Archive for the ‘warehouse refurbishment’ Category

What To Consider When Refurbishing Your Warehouse

When done correctly, refurbishing can transform a warehouse and improve the overall efficiency of a business. To help you get the best results out of your warehouse renovation, here are some important factors to consider when refurbishing your warehouse.

Determine your needs

Before you get started, you should first think about what you want to achieve with your warehouse renovation.

Complete a review of the current warehouse and identify any areas for improvement. It may be that you need more storage space, more accessible aisles, or better lighting.

Utilise space

A common mistake when refurbishing a warehouse is not fully utilising the space to maximise storage capacity. This can be costly, as you are more likely to outgrow your warehouse faster and will need to renovate again.

Now is the time to make sure you are making the best use of the space available in your warehouse. Consider the vertical space available, as well as the floor space.

Redo your flooring

Once your warehouse has been cleared out ready for refurbishment, this will be the best chance to redo your floor. In a warehouse, you must have flat and non-slip flooring. Any dips in the flooring can cause shelving to lean which could lead to an accident.

When selecting new flooring, think about how much it will cost to maintain and keep clean, as well as how hard-wearing it is.

Improve the layout

Assess how easy it is for people and machinery to move around the warehouse currently. As well as accessibility, consider the steps taken from goods in to goods out.

Do people have to go far or backwards and forwards between each step or does it flow efficiently? Changing the layout of your warehouse for better workflow will vastly improve its efficiency.

Improve your lighting

Review the effectiveness of your current lighting. Ensure that all areas of the warehouse are sufficiently illuminated. Improving visibility in the warehouse will improve the efficiency of your workforce, and help to prevent accidents.

Is your lighting energy-efficient? Replacing your lighting with energy-efficient lighting can help to reduce costs over time.

Consider safety

Whenever you are making changes to an aspect of a business, you must ensure that this meets health and safety regulations.

Key safety features that should be in place in a warehouse include sprinkler systems, fire alarms, security systems, access control, ventilation, and good air quality.

Installation, maintenance or repairs, and electrical work should be carried out by professionals, and you should never exceed any loading capacities or height restrictions.

Whatever you need to store, and however you want to store it, rest assured that Logical Storage Solutions will have the ideal solution for you. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any unique storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one stop provider of all storage, workspace and maintenance solutions

Reasons for a warehouse refurbishment

The warehouse is one of a business’s most significant assets and an integral part of the supply chain, which means it is important to ensure that it is as efficient as possible.

If the warehouse is not operating at its fullest potential or meeting business demands, this can have a negative impact on the rest of the business.

There are many reasons why you may consider refurbishing your warehouse, such as to increase storage capacity, store a new type of stock, bring it up to date, or reduce long-term expenditure.

Here we explore some of the common reasons for a warehouse refurbishment to help you determine whether it is time to renovate your warehouse.

Futureproofing

Many companies refurbish their warehouse to ensure that they will work effectively in the long run and to create room for future expansion.

Assess whether your warehouse could facilitate growth and house new stock and employees, should the business expand. If you are already at capacity, then it may be time for a renovation.

Overcrowded

If your warehouse is cluttered or overcrowded, employees will not be able to work to the best of their ability. This will slow down work, as they have to maneuver around obstacles, and spend additional time looking for stock.

This can result in delays and frustration and is a clear sign that you need to refurbish your warehouse to increase capacity and better organise your stock.

To increase storage capacity, you do not always need to expand your warehouse or relocate, you may be able to just better utilise the space that you already have to meet your needs.

Revenue loss

Time equals money. If your warehouse is overcrowded or unorganised, employees will be spending more time carrying out tasks and picking stock.

They may also need to use equipment such as forklift trucks to move things around to get to what they need, which also takes time and costs money.

Poor systems

The equipment, tools, systems, or storage solutions that you have should be regularly reviewed and maintained. If they are not, or if you have had them for a long time, then they may not be up to scratch.

Whether they are broken, ineffective, or outdated, they will be a hindrance to not only your warehouse but also your business and may cause further issues down the line.

In this case, renovating your warehouse and updating your systems is essential and will significantly improve efficiency.

If you are unsure whether your warehouse requires an overhaul, or you do not know where to start, get in touch with our expert team at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected], for professional advice.

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments including office partitions and mezzanine flooring.

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one-stop provider of all storage, workspace, and maintenance solutions.

