Category Archives: Storage solutions

Racking and Shelving Tips

If you are a business that stores inventory then you certainly cannot operate without industrial storage racks, commercial shelving or warehouse storage equipment to stock everything neatly in place. Even if you have a small storage room, shelving and racking is the perfect solution. It is not just suited to large industrial warehouses or factories. In all cases, there is a large range of solutions available depending on your requirements.

Commercial shelving is a solution for lighter items being stored individually or in boxes. These are typically accessed by hand and loaded by staff at floor level or use of s step ladder. pallet racking is a solution based on the need to store heavy-duty stock, able to withstand the weight of palletised goods. These would typically be required to be loaded and unloaded via forklift.

Choosing the Right One

When choosing the right system for your needs, you need to consider the size and weight of what you are storing.

If your inventory is comprised of small and boxed items that could be loaded via the use of a mechanical stacker, commercial shelving is the ideal option. They are sturdy and functional and offer a shelf size and separation that works perfectly for this kind of stock. They tend to have a lower maximum height which enables workers to easily access by hand.

You also need to consider the maximum height you are wanting to stack towards. This not only affects your choice of which system is preferable but also what and how you store items on them. If you don’t use any forklifts then you are limited to the height of the individuals working within the area, but with a forklift, you can stack up to the ceiling of the building or the reach of your forklift.

How You Stack and What You Pick

If you are stacking a range of items, you should always stack the lightest items at the top and heaviest at the bottom level. This not only helps with health and safety conditions but also keeps the centre of gravity of the shelves or racks low.

When designing your storage solution, evaluate how your items are used and dispatched such as if they are picked from the front of the shelf until the stock is empty, or do you cycle what is there? Figuring out how your stock is picked and moved around currently may have an insight into how you could store things much better moving forward, and if certain items could be moved to a smaller shelving system if they don’t sell that often.

Contact the team at Monarch Shelving for all your warehouse storage equipment/ shelving and racking needs.

Archive Storage Ideas

Businesses that have been in operation for a long time tend to have a lot of back history that requires adequate amounts of storage dedicated to it. Before the advent of apps that allowed you to store everything on the cloud, a lot of business was done via physical record saving which took up a fair share of room over time. Although the advent of technology has made it easier to scan documents and store them in the cloud, many businesses look for more warehouse storage ideas as they prefer to keep older documents in a paper format in storage should anything happen that corrupts data.

Many employers do not like the idea of having long-standing records including company accounts, employee information and client account information in a place that could potentially be vulnerable to cyber attacks, therefore they take the option to find ideal physical warehouse storage equipment to feel much more secure.

Filing Cabinets

Usually, a business would utilise filing cabinets as an easy solution, and they are great at getting the job done.

They can however be very bulky and, in some cases, pretty ugly to look at when stashed in a back office. However, it is easy to ensure that all documentation is accounted for and stored properly, with an easy to locate design that puts things into categories for easy find.

They may not look like the prettiest product on the market, but no one can fault that they still do a great job in storing paper documents.

Archive Racking

Filing cabinets can sometimes fall short of storing all of your needs, or you just have too much documentation to store within them.

For this option, we would recommend archive storage racking or other warehouse storage equipment for the storage of delicate information. This racking is designed to help store and organise important objects such as files and documents, which perfectly complements those businesses where filing cabinets are too small for the job or online storage is not deemed as suitable.

This racking system provides strong and durable solutions perfect for long term storage, where heavier boxes of papers, photographs, files and records can be stored securely and in an order that makes them easier to locate and pull when required.

When it comes to busy warehouses or storage rooms, many business owners choose to save on a lot of company time by storing the history of their business through stronger office equipment Manchester.

If you are at odds with how to store delicate and precious company history, or just in need of some warehouse storage ideas, call the team at Monarch Shelving today.

Knowing the Difference Between Racking and Shelving Requirement

Every workplace demands a different approach to their warehouse storage equipment, and not knowing the difference can cause untold problems in the storage of stock and a safe working environment.

