Posted on: February 28th, 2019 by admin No Comments

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!

Posted on: January 31st, 2019 by admin No Comments

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.

Posted on: December 28th, 2018 by admin No Comments

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.

Posted on: November 30th, 2018 by admin No Comments

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.

Posted on: October 31st, 2018 by admin No Comments

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.

Posted on: September 28th, 2018 by admin No Comments

What are the consequences for business that ignore health & safety?

While it’s true that some workplaces are more dangerous than others, there are still plenty of accidents that can happen. Choosing to ignore your health and safety obligations is not only illegal but could have potentially disastrous consequences on your entire business. Here we will look at some of those repercussions and offer advice on how to start tackling risks.

Facts and figures
Health and Safety laws exist for a reason and they are highlighted by these worrying statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During 2017/18 a total of 144 workers were killed in fatal accidents and more than 650,000 non-fatal injuries were reported. Common causes of accidents include falls from a height – which is incidentally the biggest cause of fatal accidents, to being struck by moving vehicles, being trapped, hurt by contact with moving machinery and being struck by falling objects.

Consequences
If these types of accidents happen in your workplace than at the very least your business will be disrupted, and an employee may have to take a period of time off work. However, at the very worst an employee could be killed, and your business could face fines, legal action and catastrophic damage to your reputation should you be found to be liable under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (2007).

Solutions
In warehouse environments, one of the best ways that you can show commitment to the Health and Safety of your business is to have regular inspections carried out of your racking equipment. Racking equipment can be highly effective as a storage solution but it is critical that it is properly maintained. As highlighted in the figures by HSE, some of the most common forms of injury in the workplace can be caused by damaged racking such as being trapped or hit by falling objects which could be the result of a racking collapse. So, to keep your racking in good shape and ensure the safety of your employees you need a trained eye looking out periodically for signs of weakness in your structures.

Logical Storage carry out regular reviews of racking for a number of businesses around the UK. We help them to keep their systems in good working order and to maintain their obligations to both their employees and the law under the Health & Safety Act. To find out more please call us today on 0845 689 1300.

Posted on: August 28th, 2018 by admin No Comments

Why you need to take racking damage seriously

Whether you are a large business operating in an industrial sized building, or a small operation with just a few employees, racking inspection and repair is absolutely essential to your business.

Damage to racking through poor placement of stock, damage by forklifts or other equipment can risk the integrity of your racking and put both your product and your employees at risk.

Time and time again, unsafe racking has resulted in catastrophic failures where racking has collapsed, hitting other structures and resulting in widespread damage to both systems and stock. This then results in equipment, storage systems and stock having to be replaced which means hours of wasted time and heavy costs incurred. Can your business afford the downtime?

Equally, there have also been plenty of cases of unsafe racking resulting in damage not just to stock but also employees who have been caught in the crossfire of a collapse. Should an employee be injured you could be liable under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (2007).  An incident of this sort would not only be terrible for those involved but could also leave your business with a loss of reputation and having to divert your attention to lengthy, expensive legal issues.

The key question here is how can this be prevented? The number one way that you can prevent a racking collapse is to have regular inspections of your racking by a trained professional looking out for bent or damaged beams, loose attachments, overloading, corrosion, misalignments and more. Damage to racking can be difficult to spot unless you know what you are looking for which is why it is important to seek out experienced help.

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.

Posted on: July 27th, 2018 by admin No Comments

Drive in racking vs drive through racking

Often the success of a business comes down to the slightest of margin. If you can take a critical eye to the small details day-in-day-out, then over time you could make a huge difference to the success of your business and the smoothness of your operations.

One key way that businesses can adapt is to further optimise their storage space. Pallet racking systems are a fantastic way to get the most out of the space you already have without the need to move to larger premises. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colours and can suit a variety of different purposes.

Let’s take drive-in and drive-through racking for example, as both are fantastic if you have large amounts of the same product in your warehouse. This type of racking can easily be expanded and help make the most of your warehouse all year long. Let’s look at some of the key differences between these two types of racking and look at some optimal ways that they can be used.

Drive in racking uses a FILO system which stands for first in – last out. This type of racking is ideal for items that move quickly, are very popular or have a short shelf life. Items are stored one behind another along continuous beams. It is also good for items that are too delicate or fragile to be stacked on top of each other.

Drive through racking uses as a first in – first out (FIFO) system where the pallets are loaded in from one side of the racking and are recovered from the other side. This type of system helps you keep things streamlined by eliminating the need for lots of different isles and also allows for independent stacking.

Both of these styles of racking are easy to install and highly adjustable and have helped numerous businesses to transcend their previous storage constraints and effectively grow their bottom line in a quick fashion.

Are you interested in finding out more about our racking solutions? 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.

Posted on: June 22nd, 2018 by admin No Comments

Relocation – is there a better alternative?

In busy periods when your stock is piling up, orders are coming in thick and fast and new employees are joining your business, it’s not an unfamiliar sight to see a warehouse manager left scratching their head. However, believe it or not – relocating to new premises when you’re feeling pinched for space isn’t always the best strategy. In fact, the costs incurred can end up putting your business further behind at a time when continuity is vital. Here are a few points to consider before you take the plunge.

Storage
One of the key reasons for feeling claustrophobic in a warehouse is poor organisation. Often delays in processing can be caused by inefficient storage systems – your most popular items being stored at the back, rather than the front of racking, for example.

It’s worth investigating alternative racking solutions such as wide aisle, double-deep, drive in/drive through and dynamic forms of racking, as well as shelving options before you commit to the often unnecessary cost and time involved in moving.

Space
Another reason businesses sometimes choose to move somewhere else is that they feel as if they need more space to work with. Perhaps, they’ve found a key piece of machinery that could help take things to the next level, or they need somewhere to house extra stock or members of staff. Whatever the reason for wanting to move, a viable alternative is often right above their heads. Many businesses operate in warehouses which quickly fill up on the ground level but by installing a mezzanine floor they can monopolize space that would otherwise be wasted using it to house new equipment, create extra workspaces, install more storage solutions or create an area for offices, toilets or breakrooms.

Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and 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.

Posted on: May 9th, 2018 by admin No Comments

How top-level efficiency in warehouses can help to boost profits

When it comes to warehouse efficiency, brands like Amazon are clearly leading the way. The retail giant’s Amazon Prime Now launch is the latest demonstration of how quickly and efficiently they can process orders, with customers near 27 of their American stores able to order selected prime products and have them delivered within just 60 minutes for a special fee.

Whilst this kind of extra-level efficiency isn’t a practical offering for most UK based businesses, the attitude of trying to reduce delivery times and make chains as efficient as possible is certainly something that you should be striving towards. Here are a few carefully chosen methods that can help you on your way.

1 – Look up
Mezzanine floors are one of the most popular solutions available for improving your operations in a warehouse. Continually chosen by businesses as an alternative to moving premises, mezzanine floors help you use the space above your head to provide extra space for you to work with.

2 – Organise your stock
Racking and shelving solutions are fantastic options available to you. We have a wide variety of options to help you better organize your inventory with different systems that can be built to your exact requirements including options like wide aisle and dynamic push back racking and carton flow or long span shelving.

3 – Take Health and Safety matters seriously
Health and Safety Regulations are absolutely critical for businesses, especially those operating warehouses. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act means that if a serious accident happens due to a neglect of your Duty of Care then you could be found liable, which can mean damage to your reputation as a business, loss of earnings, fines and even imprisonment. A key aspect of Health and Safety in warehouses is ensuring that all of your equipment is safe and secure. For warehouse owners we provide a popular racking inspection service to make sure racking is fit for purpose.

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