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Industry Collaboration

The Structural Rack Systems Research Group at Florida Polytechnic University partners with rack manufacturers, material handling companies, warehouse operators, and engineering firms to solve practical problems related to steel storage rack systems and cold-formed steel structures. Our role is to provide advanced research, analysis, and training that support the work of engineers and designers.

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What We Offer Industry Partners

We focus on three main types of collaboration:

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Customized Training & Workshops

We design and deliver short courses and workshops for your engineering and technical staff. Sessions can be held online or on-site at your facility. Training topics are tailored to your needs and can range from fundamentals of rack behavior to advanced code provisions.

 

Sponsored Research Projects

We work with your team to define focused research projects that answer specific technical questions about your products or systems. These may involve analytical studies, parametric finite element modelling, concept-level experimental programs, or comparative studies between different design approaches and standards.

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Student Projects & Talent Pipeline

We involve undergraduate and graduate students in real-world projects, giving them hands-on experience while generating useful insights for your company. Senior design projects, independent studies, and research assistantships can all be aligned with your interests, providing early access to motivated students who understand steel storage rack systems.

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Example Topics

Our expertise covers a wide range of rack-related and cold-formed steel issues, including:

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• Structural behavior and design of selective pallet racks and drive-in rack systems
• Local, distortional, and global buckling of thin-walled rack upright columns
• Effects of forklift impact on rack columns and bracing, including damage patterns and residual capacity
• Interpretation of design provisions
• Evaluation of repair, retrofit, and protection strategies for damaged uprights
• Analytical and numerical studies to support product development and code interactions
• Conceptual experimental programs for scaled or component testing of rack systems​

How We Work With Your Team

​​All industry projects are led by Dr. Guven Kiymaz, who coordinates student researchers and collaborates with international experts and scientific advisors as needed to provide research, analysis, training, and technical insight.

Collaboration Formats​​

We are flexible in how we structure collaborations, and we are happy to start with a small, focused activity. Examples include:

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  1. A 2–4 hour online technical seminar for your engineering/design staff

  2. A one-day on-site workshop at your facility in Florida

  3. A semester-long student project on a problem defined together with your engineers

  4. A multi-month sponsored research project with clearly defined milestones and deliverables

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Interested in working with us?

If you would like to discuss a potential training session or research collaboration, please contact:

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Dr. Guven Kiymaz
Structural Rack Systems Research Group

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Florida Polytechnic University 

4700 Research Way, Lakeland, FL 33805

Email: gkiymaz@floridapoly.edu 

Phone: (412) 961 3167

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