You need to know the ideal solutions to storage within your office, warehouse, stockroom or factory floor and understand why they are the perfect fit for the task at hand.

Finding the Right Product

Choosing the right system can sometimes lead to confusion which can result in purchasing the wrong product, seriously damaging your budget on something that needs to be replaced almost immediately. It can cause even more loss if you use the wrong system for the wrong products.

Look into some research and ask the right questions before buying any shelving or racking system, to understand which one is better suited to the task at hand.

The difference comes in if you are stocking by hand or by machines such as forklifts, the environment you store within and the dimensions of the product you are storing.

Office Environment

When working in an office environment, you will need smaller shelving systems in place of racking. Light duty commercial shelving is ideal that is easy to put together and great for office storage that can be spread across the shelf to prevent dipping over long periods.

If you have a stock room the level of system you would require would depend on what you plan to store. You will need to clarify with your supplier if you are storing chemicals or anything fragile to find a suitable system.

Warehouse

Most warehouse operations require the storage of larger bulk items or heavier supplies. This would require something more heavy-duty in a storage system.

Pallet racking is the ideal storage of stock solution for most warehouses, where bulky items can be stored at floor level and smaller items palleted above. Industrial storage racks can also be stacked higher to the ceiling to cover the larger influx of stock required in seasonal surges.

These systems require some research into your facility, from floor type to ceiling height, to determine the best and most practical type of system, also addressing all health and safety concerns.

The correct type of system relies heavily on the operations, workflow and stock that is flowing through your business daily. To discover the right kind of system for your business, warehouse or office, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.

Maximising the Warehouse Space

At certain points of every year, there is an influx of stock that backs up every aisle of your warehouse, and it tends to be the nightmare of every warehouse manager up and down the country. This is the main reason that warehouse owners are looking for solutions to a more organised warehouse.

In line with expansion, this problem provides the same thought process – you need to get more space. Many directors will automatically jump to the real point; what is this going to cost the business to buy new space? Surprisingly this question is brought up much more than the real question – What could we do to make better use of space?

Some procedures could be put into effect to better maximise your space without the need of extending your operations or property.

Layout

If you look over the original plans for your warehouse layout, you will be able to tell if thought for future growth was on the cards from the get-go. Many warehouses were not configured with this in mind, which then leads to a lot of upheavals.

If your stock is pushed up tight against your warehouse walls and stock is harder to find for your workforce, or if you have more levels of damaged stock due to cramming, then simply look at how your layout can be improved by higher storage pallet racking and more streamlined warehouse storage equipment. Implementing this measure will require some downtime so it is best to do it during quieter periods.

Inventory Audit

Having stock that no longer sells is taking up way too much space than it should have.

By undertaking a stock audit of all your inventory, you can determine the stock you have in comparison to what is needed, and use storage space to put stock that is simply using up valuable space that could be better utilised by more in demand stock.

Evaluate Training

If your stock is not stacked to the right requirements, or your industrial storage racks are not maximised how they could be, a lot of headaches and stress can be relieved by simply retraining your staff as to how things should be.

The one thing to combat is staff saying they have not had adequate training on anything within the business, and by providing them with training exercises they will feel that you are investing in them and there should be no problems when it comes to space utilisation in the premises.

Instead of buying a second warehouse or extending your current one, evaluate if all of your long-lasting commercial shelving still meets your requirements or if it can be upscaled for longer and more effective use.

Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today for all your organised warehouse solutions for storage.

Racking or Shelving: Which Suits My Needs?

When evaluating your storage needs, every business is as different as the stock they are holding. In a lot of cases, the requirement of finding adequate shelving or racking solutions will fall onto one member of the company when setting up shop, and hopefully that person understands the differences in requirements.

If not, then the staff at Monarch Shelving are here to help you differentiate the requirements you have and find the perfect solution fit for your stock.

Finding the Right Solution

Naturally the selection of the right system can be confusing and yet devastating to time and productivity if you get it wrong, not to mention that budget.

