Archive for the ‘pallet racking’ Category

Pallet Racking Safety- Warehouse Safety Tips

Pallet racking is a great addition to any warehouse as they are a great storage solution and can improve efficiency and productivity. However, warehouse managers should be aware of measures regarding pallet racking safety. Issues can occur if the racking is damaged. These include collisions, incidents involving forklifts or overloaded pallets.

Here we discuss 7 ways you can improve the pallet racking safety in your warehouse

Always Use Suitable Forklifts

Forklifts should be suitable for the warehouse. Although the decision may be price-driven, a consideration should to the pallet contents should be given. Factors include the height and type of racking as well as aisle width. All of these factors will impact which forklift is suitable.

Handle With Care

Ensure all members of staff treat the pallet racking with care and use equipment in the correct manner. Place pallets evenly and squarely on the rack beams and remove damaged pallets from service.

Staff Training

Before anyone starts working with pallet racking in the warehouse, always ensure they have undertaken sufficient and detailed health and safety training which covers all aspects of how to correctly work with pallet racking.

Don’t Overload Pallets

Staff need to be aware of what the load capacity of the racking is and never exceed this. Overload pallet racking is asking for trouble and there is a reason why there are limits in place. Not only can it be dangerous for the employee, but it could also end up damaging equipment and products.

Keep Aisles Clear

Check for any obstructions in aisles as these can easily cause forklift collisions and other accidents.

Install Rack Protection

Invest in-rack protection to prevent damage from forklift collisions. Forklifts are heavy and can easily cause structural damage. To avoid any costs of damage or potential injuries, rack protection is a good option to help absorb the shock and impact of a potential collision.

Health and Safety Checks

Ensure safety information signs regarding the racking are visible and up to date. Implement clear processes for staff to follow in the event of an accident. Even though accidents cannot always be foreseen, an efficient accident process can help prevent any re-occurrences.

Carry out regular pallet racking inspections. Although damage may not be visible, the reassurance from a professional will provide peace of mind and will also keep your racking in the best condition for longer.

Ensuring your pallet racking remains in a safe condition is an ongoing task. Not only can damaged racking be harmful to employees, but it can also result in damaged inventories and associated costs. Implementing thorough safety measures can reduce this risk and therefore should be a priority for all warehouses that use pallet racking.

Here at Logical Storage, we can offer high-quality storage solutions, racking inspections and mezzanine flooring for your business. Call us on 0845 689 1300 for more information.

Warehouse Relocation- 11 Tips For A Smooth Move

Warehouse relocation projects are complex to undertake and can be extremely time-consuming so there are many things you need to consider to ensure the move goes as smooth as possible. Here is a quick checklist to go through to ensure you have all the essential tasks completed in plenty of time.

1. Plan the Move

Having a checklist of all the tasks you need to complete before and after the move will help you ensure nothing is missed and everything remains on schedule. No task is too small to include on the list as it avoids something being missed. Delegate jobs to a group of trusted employees as it’s impossible to orchestrate a large warehouse relocation single-handed.

Be realistic with timeframes when you are organising a move. It will inevitably take longer than you originally anticipated, so ensure you plan for this.

2. Contact a Moving Company and Schedule the Move

Ensure everyone knows the move date. From suppliers to employees and contractors, keep them all abreast of the plans. Obtain a few quotes from different moving companies in order to secure the best quote from a reliable company.

3. Evaluate Your Space

Moving warehouse is a perfect time to analyse and review the new space you have available. Knowing your space in advance means you can optimise the layout. This is a great time to rearrange your supplies and organized your stock. Don’t be tempted to stick completely to how stock was organised before. Yes, this is what people are used to, but if there is a more logical option available that will make your process more efficient, saving time or space, then you should try it.

4. Consider Additional Storage

If you are moving to a warehouse that is high, do you have room for a mezzanine floor? This is a great opportunity to have one installed without interrupting production. Also consider getting additional racking if you have more available space than your previous warehouse.

5. Organise Your Inventory

Account for everything and organise it before you move it. Doing so will save you time later. It also means you can move the stock you do not need as urgently first, leaving you with vital equipment up until the last minute, reducing the amount of necessary downtime.

6. Tidy Up

It can be a challenge to keep a warehouse spotless all the time, however, ensure you tidy as you go to avoid have clutter around the warehouse and leaving items in places that could be a trip hazard. As you pack up to move, throw aware anything you do not use or anything that has aged and no longer needed. There is no point moving it to the new warehouse if you will not use it as it will take up valuable space.

