A stacker crane is a device for storing loads in a warehouse, whose structure (load-bearing frame) consists of a movable mast or frame along which a carriage moves. There are mast-type and frame-type stacker cranes. That is the dictionary definition, but since Poland is a full member of the European Union, we must expand this definition to include the scope provided in point 1 of the standard PN-EN 528: 1996 “Stacker cranes. Safety”: This standard applies to all types of rail-mounted equipment, in aisles and outside aisles, containing lifting elements, which may also have equipment for handling the stacking and retrieval of unit loads and/or long loads, such as bars, and/or for order picking, or similar work. The standard also covers transfer cars used to move stacker cranes between aisles, as well as devices ranging from manually operated to automatically controlled devices.
Such a description of a stacker crane is provided by selected definitions. Why these and not others: firstly, the stacker crane is very much a logistical “animal”, it is no coincidence that one can read about it in a magazine of a known name, and secondly – and most importantly – this “animal” was only fully “domesticated” within the EU in 1998. Anyone who does not take this into account may expose themselves and others to serious consequences.
The “domesticating” act was and is Directive 98/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to machinery. The Directive was transposed into the Polish legal system by the Regulation of the Minister of Economy of 20 December 2005 on essential requirements for machines and safety components (Journal of Laws 2005 No. 259, item 2170) and the content of this Regulation and one more, contrary to appearances, important act. It very often happens that this Regulation is overlooked, both by suppliers of machines in the logistics industry and – unfortunately – also by users of devices “powered by something other than human muscle”. And yet the Regulation specifies:
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essential health and safety requirements regarding the design and construction of machines placed on the market
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conformity assessment procedures
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types of machines and safety components for which the participation of a notified body is required during the conformity assessment procedure
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the method of marking machines and safety components
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the CE mark template.
The description provided below will not give guidelines for machine suppliers, but the requirements that they should meet and properly document before handing over a stacker crane or a stacker crane assembly (machines) for use.
What does the Regulation (Directive 98/37/EC) require from a stacker crane supplier?
First of all, the machine must meet the requirements characteristic of it, specified by the legal act. These are essential health and safety requirements and requirements specified by harmonized standards. What is a harmonized standard? It is precisely this one more, contrary to appearances, important act. The European standard EN 528:1996 “Stacker cranes. Safety” is a standard harmonized with Directive 98/37/EC, which means that its application is mandatory, as it contains detailed requirements regarding the machines described in the cited first point of this standard.
What should a stacker crane supplier agree upon with the recipient and provide them with? This is described primarily in point 9 of the standard – “Verification”, which states that “before commissioning, the machine should be checked by a qualified, authorized person”. Verification is to include: design; compliance of the assembly with the design; acceptance tests (load test, safety device effectiveness test, check of completeness and correctness of assembly, as well as completeness and correctness of entries in the manufacturer’s documentation).
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 5/2009.