Storage system for steel plates with laser cutting machine

The Unseen Engine of Your Laser Cell: A Storage System That Feeds Productivity

In the high-stakes, high-velocity world of modern metal fabrication, your laser cutting machine is the star of the show. It’s the center of capital investment, the focal point of your workflow, and the machine that turns digital designs into physical profit. But what feeds this star? What system ensures it never waits, never sits idle, and always has the next sheet ready for the beam?

The chaotic, traditional methods—leaning sheets against walls, wrestling them from unstable A-frames, or navigating a maze of horizontal piles—create a hidden tax on your entire operation. This tax is paid in time lost searching for the right material, in the catastrophic cost of a scratched sheet moments before cutting, and in the immense safety risk of manually handling heavy, razor-edged plates.

The Herochu Integrated Plate Storage System is engineered to eliminate this tax. This is not a passive shelf; it is an active, dynamic partner to your laser cutter, CNC punch, or press brake. It is the logistical backbone of a lean, safe, and profoundly efficient fabrication workshop, designed from the ground up to handle the specific demands of storing and retrieving sheet metal for automated production.

The Anatomy of Flow: From Chaotic Pile to Precision Drawer

Imagine the workflow: an order for 3mm aluminum comes in. Instead of a forklift driver navigating a crowded yard of leaning materials, an operator walks to a clean, vertical bank of drawers. With minimal effort, they pull out a dedicated drawer—not a shelf, but a fully integrated, roll-out platform—exposing the entire 3000x1500mm sheet. A vacuum lifter or magnet engages seamlessly, lifts the plate, and transports it directly to the laser bed. The drawer closes, and the workspace remains clear. This is the Herochu principle in action.

The core design philosophy is built on three pillars:

1. Vertical Density: We reclaim the airspace that most workshops leave unused. By storing heavy plates vertically in multiple tightly-packed layers, a single Herochu unit can consolidate what would otherwise consume an entire section of your floor, compressing your raw material inventory into a clean, organized footprint.

2. Total Frontal Access: The revolutionary “Integrated Pull-out Type” drawer is the heart of the system. Each drawer, capable of holding between 3 to 6 tons, glides smoothly on reinforced tracks, extending completely to present the full face of the sheet. This eliminates the dangerous and damaging practice of dragging sheets out from the middle or bottom of a stack.

3. Purpose-Built for Material Handling: Every dimension is calculated for compatibility with modern equipment. The ground clearance of 355mm allows for easy integration with lift tables or forklift forks. The top height of ~2200mm keeps materials within a practical ergonomic range. This is storage designed not just to hold, but to hand off.

Decoding the Specifications: A System Engineered for Your Load

The Herochu system refuses a one-size-fits-all approach. Our model numbering, such as HC-B3015-63, is a direct code to its capability: ‘B’ for Board type, ‘3015’ for a 3000x1500mm sheet, ‘6’ for the number of layers, and ‘3’ for the 3-ton per-layer capacity. This clarity empowers you to choose the perfect foundation for your materials.

Let’s break down what these numbers mean for your operation:

The “5+1” layer configuration is a key feature, often referring to five main storage layers plus a dedicated top or bottom utility space for tools or remnant management. The available partition height of ≤220mm is precisely engineered to accommodate standard sheet thicknesses while providing enough guidance to prevent plates from wobbling or leaning during the pull-out process.

Beyond Storage: The Tangible Benefits That Transform Your Shop

Investing in a Herochu system is an investment in the very flow of your workshop. The return manifests in several critical areas:

• Dramatic Reduction in Material Handling Time: Studies in workshop efficiency consistently show that the majority of a machine operator’s time is spent not running the machine, but handling material. By placing every sheet at waist height and making it accessible with a simple pull, you can cut retrieval time by over 70%. This translates directly into more laser uptime and more jobs completed per shift.

• Elimination of Product Damage: A single scratch on a pre-finished sheet of stainless steel or a costly alloy can render it useless for a high-value project. The vertical, partitioned drawer design of the Herochu system ensures that sheets never contact each other. They are stored, transported, and presented without the risk of abrasion, bending, or marring, protecting your material investment from the warehouse to the workholding.

• Enhanced Workshop Safety: This is non-negotiable. The integrated locking mechanism—Lock-in, Lock-out for each drawer—is a critical safety feature. It prevents accidental drawer extension during movement and secures the massive weight in place during an earthquake or incidental impact. By removing the need for workers to climb or lean over unstable piles, you significantly reduce the risk of lacerations, crush injuries, and musculoskeletal disorders.

• Optimized Inventory Intelligence: Chaos is the enemy of accuracy. A Herochu rack allows for logical, visible organization. You can dedicate drawers by material type (steel, aluminum, brass), thickness, or even for specific recurring jobs. This visual management system makes inventory checks instantaneous and prevents costly errors where the wrong material is loaded into the laser.

A Seamless Integration with Your Production Workflow

The true power of this system is revealed in its synergy with your entire production cell. It is the perfect complement to:

• Laser Cutting Machines: By ensuring a constant, organized, and readily available supply of raw sheets, the storage system becomes the reliable feeder for your laser, minimizing bed downtime between jobs.

• Vacuum Lifters & Sheet Magnets: The full-drawer extension and clear access space are designed specifically for these tools. One operator can safely and effortlessly manage a 3-ton sheet alone, without waiting for a second worker or a dedicated forklift operator.

• ERP and MRP Systems: A physically organized storage system is the first step toward digital inventory management. When you know exactly where every sheet is, you can accurately track usage, automate reordering, and provide precise data for job costing.

The Herochu Difference: Certification and Customization

A storage system holding tens of tons of material above your employees and expensive machinery must be uncompromising in its quality. Our CE, UKCA, and ISO 9001 certifications are your guarantee that every weld, every component, and every finished product has been designed, tested, and manufactured to the highest international standards for safety and quality.

Furthermore, we understand that your needs are unique. Our “Customized” column is not an afterthought; it is a direct line to our engineering team. Starting at $5,000, we can configure a system for non-standard sheet sizes, specialized weight distributions, or unique workshop layouts, ensuring a perfect fit for your specific operational challenges.

Stop letting your raw material storage be the bottleneck in your production line. Transform it from a necessary evil into a competitive advantage. The Herochu Storage System for Steel Plates is more than a rack; it’s the strategic partner your laser cutter has been waiting for.

Contact us today for a consultation. Let us analyze your workflow and provide a customized proposal for a storage solution that will streamline your operation, protect your assets, and pay for itself through newfound efficiency.