7. Look For Damaged Items

As you pack away, ensure you check the quality of your equipment. Also check your pallet racking is in good condition and not damaged before you relocate it. Check again once you are at the new location in case something is broken during transit. If you do not have regular maintenance, you are at risk of a serious accident and repair work can lead to delays in productivity, so it is best to spot any damage early.

When pallet racks or shelving are moved or unloaded, there is a risk of spillages or damage to the stock. Always ensure this is being done carefully. Also ensure that when the pallets are being restocked, all items are safely secured, especially at the higher levels.

8. Ensure Safety Measures Are In Place

When you get the new warehouse, ensure you have implemented safety measures immediately. Check that all the floor markings are clearly visible and all safety signs are clear and correct. Having this all set up in advance will make the transition smoother.

9. Communicate Clearly With Employees

Ensure all employees are aware of the new layout of the warehouse, what their specific tasks are during the relocation and who they are reporting to. Knowing this in advance will hopefully avoid any chaos and confusion during the move.

10. Be Wary of Theft

Unfortunately, a warehouse move is an opportunistic time for something to be stolen due to the busy environment. Stay on top of this risk by assigning trusted employees different zones to manage during the move and keeping an accurate log of the inventory when it moved from the old location and again when it arrives at the new location.

12. Notify People of Your New Address

Whether they are your customers, suppliers, utility companies, banks or insurance company, make a list of everyone you need to update on your address in advance. Having the list at hand makes it easy to keep track of who you have notified and who else needs to know.

Although a warehouse relocation is always going to be a mammoth task to undertake, splitting the task up and organising as much in advance can make the process go smoothly. Although a warehouse relocation is a big change that can impact the company’s productivity whilst the move takes place, it is a great opportunity to install additional shelving, make the most of your space and improve the efficiency of your processes, which will ultimately increase your productivity and lead to more sales.

Here at Logical Storage, we can offer high-quality storage solutions, racking inspections and mezzanine flooring for your business. Call us on 0845 689 1300 for more information.

8 things to consider when buying pallet racking

Buying pallet racking for your businesses’ warehouse can be a great investment, however you need to ensure you are choosing the correct type for your business needs. Here we discuss 8 things you should consider before buying pallet racking as it is a long-term investment.

1. Accessibility
You need to think about what you will be storing in your pallet racking and how often your staff will need to access it. Ensure your pallet racking has enough space for you to place slow-moving stock at the back and have faster-moving stock at the front in a more convenient and accessible position. Before ordering the racking, you need to plan where all your stock will go, and plan based on how often you need to access it. It will depend on the type of stock you have as well as the type of operational system you have running in your warehouse.

2. Space and warehouse layout
You also need to consider what space you have within your warehouse to work with. Again, you need to plan in advance where all the stock will be going, whilst ensuring there is enough space for your staff to move around, especially as you may need equipment such as cranes and forklift trucks to help get higher pallets. Racking systems are available in a range of heights so make sure you make the most out of the height you have available in your warehouse. Increasing your storage vertically can make your warehouse more cost-effective, reduces your need to relocate and find larger premises and uses what would otherwise be wasted space.

3. Durability
You need to ensure the pallet racking you are buying matches your needs. How long after the racking is installed would you ideally like it to last? Pallet racking varies and you need to match the type to your needs. If you require the most durable pallet racking available, then you need to decide this before purchasing and look at the specifications carefully. There are cheaper options out there such as second-hand pallet racking, but if durability is a main concern for you, then these options may not be suitable for you.

4. Size of pallets
A major consideration is the size of the pallets you need to store. Figure this out first and choose suitable pallet racking to match.

5. Adjustability
Although you may have all your warehouse and pallet racking plans sorted, the requirements may change in the future. If you think this is likely, ask about whether the pallet racking you are interested in can be adjusted in the future (such as shelf height). Knowing this information in advance will give you peace of mind that if there are changes to your stock in the future, your pallet racking can adapt to meet these needs, avoiding more racking needing to be purchased.

6. Safety
Always ensure that safety is a high priority when choosing pallet racking. You need to ensure that you have bought a high standard product that you know will be fit for purpose. Ensure you always have your pallet racking inspected regularly as you have no guarantee that an accident will not happen as a result. Also ensure that all staff are fully trained before accessing stock from pallet racking.

7. Purpose
There is not a one size fits all option when it comes to pallet racking. The types vary dramatically depending on their purpose and so you need to think about this before choosing. Whether it is a wide aisle, very narrow aisle or double deep, consider what you need to store on them and also what room you have available in your warehouse before you decide on what style is best for you.

