The New Waste Legislation Coming in March 2025: What You Need to Know

The new waste legislation, Simpler Recycling, is set to be introduced in England on the 31st March 2025. One of the most significant changes in the upcoming legislation is the introduction of mandatory recycling for all businesses. Businesses with 10 employees or more must separate glass, paper, metal, cardboard, plastic, and food waste. However, businesses with fewer than 10 employees have until the 31st March 2027 to comply.


The growing environmental crisis has put immense pressure on governments to adopt more effective waste management strategies. Landfills are overflowing, ocean pollution is worsening, and greenhouse gas emissions from waste are contributing to climate change.

The new waste legislation, Simpler Recycling, is set to be introduced in England on the 31st March 2025. It is aimed at significantly improving waste management practices and reducing environmental impact. This legislation will implement stricter measures across businesses, individuals, and municipalities to promote recycling, reduce landfill waste, and combat plastic pollution.

Key aspects of the legislation include:

  1. Mandatory Recycling for Businesses
  2. Extended Producer Responsibility
  3. Ban on Single-Use Plastics
  4. Increased Landfill Taxes
  5. Household Waste Separation


One of the most significant changes in the upcoming legislation is the introduction of mandatory recycling for all businesses. Businesses with 10 employees or more must separate glass, paper, metal, cardboard, plastic, and food waste. However, businesses with fewer than 10 employees have until the 31st March 2027 to comply.

While many companies already engage in recycling efforts, the new law will require businesses of all sizes to implement recycling programs for materials such as:

  • Mixed Dry Recycling: Glass, paper, metal, cardboard, plastic
  • Food Waste: Organic waste from food that needs to be collected separately
  • Black Bin Waste: Residual waste


This will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and promote resource recovery.

Extended Producer Responsibility is a critical component of the new legislation. Under EPR, manufacturers will be held accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products. This means companies must design products with recyclability in mind, reduce packaging waste, and take responsibility for collecting and recycling their products after use.

Additionally, a ban on single-use plastics will prohibit items such as plastic bags, straws, utensils, and certain food packaging materials. Businesses will be required to transition to sustainable alternatives, such as biodegradable or reusable products.

Another major change is the introduction of higher landfill taxes to discourage landfill use and promote recycling and waste reduction. Both businesses and individuals will face increased costs for disposing of waste in landfills, making it more economical to adopt recycling or composting practices.

From 31st March 2026, the legislation will also require household waste separation, making it mandatory for residents to sort their waste into recyclables, organic waste, and residuals, with penalties for non-compliance. This comprehensive legislation aims to promote a circular economy, reduce waste, and contribute to the UK’s broader environmental sustainability goals.

How racksack® Can Help

racksack® transforms daily waste management. Offering an efficient, space-saving, and eco-friendly solution for waste segregation, racksack® integrates into the existing infrastructure of warehouses, factories, and distribution centres.

racksack® makes compliance with these legal requirements as simple as possible. Whether it’s paper, plastics, cardboard, general waste, or more specific categories, racksack® offers a versatile solution that meets the diverse needs of any industrial setting.


What You Can Do Now

To ensure compliance by March 2025, start planning today:

  • Conduct a Waste Audit: Review your current waste collection process in your business.
  • Contact us: We will work with you to find the best waste management solution that ensures compliance and smooth operations.
  • Implement racksack®


By taking action now, your business can avoid disruptions, meet legal requirements, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Let's work together to ensure every business can 'Get Sorted' with racksack®.

racksack® makes it easy to follow UK recycling rules, making operations more efficient and environmentally friendly. Reach out to us today!

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Common Warehouse Mistakes and How to Prevent Them

A warehouse is a valuable asset for your business and by preventing some common warehousing mistakes you can improve your company’s efficiency and save money.

Processes

Business processes are essential to ensuring your business is effective and efficient, but sometimes these can be neglected.

Often warehouses concentrate more on the out-going processes associated with distribution of stock and during busy periods this can lead to slacking off in the process for receipt of goods into the warehouse.

If the inbound process is not completed correctly it can affect the outbound process as items are mis-stored, mis-placed or not recorded as being received. This could then lead to inventory inaccuracies which can have a knock-on effect to the business.

To prevent this ensure that staff are well-trained in the acceptance of goods, so that even during busy periods, staff holidays or sickness there is more than one person capable of carrying out this task.

Inventory

A common warehouse mistake is holding excess inventory. Whilst it’s important to have the stock required to fulfil sales, excess stock is expensive. Not only is your business’ money tied up in unsold stock but you are paying to store it.

Try to limit inventory to the minimum required to run your businesses efficiently.

Failing to optimize the picking path is another common but easily rectified mistake.

This is, however, all part of a wider issue of poor facility layout. The warehouse should be easy to navigate as the longer it takes for staff to pick the items for dispatch, productivity is reduced and the more it costs your business.

A quick fix would be to ensure items which are commonly picked together are stored together to streamline the picking process.

If you feel your warehouse layout could be improved speak to the team at Pallet Racking Direct and see how we can help streamline your workspace.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety management within a warehouse is important, especially during busy periods. The Health and Safety Officer must maintain up-to-date risk assessments – especially in such an environment where large items are being transported from height and others are being consistently moved by heavy machinery.

Accidents can sometimes be overlooked if staff don’t record them. A staff culture of reporting all accidents and more importantly near-misses needs to be maintained.

Hazards can then be reassessed and preventative measures put in place.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, not only do we provide racking but we also offer a racking inspection and repair service to ensure those accidents waiting to happen, don’t.

Staff Development

Sometimes if budgets are tight or there are staff shortages staff training is one of the first things to be abandoned. This is a mistake.

All staff have development needs, and just because they are doing their job adequately doesn’t mean there is no benefit in training.

Many employees like to feel they are improving their skills and if this development is neglected, this results in a high staff turn-over.

Following these tips can make your warehouse a more productive and efficient workspace for very minimum effort.

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Importance of inspection and maintenance for pallet racking

From warehouse pallet racking to mobile pallet racking, regular inspection and maintenance of pallet racking are essential to ensure a business is safe and operating to maximum efficiency.

From warehouse pallet racking to mobile pallet racking, regular inspection and maintenance of pallet racking are essential to ensure a business is safe and operating to maximum efficiency. Many businesses fail to understand the importance of pallet racking inspection and maintenance and, as a result, are putting their businesses at serious risk.

Why is inspecting and maintaining pallet racking important?

Pallet racking that is not assembled in the most beneficial way possible, is damaged or is broken, can have a number of severe consequences. If the pallet racking is used to store inventory, some inventory may be damaged or lost due to inconsistencies in the pallet racking. Similarly, damaged pallet racking may cause a worker to injure themselves, or cause a fatal accident. Any of the above problems have the potential to cause business delays and financial losses.

What areas of pallet racking need to be inspected?

All areas of pallet racking need to be inspected regularly to ensure the pallet racking is safe and secure. The impact of lift trucks can often cause damage to pallet racking and minor damage can accumulate to create much larger problems. It is essential that pallet racking is inspected thoroughly, including the columns and anchors which can often be overlooked.

How should maintenance be conducted?

If during an inspection damage is identified, maintenance should be conducted as soon as possible and if necessary, the area of pallet racking effected should be closed off. Substantial maintenance should only be completed by the pallet racking manufacturer or a professional pallet racking company. Ineffective maintenance is just as dangerous as damaged pallet racking.

For innovative pallet racking solutions, contact Shelf Space! For over 12 years we have been supplying UK businesses with effective storage solutions. Our expert team are able to design, install and maintain pallet racking that can revolutionise a business.

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Benefits of mobile pallet racking

Storage can be expensive, so having a pallet racking system that can double the storage capacity of your existing space is brilliant. This is where mobile pallet racking comes in.

Many people believe mobile pallet racking is simply shelving that can move, but it’s much more than that. Although this type of shelving may be more expensive to start with, the benefits it can offer over time will more than makeup for the cost.

The Benefits of Pallet Racking

  • Mobile pallet racking frees up floor space. Fixed racking can’t be moved, so eventually, there will be no more space available. A mobile pallet rack can be arranged in different ways to maximise the layout of your storage area.
  • By freeing up all this extra space, you can add in even more mobile pallet racking, which prevents you from having to find a new location to store other items.
  • Mobile pallet racking is customisable. Many racks can be accessorised to accommodate different items of stock, such as photographs, CDs and ink cartridges.
  • You will be more organised when using mobile pallet racking than you would be with fixed racking. It’s easy to move mobile racking into sections, allowing similar products to be stored together. This makes finding items easier for employees too.
  • Mobile pallet racking offers users more security as well. These units can be locked together, making them sturdy and ultimately providing added peace of mind.
  • If you already have fixed pallet racking, it’s easy to add mobile pallet racking to your existing setup.

All in all, mobile pallet racking is a real-time and space saver for any warehouse or business. Contact us at Pallet Racking Direct to find out more about our mobile solutions.

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Choosing the right pallet racking system for your business

A successful, functioning warehouse is dependent on a well-planned pallet racking system. Storage and logistics are the key components of making it work. Before proceeding with a storage solution you think might work for you, consider the following pointers to help you choose the right pallet racking system for your business.

A successful, functioning warehouse is dependent on a well-planned pallet racking system. Storage and logistics are the key components of making it work. Before proceeding with a storage solution you think might work for you, consider the following pointers to help you choose the right pallet racking system for your business.

What are you storing?

It is essential to make the most of your floor space. This means considering the dimensions of the ground room and utilising vertical space effectively too. The loads you store need to be considered in terms of both size and weight. What will the racking system need to support it? How will it be moved around the space? (Will forklift trucks need to move through your aisles?)

