Auto Body Shop Installs a Wildeck VRC to Optimize its Space

The Challenge

An auto body shop located in the St. Louis, MO area had 51,000 sq ft of space and 80 Work Bays at their largest location in Oakville. As happens to many in the auto body industry, growth was causing the shop to quickly run out of storage space. When square footage became limited on the ground floor and there was no easy access to the second level of their existing mezzanine, the location started to store tech carts in six operational work bays of the shop. This unutilized space was resulting in lost revenue for the company, so they needed to act fast.

 

Our Solution

In response, the auto body shop approached Wildeck's local dealer in the area, ISS Material Handling (ISSMH). ISSMH’s recommendation was to install a Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor or VRC to assist in moving material off and away from the ground level. With the help of Wildeck staff, ISSMH was able to provide a Hydraulic Straddle VRC to the end user customer.

With a capacity of up to 4,000 lbs, lifting speed of 20ft per minute and a lift height of 18 ft. 6 in., the Wildeck Hydraulic VRC was able to accommodate the end user's material lifting needs. Wildeck VRCs are a cost-effective, safe and easy way to move materials from one elevation to another. They are ideally suited for the safe and efficient movement of materials to a mezzanine, among other new or existing upper floor levels.

The ability to integrate the VRC into the existing mezzanine meant the customer was able to make a big change in their facility without closing for construction. After installing the VRC, the auto body shop is now able to easily and quickly store their carts on the second level mezzanine, freeing up the six bays they were previously using to store the carts.

Wildeck's VRC enabled the end user to free-up precious operational space, becoming an investment that would quickly pay for itself:

(6) Bays x (15) Hours/Bay x (5) Working Days/Week = 450 hours/week

450 hours @ $63/Hour - $28,350/week

By better utilizing the bays that were previously being used as storage, the auto body shop was able to recoup the cost of the VRC lift within a few short weeks for a very quick return on investment.

 

 

top