8. Budget
Inevitability your choice will be constrained by your budget for a new racking system. Cost will always be a significant factor for many businesses, but you need to ensure that you have weighed up all the options equally and not base your decision solely on price. If you do this, you could end up with a lower quality product that does not suit your business’ needs exactly and could end up costing you more in the long run. Always discuss your options fully first and ensure you choose the option that best suits your businesses’ operations.

Pallet racking is an important investment for your company. Before you buy, ensure you have thought about the factors discussed above in detail to ensure you have chosen the correct options for your company to continue working at its most efficient. Choosing the wrong type of pallet racking can not only waste your money and time, it can also lead to less productivity, damaged goods or even workplace accidents.

Here at Logical Storage, we offer a range of racking solutions for warehouses. For more information visit our website or call us on 0845 689 1300.

Shelving vs racking: what’s the difference?

Although some people may assume that shelving and racking are the same thing, for those in the warehouse industry it’s important to understand the difference and how they can both benefit your business. It is important for a business with warehouse facilities to understand these differences, so they know which option is best for them.

Shelving
Although shelving comes in many sizes, it is typically used for smaller goods which are easy to access by hand. If people are picking products individually by hand, shelves are often the best choice. Warehouse shelving is normally made from metal (or sometimes, but rarely wood). They can be a variety of heights and include any number of shelves on it that you require. Sometimes the shelves have a solid back, whilst others are an open design, depending on what the use of it is for.

Pallet racking
Pallet racks, on the other hand, tend to be designed for access by forklifts and other automated systems, rather than by hand. Racking solutions are generally a lot taller than shelves and therefore can be great for warehouses with enough height as it maximises the space available. Racking tends to be deeper than shelving as well. This makes it a great storing solution for pallets of smaller products or individual larger items.

They are produced from metal that is heavy duty due to the items they are storing, and are usually attached to the floor or walls for additional stability. Racking pallets tend to not have solid shelves (and sometimes no shelves at all) as it depends on what is being placed on them.

Racking is described as a structure of bars for holding a specific load. They are more open in design. Shelving however includes a solid slab which supports the products.

Which is right for you?
Does your business need shelves or racks? The answer 100% depends on what the product is that you’re storing and in what quantity. If you are storing smaller items that you need to be hand selected, shelving will probably be the best for you. If you are storing large quantities of products, racking will allow you to stack these products up on pallets.

You also have to remember that although some warehouses have either one storage solution or the other, you can have a combination of both pallet racking and shelving in different areas of your warehouse. This will allow you to optimise the space in your entire warehouse.

Here at Logical Storage, we can offer high quality racking inspections for your business and discuss your racking and shelving requirements. For more information visit our website or call us on 0845 689 1300.

How to keep your workplace safe using racking

A lack of understanding of Health & Safety laws coupled with practical dangers such as heavy loads and overloading can produce plenty of risks to your business. Often however, the key to staying safe is as simple as choosing the right form of racking system and taking due care when choosing a supplier.

The dangers to businesses in the workplace
There are many dangers within a workplace. These can vary in businesses depending on what the environment is like. During 2017/18 a total of 144 workers were killed in fatal accidents and more than 650,000 non-fatal injuries were reported. This poses a huge risk to businesses as it can have bad consequences such as workers taking time off to recover or even in the worst case a worker being killed resulting in fines and even legal action.

How can racking help?
Racking is a great way to stop and prevent these dangers from occurring. This is because it is a highly-effective storage solution which enables for easy organisation and allows for heavy objects to be stored away safely. Saying this, racking will only be an effective solution if it is maintained properly, hence why it is incredibly important to have annual inspections.

Initial installation
Before even thinking about Health & Safety or maintenance for your racking, you need to ensure that you are selecting the right supplier and installer to get the job done. If your racking is faulty then it could have a negative impact on not only your productivity, but it can have a large impact on your Health & Safety standards.

Requirements on the racking
All manufacturers of warehouse racking are obliged to provide the safe loading data on the racking system, stating its maximum load and the maximum number of items that can be loaded at once.

This is to ensure that the users of the racking systems know how to load it properly so that it coincides with health and safety regulations. Failure meet these standards can have detrimental effects as it could cause racking and pallets to fall on the driver of a forklift or anyone stood underneath it.

Rules around the racking
In addition to the points mentioned above, your own housekeeping is essential to keeping your racking safe and in turn aiding the overall Health & Safety standards of your business. Keep workways clear for both forklifts and workers and have systems in place to collect and disperse rubbish as a minimum. Adopt a “see it – sort it” approach for maximum impact.