It becomes necessary to ask a few important questions about your requirements before committing to a certain system between racking and shelving. Firstly it is all about how you will be stacking goods. If you are stacking via hand then a shelving system is your requirement, whereas pallet racking is required if a forklift is going to be the method you choose. Then the questions will branch out further.

If you are set on a racking system then you need to look at the dimensions of your pallets. If you are going the route of shelving then look at the environment in the shelving will be used in. Overall, for both, you are going to need to consider how heavy the goods that will be placed on them will be, as well as capacity.

From there you can break it down to the type of environment and what kind of product to utilise.

Shelving Areas

Different work environments need different shelving requirements, so it’s important you know which is better suited.

Office environments generally require lightweight shelving which is easy to put together. This can be smaller or taller units that will still require an even distribution of stock on shelves to avoid dipping over time. There are many different types of shelving solutions with office equipment in Manchester to choose from that are ideal for the task.

Stockrooms are another area for shelving requirements, which depends on the stock you are holding. This can come in the form of anything from simple storage boxes to more specialist products like chemicals that require more care in storage. Commercial shelving in this area also varies depending on the requirement.

When it comes to a warehouse situation the requirements can range from small product to heavy and bulky items and supplies. This requires a more heavy-duty product such as pallet racking or industrial storage racks in order to be more versatile in storage. Pallet racking can maintain larger volumes of weight but should not be overloaded in any instance, reducing the risk of pallet racking collapse.

Whatever your needs are, the team at Monarch Shelving are there to best advise and guide you on your requirements for top quality shelving solutions.

Saving Space in the Workplace

As a business owner with a sizable warehouse operation, there are countless ways you can find yourself playing catch up on organising your business to get the most out of the space you can fill up by using different types of warehouse storage systems.

Whilst making the most of the space by getting as much out of it as possible is one way to go, there is also a consideration in reducing the amount of clutter you can build up at the same time.

Reduce the Scattering

In all offices, storerooms and warehouses you are bound to experience smaller products scattered across your shelving units.

Not only does this cause problems in trying to locate the product but also it is taking up valuable space that belongs to something else. One way to combat these scattered items is to box them, containing them in organised boxes as a way to retain the organisation you require to effectively process stock. Even the smallest item loose in a spot can make it feel congested.

Box up those little things into an organised containment option.

Stack Upwards

Your warehouse may have fully stacked aisles from wall to wall and still be struggling to house stock.

Items tend to double in size as the busier seasons roll upon us, but you can combat it by having your pallet racking move upwards. Expanding your pallet racking upwards provides an opportunity to take advantage of unused ceiling space so that you can add stock and stability to your operation without having to stack at the end of aisles.

Layout Organisation

As your company expands and grows in stature your floor space will undoubtedly start to decrease.

In order to be more efficient with your space, you may need to shift around your commercial shelving systems, possibly moving them from a central space to a walled occupancy. Shifting more bulkier products and supplies from one side of the room to its own area exclusively may also provide adequate spacing, reducing your cramped and inefficient working space.

Upgrade Solutions

As time has moved on so has the designs and streamlining potential of industrial storage racks.

There could be great potential in upgrading your current pallet racking to something that does not take up as much space in aisles and is reinforced to take on much more stock than you currently have.

For further options in warehouse storage equipment and office equipment Manchester to save space in your warehouse operations, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today for different types of warehouse storage systems.

Ecommerce Needs Your Space

The momentous surge in demand and sales of pallet racking is a direct result of the increase of online purchases since this time last year when the pandemic took hold of the planet, with more and more businesses looking for warehouse storage ideas.

The Fallout From the Pandemic

The overall toll on high street retail outlets and the subsequent stop-start towards opening and closing the stores caused customers to direct their attention solely on online outlets such as Amazon at a rate unseen previously, especially during the festive season.

