Success in 3PL Logistics - Speed, Reliability and Cost Efficiency:
- Uninterrupted operations – no disruptions due to floor repairs or joint maintenance
- Speed of movement of MHE in the warehouse – uncompromised by expanded joints
- High “pallet per sqm” floor utilization rate – efficient placement of racking
- Flexibility in racking placement when there is a change in layout
- High floor tolerances, enabling fast movement and high racking
- High safety standards – installation of safety barriers and racking not affected by mesh reinforcement, joints, or curling
Traditional mesh reinforcement is a technology developed in the 19th century, while newer fiber reinforced floors date back to the 1960s. Neither of the two solutions provides the predictability and tight tolerance required by modern warehousing operations.
PrīmX Effectively Removes Roadblocks Posed by Concrete Shrinkage, Typical in Traditional Concrete
Precision
PrīmX: By controlling drying shrinkage, PrīmX technology eliminates the risk of later deformation.
Traditional concrete technologies: Drying shrinkage causes curling at panel edges – creating gaps beneath the slab edges. Curling compromises tolerance, which is crucial in VNA and AGV cases, and results in costly and disruptive grinding. Another side effect of curling is reduced load-bearing capacity - racking specifications often prohibit placement of rack legs closer than 200-300mm to the joint, compromising efficient utilization of the floor.
Closed joints, uninterrupted movement
PrīmX: Thanks to controlled shrinkage, joints exhibit minimal opening, typically 4 to 8mm. No impact for the wheels, no need to slow down. Also, standard alpha joints can be used instead of costly and CO2-heavy sinusoidal joints.
Traditional concrete technologies: Due to drying shrinkage, joints between panels expand - often reaching up to 20 mm. This requires MHE to slow down to avoid damage to polyurethane wheels and goods, while also leading to accumulation of dust and debris.
Large jointless panels
PrīmX: With shrinkage under control, panel sizes are significantly larger than conventional floors – from 2.500m2 up to 10.000m2. Ultimate flexibility in placing racking.
Traditional concrete technologies: To mitigate deformations, panels are limited in size – either 6x6 saw-cuts in mesh reinforced floors or ~900m2 fiber reinforced floors. That makes it impossible to place large automation on a single panel and increases joint maintenance costs. Thermal movements between panels cause misalignments for automated systems, increasing wear and tear.
Better hygiene
PrīmX: Thanks to expansion, the joints do not expand. That means no dust and debris in the joints – crucial for freezers, FMCG and Life Science customers.
Traditional concrete technologies: Expanded joints accumulate dust and debris.
Lower lifetime costs
PrīmX: With drying shrinkage induced curling risks eliminated, reduced linear meters of joints, and minimal joint opening – lower repair costs and fewer disputes with landlords over responsibility for maintenance.
Traditional concrete technologies: Expanded joint edges often crumble, demanding repairs that disrupt operations.