TOMCAT TRIKES DEPLOYS PATENT PROTECTION, BUT NOT ALWAYS

EU interest grows in patented pallet racking safety system

A unique pallet racking safety system is winning interest from European companies looking to safeguard staff and goods.

Redditch-based Rack Collapse Prevention’s system is designed to provide a safer working environment.

In a typical steel-framed warehouse, where Rack Collapse Prevention’s Rhino safety system is fitted to fully loaded racking, in the event of a single or multiple support leg damage incident, racking would drop slightly but remain stable and prevent rack collapse failure.

Rack Collapse Prevention founder Craig Attwell said: “Our system provides a safer working warehouse environment.”

Rack collapse can cost lives and potentially cripple a business if the worst were to happen.

With any form of pallet racking, particularly above six meters, there is an increased risk of racking failure, typically caused by forklift operator error or incorrect pallet stacking.

A damaged racking leg, whilst under load, will force the leg to buckle and lose the structure’s ability to withstand load capacity, causing the rack to collapse.

For Bob Griffin, founder of Tomcat Trikes, patents can deter IP theft or form the basis of legal action against an infringer, although he warns that some may need very deep pockets for that. They can lead to collaboration with businesses who want to licence your technology and can greatly increase the worth of a business, while researching the patent records can ensure you don’t become an infringer yourself.

Gloucester based Tomcat has been granted several patents from its 50plus innovations. Not all ideas merit a patent as there are many commercial considerations to weigh against the initial and ongoing cost. For example, how broad is the idea’s appeal? Will the interest be international and could it be easily circumvented? All these considerations help make the decision. However in the UK, the government encourages investment in innovation through a scheme called Patent Box.

Bob said: “Patent Box reduces the corporation tax levied on a patented product or enhancement by 50 per cent, giving the innovator a very distinct edge over an imitator. In addition, most IP development costs, from wages through to materials, are eligible for a tax rebate, so my advice to budding innovators is to seek professional advice on how to protect your ideas and reduce your development costs.”

Craig said: “Our system uses wire ropes suspended from the building’s steel structure where possible which is attached to each individual leg. If the building’s structure cannot be used, then a secondary steel structure is installed to form a support structure for the suspension ropes.”

“With Rhino in place, damaged legs can’t buckle or collapse, preventing total rack collapse even if the racking drops slightly, and it also prevents any potential domino effect within the storage facility.”