2020 was possibly the most devastating year for high street retailers, with 16,000 stores closing their doors over a 9 month period alone. This resulted in a lot of forward-thinking businesses to implement fast online retail facilities for their customers and the brands they sell. Since then, shopping on a handheld device has become instinctual and the shift in focus to an easier form of purchase has made warehouses reevaluate their processes to deal with it.

Estimation for the Years Ahead

More and more companies are finding themselves needing extra space and in some situations opening more warehouse facilities, extending their distribution space and struggling to keep up with the demand in their current environment.

As the continued rise in demand is not stopping, it is estimated that in 3 years time the UK eCommerce market will require an additional 92 million square feet of space for storage alone. This demand will require a wider range of pallet racking to support the supply chain.

This also calls for a full analysis of current product demands and storage in order to properly meet the requirement for racking.

Looking at your Setup

By discovering the exact requirements that your pallet racking will need, you stand a much better chance for company growth and future needs. This means that simple off the shelf solutions may not be the best option, and getting advice on the best and most durable forms of industrial storage racks provides a solution that can meet the expectations of your business and your customers.

This also will require an overlook of your current racking systems in place. If they stand as not meeting the requirement then you could look at slimmer models or building upwards, eliminating space that is saved for stock that is not always in demand.

Finding the Right Product to Provide for the Market

At Monarch Shelving we look to provide stability for the future of the warehouse and distribution demands through pallet racking, warehouse storage equipment and commercial shelving.

If you are a business looking to keep up with demand then call our team today for the best options in warehouse storage ideas.

Efficiency Within the Workplace for 2021

What is the 2021 goal for your company? Does it lean towards profitability or more towards efficiency? Is it wrong to want better for both? Are you in need of small warehouse storage solutions this year?

In truth, there are several ways to go about achieving both at the same time by evaluating and amending the following areas.

Correct Metrics

When looking at the long term, having the right metrics is the best way to start.

This can be overlooking the correct shipping costs and the measuring of those critical business KPIs, but your company operations stand to be much better if you have a grasp of the right numbers. This also presents you with closer attention to changes required for your warehouse.

Overhauling Warehouse Storage

As online shopping has taken over the marketplace in 2020 and 2021, warehouses are becoming bombarded with the increasing demand for a wider variety of products and seeing their inventory rapidly increase.

Taking into account these extra business avenues could be challenging, but optimising your warehouse with extra industrial storage racks and eliminating outdated bulky racking will improve overall efficiency and meet the expectations.

By looking over newer pallet racking and commercial shelving units designed with space in mind and taking into account alternating aisles in place of two-way aisles, you will be able to free up warehouse space and improve picking and productivity in the workplace.

Automation

Many people fear that bringing automated technology to a warehouse is about replacing people with robots, but in fact, the best business owners have seen it as a way of reducing mundane manual jobs and finding more productive jobs for those employees to do, especially in growing the business.

Many business owners have found ways to transplant workers into newly created divisions which have boosted the morale of employees who have grown bored of every day monotonous workload. This has proven to grow the business and make employees more productive in the short and long term.

Also, having automated robots do the workload greatly reduces workplace accidents and avoids pallet racking collapse or picking mishaps.

These are just a few alternatives you can make to your workplace strategy for 2021 to boost productivity and company growth, focusing on efficiency and profitability at the same time. By implementing new warehouse storage equipment you can ensure that you are suitably prepared for the changes you put in motion to boost your business. Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today to provide your business with the best shelving and small warehouse storage solutions.

Make Space for the eCommerce Revolution

2021 is shaping up to be the year that has a sizable shift in dependence on online trading in place of high street brands in-person shopping. Storage solutions in the UK will help with the efficiency of your eCommerce order, so you can plan ahead and organise your warehouse in time for your busiest seasons.

With the coronavirus playing into the proceedings, many companies have upgraded to online eCommerce platforms and home delivery in order to effectively trade. With this huge shift into the eCommerce market, warehouses are set to feel the sudden shift in demand and need to focus on accommodating adequate warehouse storage equipment to meet it.

