Steel bar and tube are the two most awkward loads a storage system can be asked to hold. A 3-ton bundle of round bar wants to roll; a rack of 12 m tube wants to sag; and the moment either one sits on the floor of a busy plant, it becomes a trip hazard, a dent magnet, and a search problem rolled into one. The CE certified manual crank steel bar & tube storage rack from Herochu answers with a structure engineered to a published load rating, a drive system that puts the operator in full control, and documentation that proves both. In regulated industries — construction, shipbuilding, energy, general engineering — the certificate is not a bonus feature, it is a purchasing condition.
Why CE Certification Matters for Storage Racks
CE marking on a storage rack is not a sticker. Under the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), the manufacturer must carry out a risk assessment, design the structure against the declared loads, and issue a Declaration of Conformity. For a manually operated rack, that process covers three areas buyers should look at:
- Structural integrity. The frame, arms, and drive components are calculated and verified against the rated capacity, including the asymmetric case where one side carries a full bundle and the other is empty.
- Mechanical safety. Moving parts — the crank, the gear-and-rack drive, the rollers — are guarded and designed so normal operation cannot trap a hand or drop a load.
- Traceability. Each rack carries a nameplate with the model, capacity, and serial number, and ships with the Declaration of Conformity. When an auditor asks where the rack’s rating came from, the answer is in the file, not in a sales conversation.
Herochu’s HC-G series is manufactured under this discipline. Every rack that leaves the factory is CE certified, and the supporting documentation is supplied with the unit.
Manual Crank Control: Safe by Design
The decision to drive the rack by hand is itself a safety decision. A powered rack introduces electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy — and every energy source brings its own failure modes and lockout requirements. The manual crank keeps the system simple:
- No stored energy. When the crank stops, the mechanism stops. There is no cylinder pressure holding a shelf in place, no motor that can run on.
- Operator-controlled speed. A heavy bundle is moved out slowly, checked, and lifted. The person doing the lifting sets the pace.
- Works in any condition. No power supply means the rack functions through power cuts, on site in the open air, and in plants where running electrics near material storage is restricted.
- Low maintenance. Grease the drive and rollers, check the bolts, and the mechanism keeps working for years. There are no pumps, valves, or motors to fail.
For steel bar and tube — materials that are heavy, long, and unforgiving if they move unexpectedly — predictable manual control is often preferable to automation, and it costs a fraction of the purchase price.
Built for Bar and Tube Weight
Bars and tubes punish weak structures differently. Bar stock applies point loads through a small contact area; tube sections apply long distributed loads that want to bow the arms. The HC-G series handles both with:
- Q235B high-strength steel frame. The main structure is welded from Q235B sections, giving the frame the stiffness to hold its geometry under repeated full-capacity cycles.
- Dual-beam crossbar design. Each tier is supported by twin beams, which distributes the load across the frame instead of concentrating it on a single member. This is the detail that lets one side carry a full bundle while the other side sits empty.
- Rated 3,000–5,000 kg per level. Capacities are published per model, calculated, and verified — not optimistic marketing numbers.
- Dual-side mechanical assistance. Material is discharged from either side, so a rack serving a wall position or a two-bay layout never forces a crane to reach awkwardly.
The finish is a durable industrial coating that resists the scuffs and scratches tube handling inevitably produces, and bare steel edges are dressed so slings and hands do not catch.
Technical Parameters
| Model No. | Pipe Length | Max. Load per Level | Number of Layers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC-G6053S | 6,000 mm | 3,000 kg | 5 (customizable) |
| HC-G6053 | 6,000 mm | 3,000 kg | 5 (customizable) |
| HC-G9065 | 9,000 mm | 5,000 kg | 6 (customizable) |
| HC-G12065 | 12,000 mm | 5,000 kg | 6 (customizable) |
Clear space: 600 mm (customizable). Material discharge method: dual-side mechanical assistance. Layer counts shown are standard; Herochu customizes tier heights and compartment layouts to the buyer’s stock list.
How Herochu Delivers Compliance
CE certification is a process, not a one-off check, and Herochu runs it as part of production. The engineering team calculates each model’s frame and drive against the rated load. The workshop welds to qualified procedures, and QC inspects every rack — weld quality, alignment, moving-part function — before it is painted and packed. Each unit ships with its nameplate, Declaration of Conformity, and instruction manual covering operation, loading limits, and maintenance. If your purchasing department requires the certificate set before payment, Herochu provides it as standard paperwork, not as a special request.
FAQ
What documents come with the rack? A CE Declaration of Conformity, the operation and maintenance manual, and a nameplate with model, capacity, and serial number.
Is the manual crank rack safer than an electric rack? For bar and tube storage, many plants prefer it: no stored energy, operator-controlled speed, and operation independent of the power supply. It also costs less to buy and maintain.
What is the real load capacity per level? 3,000–5,000 kg per level depending on the model (HC-G6053S/HC-G6053: 3,000 kg; HC-G9065/HC-G12065: 5,000 kg).
Can the rack be customized and still keep its CE certification? Yes. Customization is engineered and re-verified as part of the manufacturing process, so the certified rating applies to the delivered configuration.
Request the Certificate Pack
If your next storage purchase requires documented compliance, ask for the Herochu HC-G series. Request the technical datasheet, the CE certificate set, and a quotation by sending your material list — diameters, lengths, and bundle weights — to the Herochu sales team. A CE certified manual crank steel bar & tube storage rack is the difference between storing steel and documenting that it is stored safely.