Inspections and maintenance
Inspections of your warehouse racking are a must as the HSE recommend having annual inspections by a SEMA approved racking inspector so that you are can highlight any problems and so you can stay up to date with any new legalisation.

This is where we can help. Here at Logical Storage we can offer high-quality racking inspections for your business and discuss your racking requirements. Click here for more details http://www.logicalstorage.co.uk/services/rack-inspection/ or call us on 0845 689 1300.

Why you need racking for organisation within your business

You may be thinking that when it comes to racking for your warehouse there is only one size and one style. But there is never just ‘one size fits all’ as every business has its own needs and each warehouse will be different in size and shape.

Different types of racking
Here at Logical Storage we offer all styles of racking that will fit your businesses bespoke needs. We offer:

• Wide Aisle – Wide aisling that is useful for easy access of people, goods and forklifts.
• Very Narrow Aisle – This is useful for a warehouse with not much room as it utilises a lot of room in such a short space.
• Double-deep – This is where the storage gets stores two rows deep instead of one.
• Drive in/ Drive through – Racking designed so forklifts or machinery can drive in between or through it.
• Dynamic push back – Racking with the ability to push items back through the racking with a roller system.
• Mobile
• Shuttle

It can be stressful choosing which one is best for your business needs so that is why it is best to take expert advice when choosing your storage solutions and to take your time – Rome wasn’t built in a day remember!

When choosing the best storage solution for your business, you need to consider many factors. These include the floor space, ceiling height, how often you need to access pallets and most importantly, how big your storage needs to be.

How can the right racking help organisation within your business?
Once you have figured out the best racking solution for you and your business, it is time to understand why it will help your organisation. Racking is one of the best storage methods for simplicity and ease of access. This is because it can hold tonnes of weight and it can hold many pallets/objects etc. at once meaning you don’t have to worry about it being too heavy or too much for one space.

Another reason racking is perfect for organisations is because you can organise it in a format which suits you, for example in a food warehouse you may organise it by food types, cereals, biscuits, drinks etc. or if it was a clothes warehouse you may even colour code it, for example green for male clothes, purple for female clothes etc. the list of possibilities is endless, and any way that you choose is sure to be organised if it is with a racking storage solution.

If you are still struggling on what solution to choose for racking, look on our website here or call us on 0845 689 1300 as we would be happy to help!

Why you need racking for organisation within your business

You may be thinking that when it comes to racking for your warehouse there is only one size and one style. Well you are wrong as there is never just ‘one size fits all’ as every business has its own needs. Every warehouse is different in size and shape and the racking they use should be too.

Different types of racking

Here at Logical Storage we offer all styles of racking that will fit your businesses bespoke needs. Here are some examples:

• Wide Aisle – Wide aisling that is useful for easy access of people, goods and forklifts.
• Very Narrow Aisle – This is useful for a warehouse with not much room as it utilises a lot of room in such a short space.
• Double-deep – This is where the storage gets stores two rows deep instead of one.
• Drive in/ Drive through – Racking designed so forklifts or machinery can drive in between or through it.
• Dynamic push back – Racking with the ability to push items back through the racking with a roller system.

Together with these forms of racking we also offer mobile and shuttle racking too.

The job of choosing racking can be stressful – which is why it’s important to take expert advice.

When choosing the best storage solution for your business, you need to consider many factors, including the floor space, ceiling height, how often you need to access pallets and most importantly, how big your storage needs to be.

In order to figure out the best racking solution for you and your business, you first need to understand why it will help your organisation. The ease of access, weight capacity and storage amounts that our racking systems provide can help streamline your operations and ultimately benefit your bottom line.

Our racking systems also provide unrivalled flexibility meaning that you can organise your stock in a way that suits you best – for example by food type, colour codes, sizes, best before date, alphabetically, in order of sale volume – the possibilities are endless.

Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and also improve productivity. We know that no two businesses are the same which is why we prepare quotes fully tailored towards your business and its unique needs. For more information and to talk to one of our experienced team please call us now on 0845 689 1300.

What causes racking damage?

Damage to the racking in your warehouse can have a devastating impact. Not only can it slow down your operations and cause damage to your stock, but it can also put your employees at serious risk of injury which in turn can spiral into financial loss and potentially damage to your reputation as a business. But how does racking damage occur in the first place? Here are a few common examples.

Vehicular damage
Warehouses are busy environments and while vehicles like forklifts are excellent tools in speeding up your operations and reaching areas that would be more challenging on foot, used incorrectly or without proper training they can pose serious hazards. Accidental collisions with racking systems are a common cause of breakages and while more serious incidents may be too hard to ignore, small bumps and knocks could go unnoticed but still do damage that compromises your systems.

