Gravity flow systems for heavy steel totes, stamped metal containers, and industrial tote carriers — engineered for the exact tote base dimensions, load weight, and environmental conditions of automotive, aerospace, and heavy manufacturing operations. Manufactured in Auburn Hills, MI.
Roller rail centers, pitch, and guide rail positions are designed from your tote drawing — accounting for base pan dimensions, runner locations, and corner configuration for reliable lane travel with metal totes.
Steel tote lanes are rated for the full content weight of castings, forgings, and machined parts — with load-calculated rollers and frame members providing 2:1 safety factor at rated tote gross weight.
Open-bottom rail construction allows coolant and chip fall-through. Sealed bearings resist coolant ingress and extend roller service life in wet machining and grinding environments.
High-temperature bearings, heat-resistant roller coatings, and elevated-temperature structural calculations are available for lanes adjacent to furnaces, ovens, and hot-zone processing stations.
Adjacent full-tote flow and empty-tote return lanes in the same rack bay minimize tote handling steps at the production station and keep floor aisles clear of empty tote accumulation.
FIFO lane flow enforces processing order for machined parts and castings — supporting lot traceability requirements in aerospace, medical device, and safety-critical manufacturing applications.
Steel stamped totes, welded mesh containers, cast iron tote pans, aluminum tote boxes, custom metal carriers
500 lbs to 3,500+ lbs per tote position; engineered per tote + content gross weight with 2:1 safety factor
60–90mm steel; sealed bearings for coolant environments; high-temp bearings for furnace-adjacent lanes
Dual rail for totes with runners; full-width bed for flat-base tote pans; custom per tote drawing
2-deep to 6-deep; depth per production consumption rate and replenishment cycle
3–4% standard; adjusted per tote base friction and gross load; speed controllers per lane
Standard dry; coolant-resistant; wash-down; high-temp to 250°F available; outdoor galvanized option
Steel or rubber-cushioned positive stop; stop force per tote velocity and mass at pick face
Adjacent paired return lane for empty tote gravity return to load end available in same rack bay
Steel tote gravity flow lanes delivering raw castings and blanks to CNC machining cell input positions.
Heavy casting and forging tote staging in FIFO lanes at heat treat, cleaning, and machining stations.
FIFO tote lanes for aerospace component traceability through multi-step precision machining operations.
Stamped metal part tote lanes adjacent to press lines for FIFO sequencing to secondary processing.
High-temperature tote gravity lanes feeding furnace charge stations with FIFO lot control.
Metal part tote flow lanes presenting weld fixture components at robotic and manual welding stations.
Military component tote staging in FIFO lanes for lot-controlled assembly and inspection processes.
Stainless tote flow lanes for medical device component traceability through machining and cleaning operations.
Industrial tote flow racks are designed for steel stamped totes, welded steel mesh containers, cast iron tote pans, aluminum tote boxes, and any rigid metal container used to transport heavy industrial parts. These totes differ from plastic injection-molded totes in that they are heavier, dimensionally less consistent, and typically used for machined metal parts, castings, forgings, and stampings.
Heavy steel totes flow on full-width roller beds or dual roller rails, depending on tote base dimensions. Full-width beds are used when the tote base is a solid sheet metal pan. Dual rails are used when the tote has two runners or leg pads. Roller pitch is set to ensure the tote base is always supported by at least three rollers in both configurations.
Industrial tote flow lane ratings are calculated per tote gross weight. Heavy steel totes loaded with castings or forgings can range from 500 lbs to over 3,000 lbs per tote. Lane rating includes the combined weight of the tote and its full content load, with a 2:1 safety factor. Roller diameter and rail gauge are selected based on this calculated position load.
Yes. Tote flow racks near furnaces, ovens, or hot zones require high-temperature bearings, heat-resistant roller coatings, and frame finishes rated for elevated temperatures. Non-lubricated or high-temperature grease bearings are available for rollers in ambient temperatures above 150°F. Rack frame structural calculations account for elevated temperature material property reductions.
Tote flow racks in machining environments accumulate coolant, chips, and cutting fluid. Lanes should be designed with open-bottom rail construction to allow debris to fall through rather than accumulate on roller surfaces. Quarterly bearing inspection and annual replacement of worn rollers are standard. Heavy-duty sealed bearings reduce coolant ingress and extend service life in wet machining environments.
Provide your tote drawings, content weights, environment conditions, and lane count — our engineers will design a system built for your specific tote type and production process.
Request a Quote