Budget

Design and installation need to be factored in to choosing your racking system. You need to ensure your budget can accommodate this as well as the cost of your chosen solution. Note that quality pallet racking is available both new and used.

Layout

Carefully planning the racking layout will optimise the logistics of your operation. A good flow of items in all directions will ensure a safe working environment, so this needs to be factored in to your racking choices.

Racking types

Pallet racking: The most common option, these systems are ideal for many items that need to be easily stored and dispatched. A forklift moves the pallets into position, allowing optimal use of vertical space. The shelving is heavy duty, and perfect for order picking.

An industrial racking solution, this is designed to store unusual size/shaped, longer items like wood and steel. Commonly used by merchants and wholesalers in the building trade, it’s a versatile option.

Specially designed for tyres, this is used by garages everywhere for efficient, effective storage. It’s easy to assemble and doesn’t require a forklift to use.

It requires investment and planning to choose the ideal pallet racking solution for your business. It is critical that you get this right, so you should always choose a reliable supplier. At Pallet Racking Direct we have years of experience with racking, shelving and warehouse equipment. Explore our range of workplace solutions or give us a call and we’ll discuss how we can be of assistance.

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Advantages of Having An Efficient Pallet Racking System

When running a warehouse, it is important to find a method that will maximize your storage space. If you want to increase your profit and staff's productivity, you need to increase the available space, too. With incredible pallet racking systems, the owners can increase their storage space without spending too much.

These systems are made to give more available space since they just take up a little floor space. An efficient pallet racking system can provide numerous benefits, but we bring you the top benefits of utilising pallet racking in your warehouse.

  • Space saving

The first biggest advantage of this is that it can maximise the space of your warehouse since it doesn’t take up to much of it. You need to gain more vertical space, so you will also have more floor space and greater storage capacity. Having storage capacity you’ll have more space to store more products in your warehouse and can also lead to increased business profits. Furthermore, by using a forklift you can easily bring down and store pallets.

  • You can customise your racks with different systems

These warehouse racking systems are durable and use different arrangements like the selective rack, pushback rack and carton flow rack settings, depending on your warehouse needs.

  • Capitalise on square footage

It is a great way to capitalise on warehouse square footage. It gives the ability for you to store vertically, by placing pallet bays on top of each other. Moreover, you can easily multiply the storage capacities by adding vertical storage. But not just that, these systems also give different heights for each pallet level. Whether you pallets are stacked
high or packed short, pallet racking systems have the ability to fit all the required pallet sizes.

  • Improves warehouse safety

Another advantage of pallet racking system is that this ensures maximum safety for all employees in the warehouse. Pallet racks are made from high-quality materials, that’s why it provides a sturdy warehouse storage solution. But it is still important for the employees to follow all safety factors and rules while working with pallet racking systems in order to prevent injuries. Also, these storage systems can be fixed on the floor of your warehouse to increased stability and safety.

When you’re looking to refit your current warehouse or outfit a new warehouse, pallet racking systems provide many benefits. So if you want a better storage system, We at Pallet Racking Direct can guide and help you. Contact us on 01444 220 290 or 07834 859 018859 018 for further information on warehouse pallet racking.

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Top Tips To Improve Warehouse Management and Operations

Looking for ways to manage your warehouse and operations effectively? Find out how you can improve your warehouse management and operations here!

Here are some tips to help improve the management and operations of your warehouse facility:

Trust online over the manual

Using handheld computers with RFID readers or barcode scanners at the receiving dock will immediately identify products on arrival. This will also help get the products off the dock quickly and eliminate any errors that are associated if you were to manually receive them. Scanning and RFID technology helps to make sure you’ll avoid mistakes that can cause major issues with inventory accuracy and the associated time to fix them.

Maximise and optimise all available space

Rather than expand the footprint of your warehouse space, consider using vertical space. Adding the right warehouse storage equipment to pick and store material can help you keep more in the same square footage than adding expansion costs. In addition, think about the variety and type of shelving used. Storing some small items on pallet racks wastes space and makes it easier to misplace items. Rather than using the same racks or used pallet racking, you may need various types of warehouse shelving for different materials. Also, try using standardised bins to help keep shelves orderly and neat.

Automatic data collection

It is surprising that there are still many companies that haven’t implemented automatic data collection. If your warehouse staff are keying codes, writing them on paper then manually inputting them onto your system, then it’s already time to review your process and investigate how you can move to automatic data collection.

Organise workstations

Organising workstations improve productivity because workers do not have to search for tools or equipment. Use the “5S” method to ensure your workstations are clean and as organised as possible. “5S” means Sort; Set in order; Shine; Standardise, and Sustain. All techniques designed to keep clutter at bay, improve organisation and safety, and reduce errors.

Be transparent and promote information

A well thought out warehouse visibility infrastructure allows for the sharing of information easily throughout your operation and across the whole company. Good visibility leads to improving your warehouse performance with instant access to information, the operations of your facility are more efficient and can lead to better communications across the business.

If you want to know more, on how to manage and improve your warehouse operations. we at Pallet Racking Direct are ready to teach and guide you. Give us a call on 01444 220 290 or 07834 859 018 to start your business with us.

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Why Your Business Needs Storage Space

When thinking of how much space you will need for your things, consider using storage unit as a cost-effective way of making the most of your space budget.

A cluttered office has a negative impact on your employee productivity. Whether it’s simply feeling claustrophobic or having to constantly search for documents, a messy office can add frustration and stress to your employee’s workdays. If you’ve run out of on-site storage space, it may be time to consider a storage unit, like storage shelves or shelving units for some of your stuff and this will create more space for you and also for your employees. If you’re hesitant about spending on extra office storage, you may have not considered all the ways it will benefit your business. But it turns out that this simple decision could improve day-to-day operations in many ways.

Space savings

When you rent space your first thought is to get enough space to accommodate your employees and you. This makes sense, given that they’re the most important assets. But that leaves you with little room for anything else. Renting extra space for your things that don’t contribute to the bottom line is not a financially sound idea. That is where renting a storage unit does make sense. The lower monthly cost of an extra storage unit is perfect for storing filling cabinets, advertising materials like signage, trade show booths, extra desks, chairs, and more.

A better-looking office

A cluttered office looks unorganised and unprofessional. Attractive office space isn’t only beneficial to hosting client meetings, but it is good for your employees too. A good looking workplace promotes a productive and healthy work environment. Make a list of everything in your office that is not being used. Look at your list and decide if an extra storage space could handle all these items. After you tidy up and do some interior decorating you will realise how much better your office feels.

Document Storage

As a business owner, you should know that keeping your business documents secure and safe is extremely important. For tax purposes, you need to keep your business documents for several years before you can throw or shred them.



Looking for an extra storage unit? Metal shelving UK or Mobile Shelving Systems can find you a better place for your things. For more details, please call us on 01444 220290.

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Maximise Warehouse Space with These Expert Tips

The cost of labour, equipment, and maintenance can add up to a significant amount of money. This makes operating a warehouse fairly expensive, regardless if you’re renting the structure or built it from the ground up. You want to make sure that your investment is put to good use by maximising all the space provided so you won’t have to spend on more. How?

1. Make aisles narrower

When you move warehouse racking closer together, you can increase the total amount of space available. Don’t overdo it though, as you may encounter problems with moving forklifts or carts around the aisles which may result in damage to the goods or personnel accidents.

2. Rethink the schematics

You should have been able to look at the layout diagram when you first occupied the warehouse. This contains storage requirements, SKU sizes, inventory volume, and other data that likely need to be updated according to current bin and quantity sizing.

3. Maximise vertical space

Is your floor space getting tight? It may be time to take advantage of your upward potential. Many modern warehouse pallet racking systems allow you to add more tiers than ever before. Of course, check with health, safety, and stacking restrictions first before extending.

4. Use right-size slots

Always match the sales and size of an item to an appropriately sized slot. Facilitate this process by having picking slots in various sizes, even for locations where you store overstocks and reserves. In the case of forward picking, keep 7 days worth of sales in reserve.

5. Try out cross-docking

This logistical technique involves receiving, sorting, and scanning inbound stocks in a cross-docking terminal then loading them straight to outbound vehicles. It may be tricky to manage but it allows you to save a lot of space from unnecessary storage times.

6. Keep it organised

Each stock should be put together strategically with its own place. It’s recommended that you keep the same types of products in one area then condense the boxes when stocks are sold. Also, ensure that there are no obstacles like open crates lying around to impede efficiency.

7. Relocate popular goods

If you have products that move faster than others, consider moving them to a location where they will be easier to access and transfer. This way there will be a shorter distance between the warehouse shelving the outbound vehicles or wherever the goods should go next.

For the suggestions that require adjustments to the warehouse racking system design, consult with an expert to ensure that the configurations will be in order and safe.

If you want to know more, we at Pallet Racking Direct are happy to receive your calls at 01444 220 290 or 07834 859 018. You can also leave us a message on our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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Maximise warehouse space with these expert tips Maximise warehouse space with these expert tips

Top Tips to Effectively Manage a Cold Storage Warehouse

Cold storage warehouses conveniently keep perishable and highly temperature-sensitive products in pristine and perfect condition until it is time for them to get moving. This is particularly crucial for food items, which if exposed to inappropriate temperatures can lead to degradation, discoloration, or worse, bacterial growth. As a result, major profit loss could occur, or worse, the safety of consumers is compromised.

Because of this, maintaining an optimal temperature at all times to preserve the quality of the goods without harming the personnel working inside a cold storage warehouse is of utmost priority.

Here are some practical maintenance tips for cold warehouse management.

