A CNC laser cutter earns money only while it is cutting. Every minute it waits for a forklift, a crane, or an operator to position the next sheet is time lost that no overtime can recover. Herochu’s compact automatic storage tower with feeder/unloader removes that waiting: raw plate inventory sits vertically beside the machine, and a powered loading arm feeds sheets into the cutter and takes finished parts out without anyone standing at the table.
The concept is straightforward. Keep the material close, keep it moving automatically, and let the cutting machine run. The engineering underneath, from tower structure and vacuum handling to motion control and safety interlocks, is where the design has to be right. This article explains how the compact tower works, what it replaces, and which Herochu models fit which sheet sizes.
Vertical storage that shrinks the footprint
Instead of spreading racks across the floor, the compact tower stacks sheets vertically in 8 to 10 layers, each layer customizable to the plate sizes a shop actually cuts. The HC-A3015-83 model, for example, stores 3000 x 1500 mm sheets in 8 layers with a load capacity of 3,000 kg per tier. Larger frames such as the HC-A6020-105 hold 6000 x 2000 mm sheets in 10 layers at 5,000 kg per tier. Clear space between tiers is 350 mm as standard and adjustable for thicker plate stock.
Vertical stacking does more than organize inventory. It returns floor area to the production hall, using up to 70-80% less footprint than horizontal storage of the same tonnage, and it keeps sheet surfaces off the ground, away from dust, moisture, and forklift traffic. For plants running several sheet sizes, the layer structure also acts as a simple storage map: each tier is assigned a format, so locating a plate takes seconds, not a walk around the racks. In a shop where every square meter is assigned to machines, that is often the deciding reason to automate.
The feeder/unloader that replaces manual handling
The tower is paired with a loading arm that does the work of two operators and a forklift. The arm travels horizontally at 10-30 m/min, lifts at 5-10 m/min, and its fork opens and closes at 5-20 m/min. Vacuum suction cups grip each sheet from above, so the top surface is never marked by forks or chains. The system handles sheets up to 500 kg and positions them with millimeter-level accuracy.
On the machine side, the feeder docks directly with the CNC laser cutter’s exchange table. The arm places a raw sheet on the table, the table swaps it into cutting position, and when the job finishes, the same cycle retrieves the cut parts and skeleton. A material cart moves sheets between tower and machine at 5-15 m/min. The whole sequence, store, feed, cut, unload, runs under PLC control with no operator decision between steps.
What changes on the shop floor
Shops that install the compact tower report the same pattern of change. One operator supervises several machines instead of one. Idle time between jobs drops because the next sheet is already staged. Rejects caused by scratched or damaged material become rare. Because the system handles sheets the same way on every cycle, quality stays consistent from the first job of the morning to the last job of the night. The same discipline applies to scheduling: the tower makes stock visible, so production planners know exactly which plates are available without walking the floor.
Safety follows the same logic. Photoelectric sensors monitor the working area, weight detection modules confirm the sheet is seated before any movement, and emergency shut-offs stop all axes instantly. Operators never enter the movement envelope during automatic cycles, which removes the most common source of injury in sheet handling.
The same predictability makes extended running practical. With the tower loaded before the shift ends, the cutter can keep working unattended for hours, and the next shift starts with finished parts instead of an empty table. Shops chasing throughput treat those extra hours as direct capacity.
Specifications at a glance
| Parameter | HC-A3015-83 | HC-A4015-85 | HC-A4020-85 | HC-A6020-105 |
| Sheet dimensions (mm) | 3000 x 1500 | 4000 x 1500 | 4000 x 2000 | 6000 x 2000 |
| Number of layers | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Max. load capacity (kg/tier) | 3,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Number of storage towers | 1 (customizable) | 1 (customizable) | 1 (customizable) | 1 (customizable) |
| Applicable sheet dimensions (mm) | 3000 x 1500 | 4000 x 2000 | 6000 x 2000 | 6000 x 2500 |
| Clear space (mm) | 350 | 350 | 350 | 350 |
| Transfer speed (m/min) | 5-15 | 5-15 | 5-15 | 5-15 |
| Max. sheet weight (kg) | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Loading arm horizontal speed (m/min) | 10-30 | 10-30 | 10-30 | 10-30 |
| Loading arm lifting speed (m/min) | 5-10 | 5-10 | 5-10 | 5-10 |
| Fork opening/closing speed (m/min) | 5-20 | 5-20 | 5-20 | 5-20 |
All configurations are customizable in layer count; clear space and other parameters can be adjusted to site requirements.
Choosing the right tower
Applicable sheet dimensions extend to 6000 x 2500 mm, so the range covers standard laser-cutting formats in mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The layout is customized to the site: tower position, cart travel path, and machine docking are engineered around the existing production floor.
For a CNC laser shop that needs more cutting hours and less manual handling, the compact automatic storage tower with feeder/unloader from Herochu is a direct answer, engineered, integrated, and ready to keep the laser busy. The tower arrives as a complete unit, and commissioning covers the interface with the machine’s exchange table, so production can start within days rather than weeks.
