Category: Safety
Posted by: Diana Ourston | on August 27, 2014
TOPCAP Seismic Solution
TopCap Seismic Solution
It has been proven that if the top barrels are secured, it will reduce damages caused by seismic activity. With this in mind, we offer you the TOPCAP seismic solution.
The TopCap is a low profile solution to strapping your top barrels for earthquake safety. The TopCap comes with safety strap.
More on the Topcap, click here.
Can be manufactured either stainless steel or carbon steel with powder coat finish.
Posted in New Barrel Racks, Products, Rack Drawings, Safety | Comments Off on TOPCAP Seismic Solution
Tags: earthquake, topcap, TopCap Seismic Solution
Posted by: Diana Ourston | on August 26, 2014
TOPCAP – Seismic Wine Barrel Rack Holder
Earthquakes are inevitable in California and occur without warning. Just such a disaster occurred last Sunday morning in Napa, California.
During an earthquake, wine cellars with barrels stacked on racks 4 to 6 high, begin rocking back and fourth violently. The result is that the top barrels become ejected from the stack. Followed by the rest of the barrels and racks to come tumbling down.
Case studies have shown that when the top barrels are secured, the stack has a much better chance of remaining upright.
Our Solution: The TOPCAP
This is a rack with a strap designed to reduce the risks involved with the top barrels falling during an earthquake and everyday service.
♦ Simple and effective design.
♦ Requires only one person to install and remove.
♦ Lightweight approximately 15 pounds.
♦ Works with all common racks and sizes, 2 and 4 barrels.
♦ Design based on testing and research performed at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California.
♦ Inexpensive “insurance” against earthquakes.
Earthquake Risk Managment
Earthquakes have long been feared as one of natures most terrifying and powerful phenomena. Although earthquakes cannot be prevented, modern science and engineering provide tools that can be used to reduce their effects.
A winery is a fragile production facility. Everyone needs to do their part to ensure that their winery is not left for loss in the next earthquake. The “TOPCAP” helps to protect your wine barrel stacks to enable you to accomplish the first essential step in winery risk management.
Topco, Inc.
Posted in Earthquake, New Barrel Racks, Products, Rack Drawings, Safety | Comments Off on TOPCAP – Seismic Wine Barrel Rack Holder
Posted by: Diana Ourston | on August 31, 2011
Buyers Guide for Wine Barrel Racks
Are you new to the wine making industry and not sure what to look for when it comes to purchasing wine barrel racks for your cellar? If so we would like to share with you a few tips.
•Save on costs and purchase refurbished racks.
•Be sure you racks have four crossbars for safety.
•Topchock cradle has better contact with the barrel .
•Stainless steel for durable finish.
Our refurbished racks are cleaned, inspected and coated with two coats of powder coating. They look great and cost about a third less than a new rack.
Single crossbar racks are not recomended, they have a tendency to bend under too much weight, especially if they are on the bottom of a tall stack.
The topchock cradle is a design we developed for two reasons. First we wanted to have a better contact with the barrel and second to get better coverage of powder coat in that area.
Stainless steel racks offer a durable finish in a winery environment. The main drawback is the cost. These racks can cost up to two and a half times more than a new rack.
Posted in New Barrel Racks, Products, Re-Manufacture, Refurbishment, Saddle Types, Safety | Comments Off on Buyers Guide for Wine Barrel Racks