The dynamic economic development of many African countries poses challenges in terms of logistics and warehousing, which can be difficult to meet using only traditional solutions.
Increasing traffic in seaports and frequent inefficiencies in transport networks necessitate actions to increase storage space not only in seaports, but also in local logistics and transhipment centres. Port warehouses – transhipment warehouses, located near the dock, are used for the short-term storage of goods that require protection from the weather. Metal ores, coal, bulk materials for fertilizer production, cement, wood, various types of semi-finished products and goods in general need to be protected against rain and wind. They do not require special thermal insulation conditions. The traditional construction of storage halls, even in its simplest form, is a costly and time-consuming investment.
Nevertheless, there is an alternative solution that allows a very rapid increase in covered storage space. Industrial storage tents with PVC wall coverings are structures with strength parameters that allow them to be used in often difficult climatic conditions.
The tent serves as a handling warehouse for aluminium ore for Deutsche Bahn. The construction with aluminium profiles is suitable for strong storm winds. In contrast to cheap seasonal tents, storage tents are structures that can stay for several years and meet strict construction standards with regard to safety, wind resistance and local snow conditions.
The important advantage of storage tents is the short set-up time. A 1000 m2 warehouse can be installed in a single day! It is important to note that no permanent foundation is required. A hard, levelled surface, asphalt, paving stones or concrete slabs are sufficient. It is also a mobile solution. If necessary, the hall can be easily dismantled and placed in a completely different location.
The more sophisticated versions of the warehouses can be equipped with trapezoidal sheets or sandwich panels and an inflatable roof, which provides better thermal isolation. Like traditional construction warehouses, tent storage halls can be equipped with platforms for trucks, ventilation, heating and lighting systems. The dimensions of the tents manufactured by the main manufacturers, of which Industent is a part, make it possible to meet the needs for small storage tents and large warehouse complexes. The maximum span of storage stent is 50 m, the height at the top is up to 15 m and the area can reach 9000 m2. Another undeniable advantage of the tents is their modularity, the possibility to enlarge them and combine them easily in different configurations. If the hall needs to be wider than the maximum width of a single segment, it is easy to combine several halls to create a large warehouse complex, whose economic advantage is unequalled compared to a hall built in the traditional way.
The inner walls of the connected hall segments have no cladding and the inner pillars do not hinder storage or forklift truck manoeuvring. Within a few days, a polystyrene foam warehouse was built, the cost of which is unbeatable compared to a conventionally built hall.
As an alternative to PVC and sandwich panels, the side walls of the storage tent can be made of trapezoidal sheet metal.
These examples of storage tent warehouses clearly illustrate the potential that can be exploited for a more rapid development of warehouses, not only in African countries.