Poor warehouse layout
While poor training of drivers can lead to collisions with racking, sometimes it is not the driver who is at fault. Instead cramped and poorly maintained areas that don’t utilize tools like coloured safety tape and notices or have poor housekeeping can result in drivers having to make tight maneuvers that can often end in collisions.

Overloading
The most common cause of racking failure is that of overloading. By calculating factors like frame size, beam size and depth we can work out exactly what the limit should be for weight on your racking. However, if advice is ignored and your racking becomes overloaded then structural damage is bound to occur at some point. It is important to make it clear to workers through both training and notices exactly what weight limits are.

Seek advice
The key to avoiding racking damage is to quickly identify faulty or damaged racking. By organising periodic reviews of your racking with a professional company you can quickly identify small signs of wear and tear before they develop into something much worse.

Logical Storage is highly skilled in spotting the often hard-to-find signs of racking degradation. We carry out regular reviews for a number of businesses helping them to keep their systems in good working order and to maintain their legal obligations under the Health & Safety Act.  To find out more please call us on 0845 689 1300.

Smart storage solutions for the pharmaceutical industry

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest in the UK today, employing over 73,000 people and contributing more than £8million to the UK’s GDP. However, as a profit-driven industry the success of individual companies and organisations relies on very tight margins. Every link on the supply chain from research and development right through to fulfillment must be conducted with the utmost precision – and the role of warehousing in this process is no different.

Cutting edge storage solutions and efficient fixtures can make a profound impact on an organisation, helping them to meet the high pressures and demands on their business. Solutions like customisable racking, shelving options and mezzanine floors can add that much-needed edge over competitors, helping to simplify stock management and make efficient use of the space that is available.

Mezzanine floors are both practical and cost-effective for warehouses in need of space, and that need to operate in a timely fashion. These areas can be used for a wide variety of situations from packing and labelling areas and space for more storage through to laboratories, staff break areas and admin areas – whatever is required to meet you’re the requirements of your business.

The pharmaceutical industry presents unique challenges that require clever solutions. Products often need to be handled in a specific way, tracked and checked for expiration dates. They might need temporary or bulk storage or need to be segregated away completely from other stock in a sterile or highly secure environment.

From pallet racking to long span shelving, there are a variety of different solutions available to help you manage your inventory and meet any specific requirements and standards you need to uphold.

Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and also improve productivity. We know that no two businesses are the same which is why we prepare quotes fully tailored towards your business and its unique needs. For more information and to talk to one of our experienced team please call us now on 0845 689 1300.

Handling high-density storage with dynamic pallet racking

Every warehouse is different and depending on several factors like SKU’s, picking requirements and budgets, storage strategies can differ greatly from warehouse to warehouse. One of the options available to you if you are looking at racking is that of dynamic pallet flow racking.

Dynamic pallet flow racking is a form of racking that is highly popular with warehouses that require a high density of storage. It uses mechanical or gravitational force to move pallets within a racking system and are commonly found in warehouses handling food distribution or other high-density items.

Dynamic pallet flow racking loads from the rear and off-loads from the front, which is why it is favoured for storing high levels of the same product. Utilising it in this way can result in a 60% space saving increase when compared with other conventional forms of pallet racking. This can free up space for other areas of your business and reduce the need for you to move premises or build additional storage areas. It will also help to reduce travel times and operational costs.

Dynamic pallet racking is set on a roller conveyor track. Pallets can move freely from deposit to collection as the rollers are set at a slight incline and the speed can be controlled using wheels and breaks to slow down the movement.

If you are unsure as to whether this is the right storage system for you then you should seek expert advice. The right type of pallet racking can make a profound impact on your operations, but if you choose the wrong type then you could make things more difficult. For example, if you need access to individual pallets then dynamic pallet flow racking might not be the best option and an alternative like wide aisle pallet racking might better suit your needs.

With dynamic racking systems you don’t need to worry about disruption to your business as they are quick to install and easy to dismantle should your business needs change. This system also enables loading to be carried out across different aisles meaning that your operators can carry out their tasks without fear of congestion or interruptions.

Dynamic pallet flow racking systems can be tailored to your individual business requirements concerning the size and the weight of the items that you need to store. This will then inform the angles, size, weight bearing capacity and number of tracks on your custom-made system.

Logical Storage possesses many years of experience in installation and all of our racking is designed to meet all European & British standards of quality. Contact us on 0845 689 1300 to discuss your needs in further detail.