees becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, but also available floor space for new construction or expansion has become scarce. "It is therefore important to use the people and square metres that are available as efficiently as possible", explains Project Manager for Steel Construction Projects Jeroen Aarts and Sales Manager Logistic Solutions BENE Steve Vercammen from SSI SCHAEFER. "For example, by going up in height."

Unique approach: silo high-rise

A high-rise warehouse is a warehouse higher than 15 meters. "Most suppliers of 'standard' warehouse systems do not build higher than 15 to 16 meters," Aarts and Vercammen know. "Mainly because the warehouses can then no longer be operated with standard rolling stock (forklifts and reach trucks). For safety reasons, the maximum height of a high-rise warehouse is currently limited to 50 meters. Higher heights in this case are inefficient, financially less interesting and/or lead to constructions so heavy that too many storage locations are lost," Vercammen illustrates. With conventional construction techniques - both in concrete and steel - the building is often erected first, after which it is completely filled with racking. However, valuable storage space is lost in this process. Both along the facades, at the top and in places where columns have to support the building structure. "SSI SCHAEFER's broad intralogistics portfolio therefore offers an additional option in the form of silo high bay warehouses (HBW). Here, the racking construction also forms the backbone of the building. The racks also serve as the supporting structure for the roof and facade panels, eliminating the need to build a separate hall around the racking. This saves time, labor and, above all, valuable storage space."

International expertise

"Silo high bay storage is already interesting for building heights starting from 20 meters. Indeed, those who choose this form of warehouse storage opt for maximum storage of pallets, boxes and/or trays on the available square meters of floor space," explains Vercammen. "But also for high storage density, direct access to every article, high process speeds and excellent (24/7) availability. Various storage options, from single-deep to multi-deep solutions, combined with specifically configured compartment widths guarantee the greatest flexibility in space utilization." Thanks to its unique combination of international expertise, attention to detail and state-of-the-art technology, SSI SCHAEFER is the trusted choice in the market and one of the few providers of silo high-rise projects with a height of well over 40 metres. "We can provide numerous references from around the world to inspire users in this area. From standard storage warehouses to refrigerated and deep-freeze applications, where it is energetically very interesting to store as many products as possible in as compact a space as possible." 

Think solutions, not products 

It is not for nothing that silo high-rise buildings are becoming increasingly popular, Vercammen believes. "Especially now that for pallets or piece goods such as boxes and/or trays, the technologies for entry and exit, or ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System), are evolving. Where traditionally mainly crane technologies are used, we can now also realize shuttle solutions that offer maximum flexibility. As a result, even applications where crane technology was previously not ideal can now be fully automated in a silo high bay warehouse. Based on inbound and outbound data, we advise on the best automation applications so that as a user you achieve optimal ROI."

Provide total solution

SSI SCHAEFER has extensive expertise in design, calculation, static configuration, engineering, production and export, emphasises Aarts. "In addition, we are at home in earthquake-proof construction. At the base of our silo high-rise warehouses is invariably a concrete floor slab. On top of this we mount the anchors for our steel structure, after which the complete structure is built in prefab blocks of approx. 10×1.5×12 meters (lxwxh). The levels on which the pallets will later be placed are already pre-assembled in this." Says Vercammen, "During the design and engineering phase, we work closely with the structural engineer to calculate the maximum permissible load on the floor and steel structure, taking into account, among other things, pallet weights, HVAC installations, any solar panels, the weight of the roof and façade panels, and applicable wind and snow loads. For cold stores where the floor is insulated, the positions of the floor pipes and structural anchors are also coordinated in close consultation." 

One-stop-shop

In addition to the robust steel construction, SSI SCHAEFER offers an extensive range of storage platforms, stairs and safety devices, as well as storage and transfer machines and shuttle systems. All components are manufactured in-house, where they are configured and produced to fit perfectly into the silo high bay warehouse. SSI SCHAEFER also offers a range of supplementary services for warehouses such as roof and wall cladding as part of a comprehensive and complete product package.