Practice the “first in, first out” method

Otherwise known as FIFO, the first in first out method is part of the standard operating procedure to effectively keep track of all the products going in and out of the warehouse facility. This will help managers take note of the expiration dates and trace the oldest products inside the cold storage warehouse. With this available data, they can easily determine which needs to be scheduled for delivery or disposal the soonest.

Utilise freezer-friendly storage

Check if your cold storage warehouse has the correct industrial type of shelves, racks, and pallets that can withstand freezing temperature and do not rust, and as a result, damage the products over time.

Automate palletising

A pallet rack system is a specially designed storage solution that basically involves storing the goods on pallets stacked on top of one another vertically and on many levels. Pallet racks are typically seen in big and advanced warehouses, distribution facilities, and retail shops. Typically, forklifts are used to efficiently move the pallets from the racking system to the delivery or transportation vehicle and vice-versa.

Automating processes, such as pallet rack systems, can help cut down on operational costs and streamline current processes to be more productive and cost-efficient.

Previously, due to limitations of technology, the products had to be taken out of the freezer to be put on to pallets and then back again. The laborious trip back and forth heightens the risk of ambient air getting inside the freezer and messing up with the temperature. But now it is possible to put everything on pallets inside the cold storage without the risk of freezing up the product and the equipment and the times staff have to go through harsh temperatures.

Get the most out of the cube by requesting for high-density storage

There are a lot of bespoke or custom racking options that offer deeper and taller designs with the density in mind. It is highly recommended to order a rack supported storage that is specifically tailor-made to suit your business’ specific requirements. Creating a high-density storage is another effective way to minimise heat loss.

For more information on the automated pallet and bespoke warehouse racking systems, please contact Shell Space Pallet Racking Direct on 01444 220 290 or fill out this contact form so we can get in touch with you.

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Tips for Warehouse Transportation Safety

Here at Shelf Space, we know how important it is to have efficient systems in place in heavy duty working environments like warehouses, whether it be with adjustable pallet racking systems to ensure maximisation of space or having our anti-collapse mesh screens to capitalise on work safety.

Here at Shelf Space, we know how important it is to have efficient systems in place in heavy duty working environments like warehouses, whether it be with adjustable pallet racking systems to ensure maximisation of space or having our anti-collapse mesh screens to capitalise on work safety.

But with everything in place, you need to ensure that you minimise any difficulties with the transportation of your palletised products.

Forklift iStock


Whether you’re starting out in the business or have long standing experience, it’s always necessary to make sure that the correct safety regulations carry on through to your transportation system. Even though it may seem like common sense, it’s always important to carry out refresher training courses in the correct execution of your warehouse forklifts or trucks to make sure your company doesn’t incur any warehouse incidents.

Here are three things to consider when managing the efficiency of your business and the potential protection of your staff.

1. How heavy?

Make sure you know how heavy the products are that you’re dealing with. Again, it may seem simple, but misjudgements in weight could have a domino effect when working with such large, heavy duty structures. Your staff’s knowledge of stock is essential. If a product is too heavy to lift, then this could cause damage to your vehicle or could cause it to become unbalanced.

2. Spatial awareness

How much space is between your pallet racks? You need to make certain that you have enough space to accommodate your vehicle, allowing space for your forklift to manoeuvre through the aisles with ease and to be able to turn around if need be. How long or wide are your products? You must allow space for those too. Of course, this can be made easier with Shelf Space’s narrow aisle pallet racking to maximise on space in your warehouse.

Warehouse Aisles iStock

3. Product placement

The execution of placing your products back in their shelving units needs to be done properly without room for error. If goods aren’t pushed back and utilising the entire space of the rack, then this could lead to accidents, including trips and falls of staff, a collision with your vehicle or products falling out of the compartments.

You need to provide the guarantee that your business runs as smoothly as possible in a warehouse space. Whether you need to invest in installations to integrate better with your current structures or if a change in product warrants a more flexible construction, send us a specific enquiry on our contact page or call us at our office at 01444 220 290.

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3 Key Rules for Combating the Winter Shopping Rush

With Christmas and the January Sales on the horizon, we know your warehouse is going to be very busy. Here are some simple rules to help you combat that winter shopping rush!

Christmas is mere weeks away and your trusted warehouse pallet racking system is beginning to look a little full. When it comes to the busier seasons, we know just how important it is to make sure your warehouse is up to the test of the consumer crush. There are a couple of things you can do to make sure this season runs smoothly.

Rule 1:
Keep Everything Strong and Stable

First and foremost, before we get down to the nitty, gritty details, we need to make sure that your reliable pallet racking systems are up to the task. It’s important to make sure your pallet racking system is strong enough to withstand the sheer number of products they’ll be forced to hold. December and January are two of the busiest months in the old and new year. December brings you the rush of the Christmas shopper, desperately trying to remember to buy products for their friends and family, while January brings the crush of the sales.

The last thing you want is to find your shelves can’t cope with the sheer weight. To combat the threat of tired shelves, make sure you place your heavier products on the bottom shelves.

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Rule 2: Make
Sure Everything’s in Its Rightful Place

The next step in preparing for the winter shopping rush is to make sure your warehouse is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Now we know we’ve spoken before about the importance of a well-organised warehouse but, when time is of the essence, organisation is key. Santa can’t deliver all of his toys on time if his trusty elves and workshop aren’t running like clockwork, can he?

Clearly labelling packages, pallets and racks is the best way to ensure every product is found and retrieved with ease.

pallet racking uk


Rule 3: Take
Good Care of Your Hard Workers

Finally, we have employee care. Tensions are running high at this time of year. There’s lots to do and not a lot of time to do it all in. To prevent your employees from making easy-to-avoid mistakes, make sure they’re well equipped for the seasonal rush. Communication is key, as is making sure they understand the systems and the order in which to complete jobs.

Above all else, when it comes to keeping your employees in tiptop form, make sure they get plenty of cups of warming tea.

When it comes to organising, designing and finding the best pallet racking systems for you, our experienced team know exactly what to do.
For more information, contact us today on 01444 220 290 or get in touch with us on Facebook!

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Planning Your Warehouse Layout (Part 1)

Changing the layout of your warehouse is an important decision to make, but one that must be done at times if you’re going to properly accommodate a new product line or if you want to add greater flexibility to the operations of your warehouse. However, when it comes down to creating an effective warehouse layout, you need to do a lot of planning to ensure that is a success.

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To break it down a little more easily, the planning process should go in 6 steps:

  • Defining objectives
  • Collecting information
  • Analysis
  • Creating a plan
  • Implementation
  • Post-implementation

As we’re experts in pallet racking, we know what goes into making a great warehouse, so we’re going to run through this process with you so that you can implement your new layout effectively.

Define your Objectives

When it comes to deciding on a new layout for your warehouse, you need to clearly define your objectives. These objectives should be directly aligned with the overall warehousing strategy of the company.

These objectives can be defined at a number of levels – from the larger scale needs of the company, to the smaller wants of your employees. Your high level objectives will be those that will reduce the overall costs, or ones that will make your warehouse, and the workers within more efficient.

Your smaller scale objectives are those that have little to no impact on the day to day running, but can be made in the process without having to go out of your way. These can be design ideas made by staff members, or even ways to save a little extra space within the warehouse.

warehouse racking system design

Collecting Information

If you’re going to change the plan of your warehouse, you’re going to need to collect some specific information so that your plan is as effective as it can be. This means collecting the specifications of the warehouse itself, which can be found in the architectural drawings – you want to be looking out for anything that can affect storage and material handling.

These details should include a physical map of the warehouse space to show columns, doors, height restrictions, docks and storage racks.

With all that information, you can move onto analysing the situation so that you can figure out what exactly needs to be done, the time frame you have to do it, etc.

Be sure to check in with us again soon for the next part in this series on changing your warehouse’s layout.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we specialise in providing the very best racking systems – from warehouse pallet racking to narrow aisle pallet racking – so we can help with any of your racking needs. For more information, contact us on 01444 220 290 and speak with one of our professional team today.

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Optimising Your Warehouse Management System

At Pallet Racking Direct, we are all about providing tiptop organisational systems to help improve the efficiency and organisation of your workplace.

Whether it’s through providing our effective pallet racking systems or through offering our insider insight through our blog, we love feeling like we’re helping you and your workplace develop a more efficient mode of working.

One way to increase your productivity and efficiency is through a reanalysis of your warehouse management system. There are many things that we’re sure you’re already doing perfectly, but through our experience there are a few things that we find businesses can do to optimise their warehouse management system.

Warehouse team with pallet trucks
Warehouse team with pallet trucks

Act Straight Away

When stock comes in, sometimes it’s easy to leave it until later and deal with it at a later hour. While this may be great for the task you’re undertaking there and then, it isn’t effective for the organisation of your stock, and therefore your warehouse. If you pack your stock into where it is meant to go, all the subsequent steps will follow suit; you can unpack it, break the cardboard down and recycle it and there’s no danger of you thinking you have run out of stock, when it’s actually just elsewhere in your warehouse.

Inform Your Staff

A warehouse management system can only become a system if every cog in the machine is working towards the same goal. If one person isn’t adhering to the new system then it can throw it all off; so keep everyone informed! Not only that, keeping a continued and open line of communication helps to empower your team and breeds for a more effective and efficient work practice, as well as aiding to boost morale.

Ask for Criticism

Just because you can’t see room for improvement doesn’t mean there isn’t any. If you ask your staff for what and where they feel there is ground for improvements then not only will they feel even furthermore empowered, but you can actually keep an open level of communication with each level of your business. Communication throughout a company is absolutely essential for the free flow of ideas, as well to develop a kaizen attitude. However, the only thing more important than finding room for improvement is acting on it!

warehouse management

Improving your business’ warehouse management system is a sure fire way to improve your company’s overall effectiveness in delivery as well as improving your company’s overall organisation. If you require further assistance with improving your company’s warehouse management system, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to discuss our pallet racking services. You can contact us on 01444 220 290, where our team are always keen to help give your warehouse management system the streamlined organisation it deserves.

