For Automated Warehouse Systems
Very narrow aisle (VNA) racking systems leave little margin for error. When floor flatness and levelness fall outside spec, the results show up fast: guide wheel wear, rack collisions, and automated systems that can’t run at full speed. Summit Industrial Flooring specializes in precision floor grinding built for the tolerances VNA operations require.
Why Standard Concrete Doesn’t Work for VNA
Most warehouse floors are poured to general commercial tolerances, not the flatness and levelness numbers VNA racking and automated guided systems depend on. Even small deviations compound in narrow aisles, where trucks and automated equipment operate within inches of racking on both sides. A floor that looks flat to the eye can still fall well outside the tolerance a VNA system needs to run safely and efficiently.
Our Grinding Process
We use laser-guided grinding equipment to measure and correct floor flatness (FF) and floor levelness (FL) across the full footprint of the space, testing to the ASTM E1155 F-number standard and grinding to as tight as FMIN 100. Our process is built to minimize disruption to active warehouse operations, with scheduling designed around your facility’s timeline.
Proven on High-Demand Fulfillment Operations
Who We Serve
Summit Industrial Flooring works with:
- Warehouse automation operators
- Third-party logistics (3PL) providers
- Manufacturing facilities using AGVs (autonomous guided vehicles) that move materials along predefined routes, a simpler application than VNA but built on the same flatness principles. Summit has completed extensive work of this kind for Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facilities.
Service Area
Summit Industrial Flooring operates from three locations, Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, South Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina, giving us the reach to serve VNA floor grinding projects throughout the eastern United States, from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coast. Whether your facility is in the Midwest, Southeast, or mid-Atlantic, our crews are positioned to get on-site quickly and keep your project on schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does VNA floor grinding take?
It varies based on the amount of cutting required, but crews typically complete 500 to 1,000 aisle-feet per day
Can grinding be done without shutting down operations?
Generally, full operations can’t continue during active grinding, but projects are completed one aisle or area at a time, allowing your facility to keep production running around the work.
Do you work on new construction or only retrofits?
Both.
What flatness tolerance can you guarantee?
Summit can grind to as tight as FMIN 100. In practice, FMIN 50-60 meets the requirements of most VNA operations; tolerances above 60 are typically only necessary for facilities with very high racking.
Do you travel for VNA floor grinding projects?
Yes. Summit Industrial Flooring operates from three locations, Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, South Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina, allowing us to serve projects throughout the eastern United States.
Work With Us
We are ready to work with you to evaluate your industrial or commercial flooring needs.