Interview with ROCKETSOLUTION
Automated compact storage systems provider
We from WAGNER spoke with Marius Benson, Sales Manager of ROCKETSOLUTION, about fire protection, risks and protection concepts for compact storage systems. In the interview, he explains which special features and challenges aris for provider of such storage systems and which needs to be considered from the customer's point of view.
Fully automated, extremely compact systems have become an indispensable part of modern warehouse logistics. They guarantee 24/7 availability, uninterrupted delivery capability and optimal use of space thanks to stackable containers. What are the special features / challenges of these so-called compact storage systems from an manufacturer perspective?
When you talk about warehouses in combination with stackable containers, you surely mean so-called cube systems, which are one of the biggest market competitors in the field of automated intralogistics.
We as a technology supplier for our RSX1 system have the most efficient system in the field of common shuttle technology in terms of storage density and compactness with optimal use of space and area, coupled with a high performance variance, scalability and flexibility. With this variety, together with our integration partners, we can absolutely compete with such cube systems.
As a result of our high storage density and compactness, our system is also subject to very high requirements in terms of "fire protection". On the customer side, the focus is not only on the initial investment costs for fire protection systems, but also on their ongoing costs for maintenance and upkeep. Increasingly, however, these points are being supplemented by insurance-related questions and requirements, such as reliability in the event of damage (fire), delivery reliability within the customer's supply chain and the associated potential damage in the event of an emergency. This is why we have to be flexible in order to be able to offer our customers a system that is tailored to their needs. Here, the respective industries or market sectors or even country destinations have an absolute influence: The customer in the e-commerce sector may have completely different requirements for the fire protection of his warehouse than a customer who uses it to supply production 24/7. The country-specific requirements, both national and international, also differ here (Germany vs. Slovakia, Bremen vs. Bavaria).
You mention the topic of fire protection. There are different extinguishing methods that are used in warehouse logistics. How do you evaluate the respective approaches and solutions for a compact storage systems from an manufacturer's perspective?
As you said, there are many different systems, such as oxygen reduction, aerosol, gas or water extinguishing systems, with water extinguishing systems, i.e. classic sprinkler systems, currently making up the majority. Each extinguishing system has its own requirements for our storage systems (free space for sprinkler lines, enclosures for oxygen reduction, aerosol or gas extinguishing systems). However, we at ROCKETSOLUTION do not want to concentrate on just one concept with regard to fire protection, but rather look beyond the end of our nose in order to offer the customer all possibilities so that we can design his warehouse in an optimized manner to meet his needs. Fire prevention in the warehouse is becoming more and more of an issue in order to avoid damage, not only to the goods or the warehouse itself, but also due to downstream delivery failures caused by an interruption in operations in advance.
Personally, I think this is a good approach, because it is always better to act and prevent fires in advance instead of reacting and only extinguishing fires after or when they occur.
How have projects with partners been implemented so far? What is important for the customer to consider? Are there any recommendations for customers from your side, e.g. what to consider already in the planning/construction phase?
The previous projects were all realized by the customer with a standard water extinguishing system or did not require any fire protection precautions. Nevertheless, together with our integration partners, we increasingly have to consider the requirements for an oxygen reduction system in our project planning phases. Here it is extremely important for us or the customer that the requirements for the fire protection concept are known as early as possible, because these have a considerable influence on the costs, project duration or generally on the project. For this reason, we recommend that you contact the responsible persons or departments (internal/ external fire protection experts, insurers, etc.) during the initial project planning phase so that their recommendations can be taken into account from the very beginning. In this way, we or the general contractor can also optimally control all trades from the planning side.
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Automated compact storage systems require innovative fire protection solutions. Active fire prevention protects operators from the consequences of a fire. This ensures delivery and operational capability at all times. We look forward to your task for innovative fire protection and support you in the implementation of your protection goals.