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Rack It Up, Rack It In: Top Racking Safety Tips (Part 2)

Welcome back to our series on the top racking safety tips!

In Top Racking Safety Tips (Part 1) post we gave some sage old safety tips on taking care of y our racking system. As experts in providing quality pallet racking systems to businesses small and large, we thought we’d expand on this. After all, you can never be too safe when working in a busy warehouse!

Pallet truck

Maximum Load Weight Labels

In our previous post we spoke about knowing your racking system. Every racking system is different and as such, every system can handle certain loads. With this in mind you should also be aware, especially if you have multiple racking systems, which system supports what weight. Simply knowing may not be enough, especially if you’re working quickly. Labelling can be your next best friend in a working warehouse. Clearly and precisely labelling each of your racking systems will remove any confusion and make storing your valuable pallets easier.

Stack By Size

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that, staking the largest product on the very top shelf, may be slightly problematic later on. You want to make sure that your warehouse is running smoothly with little to no disturbances when collecting or stacking pallets. Using a forklift to try to tackle the largest pallet at the top of your racking system, can unnecessarily slow down work, and nobody wants that.

Your racking systems may be safe, secure and stable but for that added bit of safety, place your bulkier pallets towards the bottom of your racking system, and the smaller pallets towards the top.

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Pallet Safety Checks

So after you’ve ensured your racking system is stable and after it’s been inspected and the correct weight has been applied and after you’ve spent time labelling said weight, how can you further make sure that your racking system is safe and secure? The state of your pallets should be your next point of call.

Lifting and stacking broken or unstable pallets is the next big safety feature to look out for. Breaks could happen on the warehouse floor or as your stack them on your racking system. Whichever the case may be, moving broken pallets could result in further damage to your products, your racking system or injury to your employees. Check, check and check again is key to a safe and secure working environment.

warehouse racking design

Our racking systems are perfect for any job you have. If you’d like to find out more about our quality systems, don’t hesitate to contact us today on 01444 220 290 or follow us on Facebook for the latest in pallet racking systems!

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3 Warehouse Organisational Tips for a Smaller Business

With our Pallet Racking Direct service we pride ourselves on being able to offer an array of solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of customers.

With our Pallet Racking Direct service we pride ourselves on being able to offer an array of solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of customers. From our drive in pallet racking to our anti-collapse mesh, we feel it’s important to offer a variety of options to meet even the most bespoke of storage and organisational requirements. For example, what may be a viable option for a smaller business won’t necessarily meet the needs of a larger company, and vice-versa.

Regarding smaller companies, we know it can be difficult with smaller levels of financial freedom so we felt we would offer some of the useful tips we’ve picked up along the way for your consideration, and for you to potentially utilise to help with your warehouse storage.

As well as considering writing directly on your boxes, it is worthwhile to consider labelling your warehouse aisles. It can be easy to mislay something if your staff aren’t in tune with your warehouse, so why even take the risk? For the sake of a few minutes and a couple of pounds you can help to give your warehouse a much more defined level of organisation.

Most Popular Product at Front

This makes a lot of sense, but so few companies actually do it; why not keep your best selling products easier to hand, i.e. at the front of the rest of the stock. This is a particularly ergonomic way of going about things in that it will save you fairly substantial amounts of time over the course of a week, let alone a year!

Heavy Items on Bottom

This should be obvious, but you’d be surprised… Not only does it protect your stock, but storing lighter items on top of heavier items can help to prevent the number of workplace injuries. If you don’t have machinery selecting your inventory for you, then this really is the only way to conduct your business.

The way and manner that you store your stock can have all sorts of efficient implications, from time-saving to money saving; it’s the way you undertake the smaller things, in regard to storage, that can truly impact your overall efficiency, and ultimately, overheads. So if you are a smaller business and aren’t currently utilising any of the above, then we recommend you consider incorporating our organisational tips. Equally, if you are yet to utilise a pallet racking system in your warehouse, you should give our team a call and allow us to explain the benefits.

Much like the above, they will provide you with an ergonomic and product protecting organisational system. So get in touch! You can contact us on 01444 220 290, where we will be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to set your warehouse up with our high quality organisational tools.

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Other Warehouse Storage Solutions (Part 2)

Welcome back to our series on the other warehouse storage solutions!

Welcome back to our series on alternate methods of storage in the warehouse. In these posts, we’ve been talking about the different types of storage you can implement in your warehouse which are more suited for certain items. For instance, in part one we covered such storage solutions as Stormor shelving and hazardous substance cupboards, which are both used for very different purposes.

There are plenty more options however, that’ll provide your warehouse with the storage solution it needs and we’re going to look at some of them today!

Pallet Truck
 

Cantilever Racking

Many warehouses contain some oddly shaped items which would be otherwise difficult to find a place for, that is, where Cantilever racking comes in. Specifically designed to handle awkwardly shaped items, this racking can handle all of your tyres, beams, columns and furniture and make it look like it’s a piece of cake.

Mezzanine Storage

Mezzanine is a name attached to a few different kinds of solutions, but it terms of storage, it’s a floor system which is built between two permanent floor stories. This is perhaps one of your more heavy duty storage solutions. Constructed using steel, aluminium and fibreglass, this storage solution is fantastic if you need to pack away your excess goods – we know warehouses are full of excess items!

Push-Back Racks

The ultimate pallet racking solution that allows pallets of items to be stored from 2 to 6 deep on either side of the aisle, thereby giving you a higher density of storage. It can double or triple your storage efficiency; however, it’s recommended that you use this solution for perishable/fresh goods such as fruit and veg.

Spin Block Carousels

If you’re in the business of storing some major pharmaceuticals, then you might want to look into Spin Block. They’re incredibly practical carousels that eliminate unnecessary trips around the warehouse. It’ll also help with your order process, as due to the design, you’ll be able to place several orders at once. And that’s it for our series on the other warehouse storage solutions, but be sure to keep checking our blog for more industry related news!

Pallet Racking

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we stock a wide away of different pallet racking solutions, from adjustable pallet racking, to Drive-In racking. For more information, contact us today on 01444 220 290 and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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Utilising Floor Demarcation in Your Warehouse

When it comes to warehouse storage and efficiency, few things have more impact than our warehouse pallet racking.

When it comes to warehouse storage and efficiency, few things have more impact than our warehouse pallet racking. When you want to create a viable and reliable storage system, the pallet racking serves to regulate storage methods and helps to create consistency, not to mention making it easier and quicker to find the product you are looking for. Another organisational tool that many warehouses utilise is through applying floor demarcation. This is essentially applying colour zones to your floor. Everyday floor demarcation with which you may be more familiar include cycle paths and zebra crossings and essentially act as visual clues as to what the purpose of that particular section of flooring is designated for.

Organisation

In relation to organising your warehouse, floor demarcation helps to indicate the purpose of a particular section. This can help to act much like a pallet racking system in that it can help to make finding particular products easier, through designating particular areas for the specific storage of a certain product or item. Equally, it can define where working and waste stock are to go, meaning that there is never any danger of getting the two mixed up.

Indicates Direction

Floor demarcation can help to indicate which way staff are meant to travel along a certain area of flooring. Yellow arrows are often used to dictate the direction, to make travelling around the warehouse consistent as well as showing which parts of the warehouse are for walking and which are for heavy machinery.

Health and Safety

Floor demarcation helps to reduce the risk of walking around a warehouse. As previously mentioned, the different floor colours can be used to indicate which sections are for humans and which are for machines. Many warehouse managers also opt for specific floor demarcation to identify risk areas, such as opting for red flooring; this can inform staff to refrain from entering this location, or even not to block it.

The simple act of colour coordinating your warehouse floor can help to not only save a lot of time in terms of creating a consistent organisational system by which you can find your products, but can even serve to improve health and safety. It is certainly something that every warehouse should consider in order to improve efficiency. Incorporating a pallet racking system in your warehouse is yet another way in which you can serve to improve efficiency throughout your warehouse. Much like floor demarcation, it is easy to implement and can be incredibly cost-effective when applied effectively.

If you would like to speak to our team regarding our services, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us on 01444 220 290, where we will be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to improve the efficiency across your warehouse environment.

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Other Warehouse Storage Solutions (Part 1)

Find out what type of storage you need for your business with Part One of our guide!

If you’re looking for ways to make your warehouse or business safe, secure and clutter free, then you’ve no doubt considered pallet racking. It’s famed for its durability and as a feasible long-term solution for businesses.

However, you may need some way of storing items that aren’t suitable for placement on pallet racks. In that instance, there is a range of other ways that you can improve your storage with alternative solutions.

Business storage systems
Business storage systems


Hazardous Substance Cupboards

Keeping hazardous substances out of harm’s way is vital to keeping both employers and employees safe, as well as abiding by legal requirements. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, substances are required to be segregated from other items, controlled and identifiable.

Therefore, you need to comply by these regulations by fitting appropriate cupboards.

Stormor Shelving

This is a great versatile way of storing products, files or other general office items. It can cater for specific demands such as healthcare records, heritage storage or retail storage.

It’s also capable of being used for industrial storage, all the way to being ideal to workshops because of its diverse interchangeability. Whether you have general requirements or ones that are a bit more specific, Stormor shelving is incredibly versatile so can be used for a range of industries.

Shopping
Shopping


Garment Hanging Bays

If you have a lot of clothing stock, then it’s important to find a way to prevent them creasing, make sure they’re easily accessible if you have customers waiting on the shop floor, as well as organise your stock.