5 Things to consider when planning a new warehouse racking installation

When it comes to planning a new warehouse racking installation, there are several factors you should consider to help ensure that things go smoothly and you get the best results from your new racking.

There is a variety of racking types available, and it can be difficult to know which would be the ideal solution for your warehouse.

For example, do you need standard wide-aisle racking, or would drive-in racking be better suited? But, then again, instead of drive-in racking, why not use dynamic push-back racking instead? We think you get the picture!

Having suitable racking can contribute towards improving the efficiency and productivity of your warehouse, and maximise its storage capacity. Planning out your new racking setup will help to ensure that you do not waste time or money, and achieve the best results.

To help guide you to selecting the ideal racking for your warehouse, here are some key things to consider when planning a new warehouse racking installation.

Why do you need the racking?

The first thing you should do is ask yourself why you are considering getting new racking installations. What do you wish to achieve? Do you need a larger storage capacity or easier access to stock?

Once you acknowledge the main reasons new racking is required and how it could benefit you, it will be easier to identify what the best solution for your warehouse would be.

What stock do you store?

The type of stock that you store, and how quickly it moves in and out of your warehouse, will have a considerable influence on which type of racking would be most suitable and effective.

Different types of racking are better suited to different types, shapes, and sizes of product, and some types of racking are better for a fast turnaround of stock than others.

What types of racking are available?

Do some research into the various types of racking available and familiarise yourself with them. This will help you to identify which type of racking will best suit your needs.

Here is a selection of the different pallet racking systems available:

● Wide aisle

● Very narrow aisle (VNA)

● Double-deep

● Drive-in / drive-through

● Dynamic push back

● Dynamic pallet flow

● Mobile

● Shuttle

What are the building requirements?

When planning the installation of new racking, you need to take into account your building requirements as this will influence what types of racking you can have.

Take a look at the flooring in your warehouse. The flooring is what is going to bear the weight of the racking and its contents so it must be able to support the load.

The thickness and material of your flooring, and having underfloor heating, can have an impact on the amount it can hold.

You also need to ensure that there is adequate clearance above the racking for a sprinkler system, and the height to which you will be able to reach, as this will determine the maximum height of your racking.

What is your budget?

Whenever it comes to spending money wisely and making a good investment, you will need to consider your budget.

To help you to determine an appropriate and realistic budget, you should consider how beneficial this investment will be to your warehouse and business, both in the short term and long term. Consider how much time and money this investment could save.

Once you have a budget in mind, this should help to narrow down the potential options by eliminating those that would exceed your budget.

With so many options available and a lot to consider, it can be difficult to identify exactly which particular type of racking would be best for your warehouse.

Thankfully, our experienced and helpful staff are on hand to guide you through the process to ensure that your racking meets your needs as well as safety requirements.

At Logical Storage Solutions, we do not have a “one size fits all” approach. Get in touch with us today on 0845 689 1300 or via [email protected] for free and independent advice.

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.

How to improve your employees break area

We all get to the point in the day where we need a break; in fact it’s essential in order to catch our breath and work out our priorities for the remainder of the day. However, for many businesses the break area is a space which often comes very low on the list of priorities. If renovation is going to happen then it will more frequently take place in client facing areas such as reception areas, meeting rooms and bathrooms. However, with so many businesses suffering from high rates of absenteeism among their employees, it makes perfect business sense to begin investing in their health and well being. Having a comfortable, clean and functional break area is a good place to start.

The essentials of a staff break room are of course, tables, chairs and some kind of cooking facilities – even just a kettle, microwave or fridge. However, many businesses today often take their break areas a step further incorporating leisure activities like ping pong tables, pool tables and even electronic gaming machines. Together with comfortable furniture and a relaxing colour scheme, these types of changes can make a big difference to the morale of your employees who know that they have somewhere to relax after a particularly stressful morning. Extra added touches not only keep your current employees satisfied but also provide an extra ‘feather in your cap’ when showing job candidates around your premises. How better to show that you genuinely care about the well being of your employees.

If your company operates within an open plan area such as a warehouse then you may believe it would be difficult for you to create such a break area, however with the use of office partitions or mezzanine flooring, it can easily be done. Mezzanine floors can be built quickly and make the most of overhead space that would normally be wasted, while office partitions can be an ideal solution for a private lunch area with glass or normal wall partitions. What’s more, both of these types of solutions can be customised and erected as temporary structures should the need to relocate your business arise in the future.

