[Nhcoll-l] Compactor/mobile storage systems for paleo collections

Tue Aug 15 15:39:09 EDT 2023

Hi Tiffany,
We have triple-stacked cabinets on compactor carriages at the UMMP, and I
was very concerned about capacity during design, so there were several
conversations with engineers.  As an example of the weights involved, one
of our carriages holds about 37,000 lbs of cabinets and drawers (empty).
The paleobotany fossils in those drawers bring the total weight of the
carriage up to about 67,000 lbs (based on some random drawer weighing), and
the stated capacity of this carriage is 104,000.  My understanding is that
our carriages were modified from a standard design to handle the higher
loads of triple-stacked paleo collections.

We have manual cranks, and these heavier carriages do take a bit of effort,
but I would not say it is too difficult.  We only move one carriage  at a
time.

-Adam

On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 2:55 PM Rob Robins <rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu> wrote:

> All,
>
> I responded directly to Tiffany on this topic, but seeing the more recent
> messages, I’m concluding that an estimate of the weight of the UF Fish
> Collection objects on our new compactor systems, made fairly exacting
> because of the system we’ve adopted, might be of interest to the larger
> community.
>
>
> *Refining what I sent to Tiffany as concerns our “gallon jar sector” of
> the collection*:
>
>
>
> Bay 4, carriage 3_4 has a total of 2,173 gallon jars scanned to it (1081
> on the “3” side and 1092 on the “4” side).
>
>
>
> Taken at an estimated average of 9lbs a jar (fluid + specimen(s):
>
>
>
> 2,173 jars x 9 lbs = 19,557 lbs. ~ 10 tons.
>
>
>
> It moves just fine.
>
>
>
> Later in the move we will add approximately 123 two, three, and five
> gallon glass “buckets” of specimens to this carriage.
>
>
>
> 123 jars x ~30lbs = 3,690 lbs
>
>
>
> For a grand total of ~ 23,247 lbs.
>
>
>
> *11.6 tons on one compactor carriage.*
>
>
> There will be close to 4 carriages filled with gallon jars when the move
> is complete.
>
>
>
> Later in the life of the collection, as needed, small jars can be added in
> some of the space left at the front of each shelf. More weight. But not
> much more. 😉
>
>
>
> We move the carriages one at a time.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>
>
> For a graphical representation of the scanned gallon jar lots in question,
> from Specify, see:
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert H. Robins
>
> Collection Manager
>
> Division of Ichthyology
>
> [image: FLMNH Fishes logo email small]
>
> Florida Museum
>
> 1659 Museum Rd.
>
> Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
>
> Office: (352) 273-1957
>
> rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu
>
>
>
> The UF Fish Collection is moving:
>
> https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/
>
>
>
> Search the Collection:
>
> http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/
>
>
>
> Search samples suitable for dna analysis:
>
> https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> * On Behalf Of *Cundiff,
> Jessica D.
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 15, 2023 2:29 PM
> *To:* Adrain, Tiffany S <tiffany-adrain at uiowa.edu>;
> nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Compactor/mobile storage systems for paleo
> collections
>
>
>
> *[External Email]*
>
> Hi Tiffany,
>
>
>
> At the MCZ all of the invert paleo collection is in compactors. Heaviest
> material we have are the fossil corals. Those are in 4 foot Delta cabinets
> with doors and double stacked. I don’t recall the weight we estimated per
> cabinet or the weight limit they gave us per compactor section, but we did
> not exceed the weight the compactor can handle. We have a lot of heavy
> corals in a fairly long compactor sections and have no issues moving as
> long as we move one section at a time. We have also had a few issues with
> water leaks that caused the rails to rust, but they still move easily.
>
>
>
> Jessica
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Lazo-Wasem,
> Eric
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 15, 2023 1:19 PM
> *To:* Adrain, Tiffany S <tiffany-adrain at uiowa.edu>;
> nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Compactor/mobile storage systems for paleo
> collections
>
>
>
> Hi Tiffany,
>
>
>
> Although not fossils, our coral range is filled with a lot of dense, heavy
> species such as Diploria, although I don’t have tech specs for how much I
> am actually moving.  Additionally, to get more packed into the dry specimen
> storage room, we placed 5 foot cabinets of 4 footers, so that adds extra
> weight compared to more standard configurations of 4 over 4.  However, in
> some areas with lighter material I can move a few ranges at once, but the
> corals, not really possible to do it.  BTW – our cabinets all have doors,
> so it is quite a bit of steel weight even before we packed in the
> specimens.
>
>
>
> Despite a tightly closed environment, we recently dealt with flooding as
> the roof of an infill building was being married to my building.  The rails
> rusted but this has not impacted function. With use the rails clean up and
> given my focus on fluid collections (where I am constantly accessing
> different tier ranges) the dry collection can sit for weeks unmoved – never
> has this been an issue.
>
>
>
> Eric
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Adrain,
> Tiffany S
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 15, 2023 12:37 PM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] Compactor/mobile storage systems for paleo
> collections
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> If you manage a paleontology collection in compactor (aka mobile) storage,
> I'd be grateful from some insight into the ease at which carriages full of
> fossils can be moved. I am planning new storage in a warehouse-style
> facility
>
>
> Do you have any difficulty in moving the heaviest carriages along the
> rails in your collection? If so, what would be the maximum weight/volume
> per rail you'd recommend.
>
>
> Have you had any problems maintaining the carriage rails in a variable
> relative humidity environment (any problem with rusting or seizing up),
> especially when the carriages are not moved very often?
>
>
>
> Any advice or tips you can give me are greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tiffany
>
>
>
>
>
> Tiffany Adrain (pronouns: she/her/hers)
>
> Collections Manager, Paleontology Repository
>
> Instructor, Museum Studies Certificate Program
>
> Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
>
> University of Iowa
>
> 115 Trowbridge Hall
>
> Iowa City, Iowa, 52242
>
>
>
> phone: 319 335 1822
>
> fax: 319 335 1821
>
> email: tiffany-adrain at uiowa.edu
>
> website: https://clas.uiowa.edu/ees/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__clas.uiowa.edu_ees_&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=rKOeyDwg0Rrf2Mj2nVmeA0uU5RH9ElGSoLMOXWdLWyE&m=f3RJ3npe83TyT6P11sRQEIR-eKxFBMwn2ypIuN7dkK3WqeIuuKLhBsaGAl4iyWWg&s=WyV8gEMjpzz3NUGI91EUQYV03dnxp6_aYz79Ft0YANE&e=>
>
>
>
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