Garment hanging bays are therefore perfect to keep clothing from becoming damaged from overloading on the shop floor, as well as meaning that there’s little inconvenience to the staff or business.

Small Parts Storage

If you have small parts that need storing, then you need a suitable way of preventing them getting lost or mixed up with other items.

Therefore, using a suitable small parts storage solution, such as a frame that will allow you to hang labelled trays from it, will mean that you’re never left hunting for your bits and pieces.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we stock a wide array of storage solutions such as the ones listed above so have a browse through our brochure to see how we can help your business.

If you want to speak to someone about what we offer, then please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 01444 220 290 and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help!

For more information, you can also check our Facebook page for updates.

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Rack it up, Rack it in: Top Racking Safety Tips

Whether it's in your warehouse or in a factory, your safety is paramount.

If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you’ll realise that we’re big on making sure that you are safe - whether it’s in your warehouse or in a factory, your safety is paramount. What many business owners might not consider however, is the consideration of safety when it comes to racking systems. As a business owner, you’ll most likely own a number of different racking systems, from pallet racking to sheet racks. So with all these in place, how can you be sure that it’s all safe?

While the two most important things to any entrepreneur is product and pitch, racking safety is something that requires every business owner’s attention. So here are some top tips to ensure your racking safely.

Know Your Racking

Like we said earlier, there are different racking systems which offer different storage solutions for different businesses. While that sounds hard to swallow, what we basically mean is that there’s a large amount, for all different purposes. Also, the most expensive racking system, might not necessarily mean it’s the safest. A large floor stacking system will offer plenty of room and will be able to take on a lot of weight, but it also takes up a lot of floor space. It may sound obvious, but if you have a smaller sized warehouse, it might be better looking for something else as this kind of system will end up making your warehouse very unsafe. Choosing the type of racking you want in your warehouse requires just as much planning as any other part of your business.

Inspections

Warehouse and racking inspections are an instance of the public and private sectors uniting in the name of safety - which means, knowing your acronyms. The department of health and safety (HSE) recommend that any business get a SARI (SEMA- approved rack inspector) to help with the installation process, any maintenance work, and also the repair of its racking. Wherever your warehouse is based, there are plenty of private firms and public organisations that are involved with your warehouse and your racking, so having a look around at the services they provide is paramount, as you can ensure that you are as a safe and legal as possible.

Instruction

Racking Training

While having SARI involved in the process means that you may receive an exemption from a programmed inspection, it isn’t an excuse to be careless. In fact, it’s better to have your employees trained enough in your safety standards as inspections will become more relaxed, and you can take them into your own hands. Create a logbook and business-wide code of racking safety. A system of green, yellow and red alerts, for example, is a great way to keep racking inspection simple enough for everyone to understand. Remember, consistency is key: you want to ensure there are no grey areas when it comes to racking safety. Make the decision, well ahead of time, what you and your business consider to be a yellow alert, and what you consider a red alert.

industrial racks

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we want to make sure that you and your business are as safe as they can be. If you’re looking to find a safe and efficient racking system, our pallet racking systems help keep your warehouse neat and tidy as well as safely storing your products. If you would like more information on how our pallet racking can help keep your warehouse safe and productive, don’t hesitate to contact our team today by calling 01444 220 290 and we will be more than happy to help you with your enquiries.

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How Mobile Pallet Racking Can Help You

Mobile pallet racking is among the most efficient ways for you to achieve 100% accessibility to your pallets whilst helping to utilise your storage space more efficiently.

First and foremost, what is mobile pallet racking?

To put it simply, mobile pallet racking utilises a complete pallet racking system and places it onto heavy duty, movable bases. This ingenious method of pallet racking allows you to utilise up to 80% of your warehouse cubic storage capacity and grants you access to 100% of the pallets you have in storage.

How Mobile Pallet Racking Works


Rails are embedded into the floor of your warehouse, enabling the racking system to be move electronically left or right. For maximum reliability our mobile pallet racks are industry standard electric motors, these can be controlled either by:

  • Foot; where controls are set into the floor at the end of each rack,
  • Hand; where a control panel is located in the cab of a forklift, for complete working efficiency.

Spanning vast distance, our effective and reliable mobile pallet racking systems are able to carry bay loads of up to 24 tons, heights of 12 metres and can run lengths of more than 30 metres, enabling them to take full advantage of storage space provided.

Mobile Pallet Racking


What Are the Safety Features?


As with all of our products your safety, and the safety of your employees are our top priority. To ensure that our mobile pallet rack systems are operating at their very best, we’ve ensured that every mobile pallet rack system comes with the most efficient and effective safety features such as:

  • Access light barriers
  • Manual Release Systems
  • Emergency Stop Buttons
  • Safety Light Barriers
  • Distance Sensors

These enable our products to help you keep up a great problem and accident-free warehouse for you and your employees to enjoy.


Hard Hat



Is There Need to Invest in Specialised Equipment?


Being a 100% accessible racking system means that there’s no need for you to invest your hard earned money into specialised forklift trucks to access any of your pallets. Our mobile pallet racking systems are carefully designed with you in mind, this means that you’re about to move freely up and down the aisles without any mishaps. Designed for your particular needs, we are able to deliver you with a unique, bespoke service so no matter how big or small your warehouse is, you can be sure to find the best possible mobile pallet racking with us.

Racking System

For more information about the ins and outs of mobile pallet racking or to find out exactly how our industrial pallet racking and mobile pallet racking can help make your warehouse more efficient, contact us today on 01444 220 290.

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Warehouse Maintenance Checklist

In order to keep a warehouse running smoothly, it’s essential that some form of maintenance is performed on a regular basis.

Not only does this allow you to ensure that everything is working correctly, it also highlights any potential problems which may occur so that you can perform the necessary maintenance task to prevent it from occurring and potentially causing problems in your warehouse; whether this be posing a safety risk or simply disrupting the running of the warehouse.

As experts in warehouse pallet racking, we know our stuff when it comes to regular warehouse maintenance tasks. We’ve put together a short list of criteria which should be checked and tested when performing maintenance, including some which can easily get forgotten about or missed.

Test the Alarm Systems

Testing the alarms should be one of the first things that you check when performing maintenance in a warehouse.

Usually, you will be storing or working on a lot of expensive stock which should be protected at all times by fire, burglar and other security alarms. Make sure that any alarm system that you have installed is thoroughly checked and tested and that it is functioning correctly.

We often rely too much on the assumption that on our alarm systems are functioning, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Better safe than sorry!

Check Emergency Exits

Emergency exits are an essential component in your escape plan if there is an emergency in the warehouse.

Make sure that all your emergency exits have working bulbs so that they can be seen in the event of the power going out and that the push bars are working and that the alarms work when pushed.

Repair Flooring Damage

The sooner that damage done to the floor is detected, the easier and cheaper it will be to fix.

Not only does this pose a safety hazard to the workers who are working in that area, but it also affects any machinery that you have in the area, making the floor uneven and unstable.

Cracks and damage can be repaired, but it’s important to find the right solution for the type of damage; don’t just cover the crack with concrete! Contact a warehouse flooring professional before trying to fix any damage yourself.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we want you to make the most out of your warehouse and the only way that you can do that is through regular maintenance and care. Our pallet racking systems help keep your warehouse neat and tidy as well as safely storing your products. If you would like more information on how our pallet racking can help keep your warehouse safe and productive, don’t hesitate to contact our team today by calling 01444 220 290 and we will be more than happy to help you with your enquiries.

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Checklist for Warehouse Maintenance Checklist for Warehouse Maintenance

Problem with your Pallet Racking? Go Bespoke!

What do you do when traditional pallet racking simply doesn't fulfil your needs? Well, you read on...

Uh-oh. Your warehouse is a pretty awkward shape, isn’t it? And perhaps your products aren’t all that easy to store either… it’s all right, you can tell us – we’ve seen it all before. From strange angles that make traditional pallet racking an absolute nightmare to objects which simply won’t lie flat, every company has their own unique needs when it comes to running a warehouse that’s safe and efficient.

So maybe you’ve tried the conventional options and found that they’re not solving any of your problems and maybe even have caused a few new ones. But you can’t have a warehouse without any storage, so what are you supposed to do? Now is the time to go bespoke – work with a company who will head to your site, check out the space for themselves and come up with a unique solution which works especially for you.

Planning

This is a service which we’re delighted to offer here at Shelf Space, and if you have had issues with pallet racking in the past then it can really solve those problems. However, even if you don’t have an incredibly tricky warehouse space to deal with, there could be other reasons for choosing a bespoke storage solution. Here are just a couple…

Maximise Storage Space

If you have too many goods for you current storage system but you don’t want to move to new premises then it might be time to see if there is any space that you’re not currently using which could be taken advantage of with a different solution. The key here is to look vertically; is there a lot of space between the top of your pallet racking and the ceiling? Or are there nooks and crannies which you thought were too narrow to make use of? If so, a designer may well be able to come up with a range of options that would allow you to stack a lot more stock.

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Unique Needs

Your warehouse itself might be completely standard, but if there are other aspects of your company which make its needs unusual then you still may find yourself better served by the bespoke option. This might be a case of unique equipment or staffing needs that make it difficult to operate within the confines of the more common pallet racking options. If this sounds familiar, please don’t despair! Once again, we will be happy to discuss your individual needs and work with you to find something which does work.

Plans

Pallet racking is something which most warehouses can’t do without, so don’t let your unique needs leave you with substandard products. Contact us today to discuss the options available; whether you get in touch online or at 01444 220 290, we’ll be available to listen to your needs and help you go bespoke!

