When you enter a large retail store, the first thing that strikes you as a consumer is the wide range of products on offer.

For the retailer, the challenge is to present them in the most attractive fashion and in the least possible area.

One solution that is becoming common is high-rise storage racks. These metallic racks, provide vertical space for storing.

Newer retail stores, warehouses and manufacturing companies now stack up products vertically , as shrinking space and high rentals pose a challenge in cities.

There is demand to go up to 30 metres for storage in some sectors. Depending on the customer's need, high-rise storages can be created, says Mr Galla Vijay Naidu, Head (Strategic Business Unit), Mangal Precision Products Ltd, a Amara Raja Group company.

The Hyderabad-headquartered Amara Raja Group is setting up the plant with an investment of Rs 40 crore to manufacture high-rise, metallic-based, vertical storage racks.

The unit will come up at Rangampeta, about 20 km from Chittoor town in Andhra Pradesh.

The capacity of the unit will be 25,000 tonnes a year of steel processing. Funds will be from internal accruals and term loans from banks. The unit, to employ 250, will become operational by March. At present, there is lot of imports.

“We are getting technical support, especially in design of the racks from IIT-Chennai. We are also importing major equipment from different countries for the unit, he said.

Banks, share registrars and other organisations, which need to store important documents for long periods. Likewise, cigarette companies that store tobacco also in favour of such structures, Mr Naidu told Business Line.

> soma@thehindu.co.in

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