Douglasville GA-based Asphalt Refining & Technology Company (ARTC) began operations in 2005 as a manufacturer and supplier of asphalt for the paving industry. Since then, it has expanded its product base to include polymer-modified paving asphalt, built-up roofing asphalt, packaged asphalt for hot-mop roofing applications, and specialty coatings for shingle manufacturing. As such, the fulcrum of ARTC's enhanced operations is its truck and railcar loading/unloading areas.
“Everything that comes into the facility comes in via railcar and everything that goes out goes out via truck,” said Jim Subers, ARTC's plant manager. “We bring in railcars every day, and we may move between 100 to 800 tons of material a day. All of the racks are being used on a very regular basis.”
Until three years ago, ARTC never had a completely designed loading system on-site, just a hodgepodge of ladders and platforms that allowed the employees in the rail and truck yards to access the top of the rolling stock. Then they contracted with SafeRack LLC for specially designed loading racks and fall protection.
The relationship between ARTC and SafeRack started with just one single-sided truck-loading rack purchased 18 months ago. Since then, ARTC has filled out the truck loading area with a second loading rack, as well as the modification of an existing loading rack, and two gangway and fall-protection systems. Convinced of the quality of the SafeRack products, Subers and ARTC then turned their attention to the railcar unloading area. The result was the installation of a SafeRack G4 Series gangway-and-platform system that came on line at the end of March 2009.
The G4 fit ARTC's needs for a number of reasons. It uses cutting-edge metal-stamping technology to create a stronger gangway that is also lighter and smoother to operate. SafeRack uses aluminum parts stamped out in a tool-and-die process and then formed by bending the metal into the required shape, eliminating the need to weld pieces together. This production process is also quicker, allowing for more expedient delivery and turnaround for the customer.
While the stamping process makes the G4 Series more durable, the gangways still offer the operator-friendly features. These include strong and durable spring-loaded gangway and platform operation, slip-resistant tread on the stairs, powdercoated handrails and mid-rails, heavy-duty bumpers, four-rail design for maximum fall protection, and easy operation.
For more information, visit www.SafeRack.com.