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How to Avoid The Most Common Warehouse Safety Hazards (Part 2)

Welcome back to our guide on the most common warehouse safety hazards and how to avoid them. In part one, we covered the more common warehouse hazards such as trips, fires and heavy equipment. In this part, we’ll be covering some more obscure but just as dangerous hazards to avoid.


Falling Objects

This is perhaps the most common hazard in this part of our guide. In a warehouse, naturally, an ordinary practice is stacking objects on high platforms and shelves. That can also pose a serious danger of having said objects fall from their shelves and injuring a worker. Luckily, avoiding this hazard is a simple case of ensuring heavy loads are stacked neatly as well as checking you have a strong and sturdy racking in place (like our reliable adjustable pallet racking).

Warehouse Racking Design

Crushing

It’s not just falling heavy objects that pose a crushing risk to your employees so you want to be taking extra measures to avoid a crushing accident. Proper training with machinery can reduce this risk a great deal, especially with any machine with augers or press machines. Moving machines and trucks in the loading bay can also pose a risk to your employees so keep employee traffic around them to a minimum. You also want to be wary of any heavy material which could fall on your employees.

Harmful Substances

If your warehouse works with strong chemicals such as asbestos, you want to ensure they’re being used safely. Some chemicals can have little to no effect on the human body but some can also be extremely harmful. To ensure your staff’s safety, make sure your employees know the dangers of the chemicals you use, as well as what to do if they make contact with them.

Ergonomics

This one is a little harder to keep in check as it’s up to the employees individually, but it’s imperative that your staff take care of their bodies as constant mistreatment will lead to pain and injury. The most common injuries are to the back and foot so you want to make sure that everyone understands the importance of proper lifting techniques.

Lack of safety education

While this may seem like the most obvious addition to this list, it’s also the most important. Without proper safety education, your warehouse won’t be able to function at its full potential. You’d be surprised by the number of companies which choose to skip training, to save money and obviously this is a big no-no.

That’s it for our guide to warehouse hazards and how to avoid them. The important thing to remember is that a safe warehouse is an efficient warehouse and avoiding proper training is the number one cause of workplace injury- so check to see if your workers are aware of the risks.

pallet racking installation

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we have a number of essential pallet racking solutions that can help any warehouse improve its efficiency and safety. If you’d like to enquire about any of the solutions we provide, don’t hesitate to contact one of our experts on 01444 220 290.

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How to Avoid The Most Common Warehouse Safety Hazards (Part 1)

Warehouses can be dangerous places to work; there are plenty of possible ways to be injured in one. From the heavy objects that are being stored to the potentially dangerous equipment that is used, safety must be a priority in every warehouse.

Thankfully here at Pallet Racking Direct we know a few things about how to avoid some of the most common hazards from our years of experience as pallet racking suppliers, and we’re more than happy to share a few of these with you in this series.

pallet racking repairs

Slips, Trips & Falls

Slips, trips and falls are amongst some of the most common warehouse hazards that exist, but thankfully they’re one of the easiest to avoid. Common causes of these hazards are spilled loose materials or liquids, steps or ridges, objects on the floor and dark areas, all things that can be eliminated with minimal effort.

Make sure that you are vigilant about tidying in your warehouse (take a look at our blog on keeping a clean and clutter free warehouse if you need help), eliminate any steps or ridges that aren’t absolutely necessary and have all of your warehouse well lit during working hours.

Heavy Equipment

Warehouses are full of heavy equipment that may pose a risk to safety; heavy equipment such as forklifts are used every day in most warehouses. The hazard presents itself when employees are either not trained properly, or they become so comfortable using the equipment, they start to underestimate the danger they pose to others.

Ensuring that your employees are properly trained and always alert when using this machinery should eliminate any hazards associated with this kind of equipment.

pallet racking UK

Fires

Fires thankfully aren’t too common in warehouses but when they occur they can be devastating. Because of the destruction they can cause when they occur they must be prevented at all costs. If you ensure that there are no damaged or exposed wires, leaking flammable fluids and gasses, or anything else that may lead to a fire will help you to prevent fires from starting in the first place.

You must also make sure that, should there be a fire, extinguishers are available, exits are clearly marked and everybody knows the exit strategy.

That’s all for this series but join us in the next part to find out some more ways to avoid the most common warehouse hazards to keep your employees safe.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct we have a number of essential pallet racking solutions that can help any warehouse improve its efficiency and safety. If you’d like to inquire about any of the solutions we provide, don’t hesitate to contact one of our experts on 01444 220 290.

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Keep Your Warehouse Clean and Clutter Free

Clean and clutter free - that's exactly what warehouses should be! After all, not only is this a matter of safety, it's a matter of efficiency too.

The cleanliness of your warehouse is a key indicator of its effectiveness. That’s because cleaner facilities tend to be more productive, organised, and safer too. As suppliers of a wide range of safe and efficient warehouse storage solutions, here at Shelf Space, we know a thing or two about what it takes to keep premises clean and efficient.

So here we’ve put together a quick guide to some top tips to help you banish the clutter and destroy the dirt and grime!

Warehouse team

Bin it!

Providing plenty of bins and waste disposal facilities will encourage your employees to properly dispose of any waste in your warehouse. This is vital given that pieces of paper, and other packaging supplies, combined with a little dust, can make the floors in your warehouse as slippery as an oil slick!

But don’t just install plenty of bins, you need to ensure that these are emptied regularly too. Overflowing bins will lead to more rubbish on the ground, so it’s important to make sure that you get into the routine of emptying the bins in your warehouse before they are completely full.

Make a Plan

If you want to keep your warehouse clean then it’s important to make a plan of action to ensure exactly that!

Scheduling in some regular cleaning - rather than doing a deep clean every so often - could save you plenty of time in the long run. After all, if you don’t allow dirt and clutter to build up, then there will be less of it for you to remove - simple!

Some areas of your warehouse will probably require more cleaning than others, so make sure to factors this into your plans too. Taking the time to make a proper assessment of your facility will help you to determine which areas require daily cleaning and which areas are likely to need only weekly maintenance.

Focus On Your floors

If there’s one area of your warehouse you’re going to want to keep clean, it’s your floors. After all, cluttered or dirty floors are a recipe for slips, trips and a whole host of other disasters. With this in mind, it’s essential that you ensure these are swept and kept clear of any dirt or debris on a daily basis.

Cleaning Floor Sign

Here at Shelf Space we can provide a wide range of high quality warehouse equipment including pallet racking systems, which are ideal for helping you to keep your premises both efficient and organised.

For more information about our products and services, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today, by giving us a call on 01444 220 290.

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Warehouse team Warehouse team

Warehouse Efficiency Tips From The Experts

The key to any successful warehousing operation is efficiency. After all, get this right and you could save yourself plenty of time, hassle, and money too.

As leading pallet racking suppliers and providers of a wide range of warehouse equipment, here at Shelf Space we like to think that we know a thing or two about what it takes to make a warehouse operation successful. So here we’ve put together a few top tips and tricks for fine tuning your processes and turning your warehouse into a more efficient operation - enjoy!

Warehouse Pallet Racking

Bring Order To Your Orders

Zoning your warehouse can make order picking a much more productive process. In a nutshell, this involves organising the layout of your warehouse in such a way that the most commonly used items are located closest to the area where they are used.

This can help to reduce the amount of time your employees spend travelling to find items - saving valuable time and ultimately money too.

As a handy tip it’s importation to bear in mind that this should be a fluid process too. What your customers want will likely change over time so make sure to keep an eye on which products are selling fast and reorganise accordingly.

Keep It Clean

Want to make your warehouse operation more productive? Then keep it clean!

If you’re wondering why this is important, it’s because the cleanliness of your premises will not only have an impact on safety, it can also influence employee morale too.

The most effective way to maintain high standards of cleanliness is to adopt a policy of cleaning as you go. Not only is this an efficient cleaning method, but it will also help to improve the efficiency of your warehouse too.

Cleaning Sign

Stock It!

As surprising as it may sound, the systems that you employ to replenish stock can be just as important as the picking methods that you use.

That’s because there’s nothing quite like an empty shelf for causing your operations to grind to a halt. With this in mind, it’s essential to ensure that the items in your warehouse are constantly maintained at a specified minimum level, so that your employees are never left facing an empty space where a product should be.

Focus On Storage

Investing in the right storage equipment can also help enhance the effectiveness of your business by helping you to save space and get more organised too - simple!

Shelf Space Shelving Aisle

Here at Shelf Space we can provide a wide range of storage solutions, tailored to suit the needs of your business perfectly. Both safe and efficient they’re the ultimate in warehouse storage.

For more information about our services, simply contact our friendly team today, by giving us a call on 01444 220 290 and we will be happy to help you with your enquiries.

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Shelving aisle Shelving aisle

Impressive Warehouses of the UK

This year Amazon opened their largest warehouse to date in Kothur, Telangana in India.

At Pallet Racking Direct, whilst our business lies in creating efficient and effective pallet racking systems for our valued customers, much of our interest lies in warehouses.

The warehouse, spanning a massive 280,000 square feet, has been built with the promise of helping the surrounding communities. Small and medium businesses in Telangana have been promised extra training from the ‘fulfilment centre’, with Amazon offering to train thousands of sellers in e-commerce through educational workshops and seminars. To honour the opening of Amazon’s enormous warehouse, let’s take a look at a couple of Britain’s largest warehouses and tip our hard-hats to their scale and innovation.

Constellation Europe, Bristol

First is the Constellation Europe warehouse in Bristol, providing storage for one of the world’s largest alcoholic beverage companies. Somewhat overshadowed by the whopping Amazon warehouse, Constellation Europe totals an impressive 80,000m2. The warehouse itself holds a gigantic 57 million bottles of wine at any given time with the structure boasting the volume of 14,000 double-decker buses.