Here at Logical Storage we know that no two businesses are the same and you may need a combination of different solutions to help create space in your warehouse.  For a tailored proposal designed to meet the specific needs of your business, call us on 0845 689 1300.

3 ways to optimise your warehouse for the year ahead

Good management is the key to making sure that your warehouse can meet the demands of your clients and customers in the months and years ahead. This means not only ensuring that your employees work in a safe and practical manner but also that your warehouse is well organised to cope with the ebb and flow of seasonal trade.

As we begin 2017, many business owners will be looking at how best they can achieve their targets and goals for the year ahead. Here at Logical Storage we have extensive experience putting together combinations of storage solutions for businesses that help them to do exactly that.

One of the first examples of how a business can benefit from our storage solutions is that of a mezzanine floor. Continually one of the most popular solutions available, a mezzanine floor helps to maximise the space already available to you in your warehouse, reducing the need for relocation and allowing you to make more efficient use of your space.

Office partitions provide another route for improving your operations in your warehouse. An office partition can provide you with the space you need to conduct important meetings with clients and customers, make private phone calls, a space to do paperwork or create an area for your employees to take their lunch.

A third way that you can make the most of the room in your warehouse is to consider racking and shelving solutions, which are a fantastic way to better organise your inventory.  An experienced storage provider can help you to choose a system which is best suited to your operations, be it pallet racking systems like wide aisle or dynamic push back, or shelving solutions like carton flow and longspan.

Here at Logical Storage we know that no two businesses are the same and you may need a combination of different solutions to help create space in your warehouse.  For a tailored proposal designed to meet the specific needs of your business, call us on 0845 689 1300.

Tips for increasing warehouse profits

It may sound obvious, but it is worth reminding ourselves that the efficiency of a business has a direct effect on a business’s profit margin. If you can reduce the amount of time and effort it takes to perform a task, there will be less waste and therefore productivity will increase. Warehouses are usually big buildings and are used for mass storage but that doesn’t mean that the operations carried out in them can’t be refined and transformed into a smoother, more productive system. Below are some tips on how to do this.

One of the first aspects of your warehouse that you will want to ensure is right is the floorplan. In an ideal scenario this should be done before the business is up and running. However, rearranging your layout is definitely worth considering even if you are fully operational because the time that can be saved in the long term could be hugely beneficial. Although changing the floorplan of your warehouse when you are up and running can cause some disruption to your business in the short term, the long term benefits greatly outweigh this, and it is also less disruptive than having to move to new premises.

Businesses tend to start small with a natural focus on generating sales and growing the business quickly. This often leads to the warehouse being forgotten about and before anyone realises it is bursting at the seams with the directors looking at bigger premises so that the business can continue to expand. If your business has got to this stage, you might be surprised to find that there actually is a lot of wasted space within the warehouse and if it was rearranged to be more efficient than the current premises would still be able to sustain the business perfectly.

So, by using the warehouse’s space more efficiently, your employees will be able to get more tasks done in the day as they will be able to complete them quicker. The business will also benefit from not relocating to larger premises unnecessarily.

Logical Storage Solutions specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment who offer a wide range of innovative products that can both increase your available storage space and improve productivity. Our experienced team can help your business transform your warehouse into an efficient environment that looks after your bottom line. For more information please click here to visit our website or alternatively, please call us on 0845 689 1300.

Logical Storage Services

Logical Storage offer many services to help you with your storage needs. Here’s a look at some of the main solutions we offer.

Mezzanine Flooring

The mezzanine floor is a flooring level that is installed within an area to make use of the wasted space above you within a warehouse or retail store. Sometimes extending a building outwards is not an option due to land or budget restrictions. Mezzanine flooring is a cheaper alternative that will create a new floor level within your existing premises. There are many instances where this could be useful such as storage in a warehouse or offices within retail buildings. Since adding in a mezzanine level is also very flexible, you can have complete control on its size, design and location.

An Office Partition

If your company is based within an open plan office but you require some quieter areas such as for a meeting room or managers office, an office partition is an ideal solution. Either glass or normal walls can be used depending on your privacy requirements. Partitions can be created that are permanent as well as temporary structures where the partition may need to be moved.

Warehouse Refurbishment

Running a large warehouse or industrial property can be hard work so a complete warehouse refurbishment could help you in organising and maintaining your premises. A refurbishment could involve dismantling current structures, moving them or adding to them with new racking systems.