Before the first plate touches the ground
Even before the first slab is laid, the same step is repeated on almost every construction site: the slabs have to be lifted individually out of the transport rack. This takes strength, time, and strains the back and shoulders. Nevertheless, this procedure has been accepted as standard practice on many construction sites for years.
This raises a crucial question: Does a panel even need to be lifted out of the transport rack? This is precisely where the difference between a conventional transport solution and a well-designed panel system begins. Because it's not just the panel itself that determines how easy the panels are to work with, but the entire process of handling them.
When pulling replaces lifting
With conventional transport racks, the panels usually have to be lifted upwards out of the rack. This is due to fixed supports or side walls that prevent removal from the side. Especially when laying the panels manually, this means that each panel has to be lifted individually. This step is strenuous, time-consuming, and increases the physical strain on the back, shoulders, and arms.
Therefore, it's not just the size or weight of a panel that matters. The crucial factor is whether it even needs to be lifted out of the rack. The effort required isn't determined by the panel's weight, but by how it's removed. Instead of lifting the panels upwards, they are pulled sideways out of the rack. This reduces the physical strain on the installers, promotes a back-friendly workday, and can simultaneously contribute to workplace safety. Lifting becomes pulling.
From lifting out to lateral removal
Securatek's new system solution addresses precisely this step in the process. While the panels themselves can't be made lighter, their removal can be significantly simplified. The solution is an improved transport rack with foldable locking brackets. Instead of lifting the panels upwards, installers can pull them sideways out of the rack and guide them directly to the installation site. This reduces unnecessary lifting, protects backs, shoulders, and arms, and noticeably facilitates manual installation.
This systemic approach doesn't end with the removal of the plates. It is consistently implemented in the design of the SmartStore transport racks They are tailored to the respective panel formats, require hardly more space than the panels themselves, and thus support space-saving construction logistics on trailers, flatbeds or trucks.
The same system principle applies to the safety brackets. Experience from everyday construction sites has shown that permanently welded stakes or brackets often result in costly repairs when damaged, or in the worst case, render the entire frame unusable. Therefore, Securatek's folding safety brackets are deliberately bolted rather than welded. If a bracket is damaged, it can be easily replaced without having to replace the entire frame or undertake costly repairs. This reduces repair costs and downtime. At the same time, it extends the frame's economic lifespan and increases investment protection.
The right decision for your business
Good working conditions don't happen by chance. They are the result of conscious decisions. Providing your fitters with well-designed tools shows appreciation for their daily work and simultaneously creates the foundation for more efficient and economical construction site operations.
Securatek's SmartStore transport racks are a modular transport system for Road plates and ground protection mats. They are available both as a set with new drive-over mats and for retrofitting existing plastic mats. It doesn't matter which manufacturer the existing mats are from. Together, we'll determine which SmartStore solution best suits your mat sizes, vehicles, and workflows.
If you want to supplement your existing drive-on platforms with a well-designed transport solution, or opt for a complete SmartStore system from the outset, talk to us. Together we'll find the right solution. suitable solution for your requirements.
