Services
The Flowstore Service
FlowStore supply many sectors with custom made gravity flow racks, workbenches, trolleys and components. With a choice of aluminium and steel tubes, flexible and fixed joints, and hundreds of accessories, the FlowTube product range can be used to create the ideal lean manufacturing solution to meet your specific production requirements. With our in-house design team and on-site stock, FlowStore is the perfect partner for rapid design and delivery.
Identifying Your Requirements
The requirements for your assembly line structures will be determined as you identify process improvements on your production line.
A critical part of your specification will look at the type of solutions available:
Static structures vs mobile structures
Fixed design vs modular design
Future-proofing for continuous improvements
The specification of the solution should be based on the lifespan of the space and assembly line. If the space is assigned to the assembly line or production cell is for the short-term then it is recommended to make it easy to move to a new space if reassigned. For medium or long-term, fixed, mobile or a mix of both can be used depending on the assembly line use. If the assembly line use is likely to change in the future then common processes can be serviced by fixed structures, whilst elements likely to change can be mobile allowing it to be modular and can be changed quickly and frequently.
Mobile Structures Vs Static Structures
Structures can be made mobile by adding casters to your design making assembly line more flexible and allowing for changes to be made in the future as Takt Time, and production sequences are improved.
Ideal for short-term production runs, environments where production lines can be moved frequently and sub-processes for small assemblies.
With forklift-free productions facilities becoming increasingly common, mobile flow racks and custom trolleys can help make the material flow easier and more efficient.
Use in Kaizen events to test new production processes
Static structures are ideal for production lines that will be in place medium to long term. These are ideal for where heavier loads are more frequently used and more stability is required from the structures.
Larger and more complex solutions can be developed to meet requirements.
Create complete production cells with flow racks for inventory management, workstations for assembly and assigned trolleys or conveyors to move sub-assemblies, complete units or packaged items to the next phase
Coloured steel tubes can help create visually distinctive assembly zones or phases.
Fixed Design Vs Modular Design
Modular designs allow quick changes to existing structures such as adding roller tracks.
Structures are more adaptable, allowing quick efficiency gains such as adding component bins.
Ideal for connecting new flow racks to make existing structures deeper and to implement FIFO processes.
Fixed designs should be considered where the process is mature. Modular elements can still be added to adapt for different products, however, the common processes can be fixed.
Complex solutions can be designed and built that provide the solution required for the process.
FlowTube’s flexibility still allows changes to fixed solutions to be made easily and quickly.
Can still be adapted with modular elements for inventory load and return, and expanded for additional uses.
Using Flowtube Tubes and Brackets
Tube and bracket solutions allow you to design your structures to meet your requirements and make modifications when they are needed.
Wide range of tubes, brackets, castor wheels and other components to create the solution you need.
High resistance to chemicals for easier maintenance regime.
Quickly repair damaged structures by replacing brackets or tubes when needed.
Easily add new elements such as monitor brackets, sliding shelves and doors.
Create new modular elements to expand or improve existing FlowTube and compatible systems.
Combine steel and aluminium tubes for added strength or to build mobile elements.
Use coloured steel tubes to clearly visually identify zones.
Encourage more creativity and out of the box thinking to creating new material handling solutions.
Designing Your System
1. We appoint a Project Manager according to the type of requirement, covering various areas including design, commercial, contractual, factory and site assembly and commissioning.
2. Where needed, Project Manager will conduct site visits to review requirements and set key milestones for delivering the project.
3. Project Manager develops a proposal in CAD using Solidworks to provide visuals and design BOM.
4. Project Manager and Client sign off a CAD design of the project
5. Order is placed by client and Flowstore schedules production timelines according to requirements.
Building and Delivering your System
6. Order schedule is passed to the production team and build entered into the production plan.
7. Order is picked and components photographed to show full kit was picked.
8. Kit order is sent out for delivery, or assembly order is passed on to production team.
9. The order is assembled to CAD design instructions.
10. Order is passed on to the quality team to check measurements, and that design specification is met.
Building Your Solution
Flowstore offers a complete build service for your solutions. From component pick to assembly and delivery, our production team maintains the highest quality and track with photos taken at each completed stage and referenced in the event of any customer query.
International Top Brands Served By Flowstore