Partner Logistics, Cambridgeshire

The Partner Logistics warehouse was actually originally built for Lamb Weston Meijer, who are a potato processing company. Costing €50,000 to construct, the warehouse required more than 5,000 tons of steel and can reach an incredible -27°C. Whilst those figures are particularly impressive, it’s the fact that the mammoth structure can hold 77,000 pallets at any one time that gets our heart racing. We’d love to meet their warehouse manager…

We are incredibly proud of the systems we can put in place for even the largest of warehouses. At Pallet Racking Direct, we would relish the challenge of being able to install and implement one of our efficient pallet racking systems in one of these enormous warehouses. With so many huge warehouses overseas, such as the Boeing Everett Factory, Washington or the Target Import Warehouse, also in Washington, it is great to see a couple mammoth buildings being built on our humble isle.

A carefully organised warehouse is key to the efficiency of a company, saving both cost and time. To speak to one of our pallet racking system specialists regarding the services we offer and how we can help you, contact us on 01444 220 290 and we will be eagerly awaiting your call.

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Warehouse pallets Warehouse pallets

How Can Pallet Racking Benefit Your Business?

Pallet racking systems are used in a huge variety of different industries. They aren’t designed for one specific type, and can greatly benefit a whole host of different companies, even if they don’t realise it.

As one of the leading pallet racking suppliers in East Sussex, we find it easy to see the benefits of installing a pallet racking system, no matter what industry you are in. We’ve put together a list of some of the benefits that a durable pallet racking system can bring to your company.

General Benefits of Pallet Racking Systems

Before we delve into how pallet racking systems can benefit specific industries, we thought it might be beneficial to look into what pallet racking systems brings to companies in general.

- Installing a pallet racking system frees up floor space by storing the pallets at a height, increasing the storage capacity of the space as well as eliminates any risk of obstruction on the floor which could lead to injury to employees.

- They provide a durable, sturdy storage solution that can safely store heavily loaded pallets thanks to the steel construction of the system.

- Racking systems can be easily adapted and updated when required.

- In the event of damage, individual components can be replaced, reducing the overall cost if a repair is needed.

- There are various pallet racking accessories available to maximise the efficiency of the business.

Pallet Racking in Retail

Retail may seem like a strange candidate for pallet racking storage solutions, but if you have very little space but a high volume of stock that needs to be stored safely and effectively, then pallet racking is the perfect solution.

Pallet Racking Design UK

Rather than resorting to putting all the stock out on the shop floor and risking damage to the product due to overfilling, pallet racking systems can provide wall mounted racks which can store some of the stock that isn’t needed right away in a safe and tidy manner, which can be easily accessed when required.

This is an especially helpful feature if your store has no storeroom or very little storage space for you to keep excess stock.

Pallet Racking in Warehouses

When you think of pallet racking, you will probably automatically picture a warehouse in your head. This is because many companies have already reaped the benefits of installing a pallet racking system in their warehouses.

Pallet Racking Installations

By installing a pallet racking system, you are able to increase the efficiency and workload of the warehouse operation by fulfilling the storage needs of the business. More pallets can be stored safely while keeping the floor space clear and free from obstruction of the pallets.

Pallet Racking in Manufacturing

As pallet racking provides an extremely versatile storage solution, it’s easy to see why the manufacturing industry may benefit from installing a pallet racking system.

Pallet Racking systems provide a functional, adaptable solution when it comes to storing items, large or small, and in manufacturing it is imperative that all parts and components are stored safely when they are not used. This means that anything produced will be of the highest quality with no damage due to unsuitable storage conditions.

At Pallet Racking Direct, we want to spread the word that pallet racking is a beneficial addition to any company. No matter big or small, there will be a pallet racking system to suit your needs. We provide only the highest quality pallet racking systems to help keep your business working safely and efficiently. For more information on any of our products or services, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01444 220 290 and chat with one of our friendly team members.

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Pallet stacker truck at warehouse Pallet stacker truck at warehouse

Why Efficiency is Just as Important as Capacity

Whether you’re looking at mobile pallet racking, dynamic pallet racking or any of our other great systems, you might think that capacity is the number one factor – so long as you can fit more of your stock in, you’re sorted, right? While that’s not necessarily a mistake, and capacity is certainly an important factor for consideration, it’s absolutely crucial that you don’t make it the only thing influencing your decision.

Whether you’re looking at mobile pallet racking, dynamic pallet racking or any of our other great systems, you might think that capacity is the number one factor – so long as you can fit more of your stock in, you’re sorted, right? While that’s not necessarily a mistake, and capacity is certainly an important factor for consideration, it’s absolutely crucial that you don’t make it the only thing influencing your decision.

Pallet trolley loading pallets

There are many different aspects that come together to make the perfect pallet racking system for each specific need, and it’s only by keeping them all in mind that you can come up with a solution that’s right for your business. Of course, capacity is crucial, and if your business is expanding then there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll need to find a way to fill your warehouse with more stock. There are many different ways to do this, and the danger is choosing one which simply doesn’t suit your operation as well as it could.

At first glance it might seem like a good idea to increase capacity by making use of a narrow aisle system which takes up more of your floor space, and this is a great solution if you don’t need the extra space to manoeuvre your machinery – especially since special Flexi-Trucks can be used to safely move between the aisles. However, some businesses need that extra space to move their own equipment, and if that’s you then it could be worth looking at some other options.

Drive In pallet racking is a great choice if you haven’t got a lot of pickers moving between aisles at the same time, as it operates using just one main channel, while the rest of the space is entirely filled with storage. This is one of the best systems for making sure the warehouse floor is filled to maximum capacity, but once again, it’s only suitable if you don’t need lots of people to move through the warehouse at once.

Positive warehouse management

An alternative option is to increase the height of your pallet racking, either by installing new, taller models or simply by retrofitting new racks onto your existing equipment. Vertical space is often neglected when people are looking at options for increased storage, despite the fact that it’s actually one of the easiest ways to utilise all of your resources. You can also make your racking more efficient by ensuring that you’re not using a system that was designed with other types of products in mind. The first thing to consider here is stock rotation – you can divide the methods of stock rotation into roughly two groups: ‘first in – first out’ and ‘first in – last out’. A ‘first in – last out’ system is only suitable if you’re storing non-perishable items, and becomes dangerously inefficient if you have stock which is time-sensitive, as anything sitting at the back of the racking will be left to perish.

Secondly, think about whether you need a system which will accommodate awkward or unusually shaped products, such as long beams or hanging garments. If so, then a specialist system designed to suit that specific need will be much more useful than a generic pallet racking system which gives you a lot of storage space, but can’t effectively store your goods. An inefficient system will ultimately prove damaging to your business, as it will stop you getting your stock in and out as quickly, and as smartly, as you need to.

Empty pallet racking

If your business is growing to the extent that you need to make more room, the last thing you want is to damage that positive growth by storing your goods in a way that reduces your ability to access things as-and-when you need to.

Our expert team would love to help you find the right solution, and if you contact us at 01444 220 290 then you’ll have the opportunity to speak to somebody with the knowledge to fit a pallet racking system to your individual business.

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Pallet truck with carton boxes Pallet truck with carton boxes

Selecting The Right Pallet Racking System: Which One Is For You? (Part Two)

We believe it’s just as important to help you select the storage system that’s right for your business.

We don’t believe that our job as top quality pallet racking suppliers begins and ends at getting the product to you – it’s just as important that we help you select the system that’s right for your business. In ‘Part One’ of the series we’ve already run through a great selection of options, including Mobile, Narrow Aisle and Drive In pallet racking, all of which have their own unique benefits and can be best utilised in specific environments.

Now it’s time to take a deeper look at a few more of the choices that are available to you – after all, the more you know, the better placed you are to make a decision that’s right for your warehouse.

Dynamic Pallet Racking

Pallet Racking

Within the Dynamic Pallet Racking category, there are actually several different options which can help to make your life easier. If you’re slightly short on space then Push Back Racking could be the option for you, as it is considered one of the most efficient, space-saving systems available. Although the ‘last in – first out’ method of operation means that it isn’t necessarily appropriate for storing items with a limited shelf space, Push Back Racking comes into its own when there is a need for long-term storage.

Carton Live Storage, or ‘Flow Racking, is another form of Dynamic Pallet Racking, and this is perfect for goods which need to be shipped out fast without mistakes. These have been designed with the product pickers in mind, offering innovative features such as an automatic product replenishment system, and lights which not only tell the picker where to go but also the quantity that they need to select.

The final option within the Dynamic bracket is Pallet Live Racking, which offers several key benefits: firstly, its high-density approach saves space; secondly, the design means that it can be used without investing in specialised handling equipment; and finally, the mechanisms used ensure automatic stock rotation by arranging stock on a ‘first in first out’ basis. This means that Pallet Live Racking doesn’t leave you with old stock decaying somewhere at the back of a warehouse shelf!

Specialised Pallet Racking

Bespoke and Specialised Pallet Racking

If you still haven’t seen something that’s right for your needs, or feel that your space is too irregular to house a conventional pallet racking system, this doesn’t necessarily need to be a problem – choosing a bespoke pallet racking system could give you the flexibility to create a tailor made system that does the job to your exact specifications. There are also options for specialised pallet racking systems which are designed to house specific products that just don’t stack conveniently. Carpet Racking is designed specifically with – you guessed it – rolls of carpet in mind, allowing them to be stored with ease and, crucially, protected from any external damage. Or, if you need to make space for large quantities of hanging garments, then Hanging Garment Racking might well be exactly what you’re looking for, using bespoke rails to give static, mobile, or automatic storage.

A final specialised option is Cantilever Racking. This is ideal for storing those awkward long and bulky items, such as metal beams, pipes or wooden boards. These systems come with the bonus of protecting valuable products from damage by raising them off the floor and keeping them away from accidental harm.

pallet racking systems

Hopefully one of the pallet racking systems we’ve outlined will be able to provide exactly what your business needs – and don’t forget, we’re always happy to discuss options for adapting or adjusting them to suit your needs! You can contact us at 01444 220 290 to find out more about any of the options, and tell us more about your requirements.

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Pallet live pallet racking-2  medium Pallet live pallet racking-2 medium

Selecting The Right Pallet Racking System: Which One Is For You? (Part One)

With so many racking systems to choose from, it can be hard deciding which one is right for your business. Depending on your storage needs, choosing the correct pallet racking system for your specific warehouse is vital in keeping your operations running smoothly. They are all designed to meet the individual needs of each business, and designed to make the most of space in your premises

So how do you select the right pallet racking system? This is where we can help you out.

A company who specialises in providing high quality racking systems, such as warehouse pallet racking and mobile pallet racking, we are confident that we have solution to match your exact needs.

Below we have put together a guide to some of the most popular pallet racking systems available.

pallet

Mobile Pallet Racking

Mobile pallet racking is an ideal solution for those planning a new build warehouse and are looking to maximise utilisation of their available storage space. It utilises around 80% of the available cubic storage capacity and requires only one working aisle to access 100% of pallets available.

It mounts rows of pallet racks onto heavy-duty rolling carriages and places them on floor tracks. Rows of pallet racks then move sideways along the floor tracks – creating a moveable access aisle. Using mobile pallet racking reduces the number of access aisles to match the velocity requirements of your storage area.

Mobile pallet racks help many organisations reduce or eliminate new building construction costs, auxiliary warehouses, building expansions, and decrease ongoing operational costs – all which is done by maximising the use of their storage floor space.

Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking

Narrow aisle pallet racking enables you to set up high density storage, by making use of your floor storage area and roof height. It involves maximising room by reducing the aisle space between the racking and utilising the available height.

By using specialist lift trucks, narrow aisle pallet racking is designed for safe and efficient load handling within tight confined aisles.

There are a number of advantages to this type of pallet racking. These are:

  • Accessibility – You’ll have easy individual access to all pallets, no matter where they are stored.
  • Security – They can also be reached by specialist equipment, which means they are extremely safe and secure.
  • Damage reduced – The risk of rack damage due to collision is reduced because they are guided by rail or wire systems.

Drive In Pallet Racking

Drive In pallet racking is designed to maximise your floor capacity working on the principle of bulk staking. Pallets are stored on drive in rails, instead of the usual stacking on top of each other. Doing it this way achieves up to 85% saving of cubic space compared to conventional pallet racking systems. It’s a high-density storage system that is suited to bulk stock storage – for loads that arrive and leave in big batches.

It works on the principle of first in- last out! The pallets are lifted by a forklift to the required level and then the forklift enters the storage lane and deposits the pallet at the furthest point. This is repeated until the storage lane is completely full.

Due to the systems design and structural stability it can securely store heavy palletised loads or block stacking of loads that are too fragile or unbalanced to be stacked one on top of each other. Drive in storage is used mainly in Cold Store and Chill storage because more space is utilised for pallet storage which makes the cold store a lot more energy efficient.

Keep checking back for part two in which we will uncover and discuss even more of the pallet racking systems that are available!

Drive In Pallet Racking

We believe there are many advantages to using one of the pallet racking systems available, and we stock only those of high quality.

If you would like any information on the products and services that we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can give us a call on 01444 220 290 and a member of our staff will be happy to help.

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Pallet Racking Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Whether you are new to the concept of pallet racking, or a racking veteran, we all make mistakes. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of the most common pallet racking mistakes that people have made, so you don’t have to make them yourselves; saving you money and time, as well as keeping you and your employees safe

Whether you are new to the concept of pallet racking, or a racking veteran, we all make mistakes.

Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of the most common pallet racking mistakes that people have made, so you don’t have to make them yourselves; saving you money and time, as well as keeping you and your employees safe!

1. Consider the Size and Weight of your Pallets

Before you rush into buying a pallet racking product, you need to take into consideration the size and weight of the pallets you will be storing.

Complex pallet system

Pallet racking is an investment, so it’s super important to get the right product for your needs. Most companies that provide pallet racking systems will discuss the load capacity level the amount of space you have available and what you are storing to try to find the right product for your needs.

2. Not Maintaining Your Pallet Racking System

Due to the nature of pallet racking systems, you will want the structure to be at its full strength in order to safely store your pallets.

Damaged pallet racking structure

If any damage occurs to your system, you will need to undertake any repairs required immediately to negate any chance of a serious accident occurring. Any damage will dramatically reduce the systems load bearing capacity, which in turn puts anyone who is working with the system, as well as other pallets in danger of being involved in a serious accident.

3. “Pallet Racking Can Only Be Used in Large Warehouses”

Pallet racking can be used in almost any industry, within many different buildings; not just large warehouses.

At Pallet Racking Direct, we have a bespoke design system which allows us to create a pallet racking system to suit your specific needs.

Bespoke pallet racking design consultation

This allows you to have a system that works the way you need it to, while keeping safety and practicality firmly in the forefront of the design.

We believe that there are many benefits of having a pallet racking systems, for all businesses and industries. That is why we only provide the highest quality systems to help your business achieve its best! If you would like more information on any of our products or services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01444 220 290 and chat with one of our friendly team members.

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Workhorse of the Warehouse: Why Pallet Racks Are Perfect

Ok, so you run a business, but there’s a tiny, niggling thought that’s scratching away at the back of your head like a fly in jam: You keep thinking your stock could be better organised; you keep imagining precisely what you’ll achieve, and how your business could be better. Time to invest in pallet racking.

There are an absolute ton of reasons why pallets and pallet racking are great for business, no matter what size. We thought we’d list some reasons why they’re so excellent here, to help you make up your mind.

Space Saver

One of the biggest issues companies face is finding space for stock. Quality pallet racking gives you the option for much-needed floor space while stacking palletised products vertically in the racks. That means you’ll be able to fit more stock in your warehouse or stockroom – now that’s got to be a good thing!

Time Saver

Sure, you could shift each and every individual box from one side of the room to the other. Depending on your stock levels, that could take anywhere from an hour to a lifetime. Pallets, on the other hand, reduce the time wasted shifting products from place to place. Fill up the pallet, drive the forklift to the rack and set it down. The job is done.

Improved Productivity

Know what your staff won’t do once your stock is organised on pallet racks? They won’t spend hours hunting for products – they’ll know precisely where to find them, which means a greater productivity rate, and more time helping customers.

Modular Choice

No business is static. They’re constantly evolving, adapting their methods, their storage, their focus. We reckon that’s a great thing (otherwise we’d have the Model T and …that’s it), so we strongly recommend pallet racking for exactly this reason. Racks can be effortlessly added to or taken away, to suit the ever-changing needs of your business. Better than that, for products that aren’t built for standard pallet racks, you can choose custom-built racking.

Safety First

It’s unlikely that you’ve kitted out your stockroom with shelves from Ikea or anywhere else – but if you have, you’ll know there’s a massive problem using shelves that aren’t designed for the workplace: they’re not safe. Pallet racks are specially designed for heavy loads, safety requirements, and the usual wear and tear of the warehouse.

With this many advantages, pallet racking is easily one of the best storage solutions out there for businesses big and small. And that’s where we can help, with high-quality pallet racking that gets the job done and keeps your company works. Just contact us by giving our friendly team a call on 01444 220 290, and we’ll be delighted to chat about your requirements.

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Storage Rack System Storage Rack System

Huge VNA Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking Installation Completed ahead of Schedule

Shelf Space Limited wins huge narrow aisle pallet racking order from the world's leading provider of clinical supply chain distribution management services

Shelf Space Limited were recently chosen amongst tough competition to provide VNA narrow aisle pallet racking for a new warehouse facility here in the UK, set up by a world leading provider of clinical supply chain distribution management services.

Working to a very tight time schedule Shelf Space’s experienced Installation team worked extended hours to complete the project ahead of schedule. The project called for a quality FM approved pallet racking system that was both robust and manufactured to a high standard.

The narrow aisle racking layout provided storage for nearly 5000 pallet locations. Each pallet could be individually accessed using ‘man-up’ style wire guided VNA forklift trucks. The racking itself was nearly eleven metres high with an overall load capacity per bay of 16000kgs.

Two large anti-collapse mesh screens were Installed to the rear of the single sided racking runs located at either end on the building. These anti-collapse mesh safety screens help protect staff using the pedestrian walkways located behind the racking from falling goods or possible a pallet collapse as goods are loaded / unloaded from the racks.

At the end of the working aisle Shelf Space fitted rack end protection to help guard against accidental damage from manoeuvring forklift trucks.

For more Information regarding this Installation and to see more images have a look at our Case Studies section.

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VNA Pallet Racking 11 metres high and providing nearly 5000 pallet locations VNA Pallet Racking 11 metres high and providing nearly 5000 pallet locations

Another Successful Completion of a ‘Turn Key’ Project

Shelf Space Limited completes a four months long warehouse storage and distribution facility for a major online children's designer clothes retailer.

Shelf Space were chosen from many other Storage supplies from the UK to complete a total warehouse fit-out. The entire project took over four months to complete from start to finish. Given the timescales and the large amount of labour required to undertake such a project it fell under the CDM rules and regulations which were undertaken and managed by Shelf Space as principle contractor.

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TOver 6'000 adjustable shelf levels and garment hanging rails. TOver 6'000 adjustable shelf levels and garment hanging rails.