No Return to Normality in Sight

Traditional shopping habits are no longer a point in conversation as they were last year, with many experts expecting the long haul in combating the virus and a prolonged vaccine rollout, meaning that high street brands may take longer periods to draw crowds back into the store and other stores closing outright in favour of online stores.

Warehouse dependency is going to be the main stockholder in place of store shelving, requiring warehouse managers to constantly evaluate their requirements for pallet racking and commercial shelving.

Rise of the Robots

Many warehouse operations are also taking up the advantageous arena of automated services, employing robots to take the human element out of standard warehouse operations.

This makes operations around the warehouse more efficient and eliminates the chances for wrong or misplaced pickings, as well as reducing employee sick rates and accidents in the workplace. This has involved revamping their warehouse to meet the new system from industrial storage racks to elevated levels of stacking to keep the warehouse hazard-free.

It also reduces the amount of training on health and safety regulations for employees.

Click and Collect

Other than deliveries through online platforms such as Amazon, the rise of click and collect services during the past year has provided more and more stores like Argos to adapt to current conditions and drive sales faster and more efficiently.

This has helped to focus on sales strategies and strengthen their brand over other high street retailers by providing space and storage of product to meet the demands. By placing a lot of emphasis on customers not having to wait and permitting them to pick up products from their warehouse store, these businesses are benefiting going forward whether a return to in-store browsing returns or not, seeing as people prefer to get what they want and leave now more than ever.

Is your business prepared for the ongoing demand of eCommerce and click and collect? If warehouse storage solutions are the next step on your business plan, talk to Monarch Shelving today for the best storage solutions in the UK.

Valentine’s Stock is in, Give your Warehouse Some Love

Just when you think that the Christmas ranges and the dreaded returned stock has left your warehouse, you are suddenly faced with the next huge shipment of product for occasions which leaves you with the need for warehouse storage shelving units.

If you stock for shops, stores and supermarket chains, chances are you are about to get a visit from Cupid and the Easter Bunny in quick succession. These are two parts of the spring season that bring huge demand, so whilst people are giving their loved ones gifts of love, it may be time to give your warehouse space some in return to be able to handle the workload.

Explore the Layout

With many people choosing online ordering instead of going out looking for the ideal gift due to lockdown’s, there is bound to be a huge demand this year on stock, which means you may find yourself either running out or being overloaded without space to meet the demand.

Both of these scenarios are troublesome, so the best plan is to plan ahead and look into how your warehouse currently looks and operates. The last thing you want is large amounts of stock at the end of your bays causing bedlam for your staff, so maybe it is time to look up. More specifically, stock upwards.

Move Around

If you have space at the top of your warehouse to be able to add a few extra layers of pallet racking then this would be a great place to start.

By simply putting less in demand stock towards the top of your racking and having the hotter in-demand products in an easier to pick an area you have better control of productivity and pick times. This also cuts down on aisle jamming between picking trucks and forklifts ensuring that they are not simply waiting for a product to be brought down if it is popular.

Identify the Most Common Problems

The simplest of things sometimes lead to the biggest problems. Like a ripple effect when a small stone hits the water, your warehouse can see many big problems from the simplest of problems.

Too often, stock arrives with poor labelling and ends up being put away incorrectly. This can lead to your operations becoming disrupted from inaccurate stock counts to carriers waiting idly by whilst waiting on stock to be accurately sourced. This can be a painstaking exercise for all concerned. Whilst we focus more on warehouse operations where it comes to efficiency and error, improving our processes of how we handle misplaced or mislabelled stock is also something that can be given some much-needed attention.

Replace Storage Solutions

If your pallet racking and commercial shelving are too small to handle the amount of stock that is being pushed through your warehouse, then it could be time to provide some extra support by overhauling your warehouse storage equipment.

Over time we need to address older racking systems and if they hold up to current market demands, and the possibility that they do not meet the needs of efficiency in the warehouse is a prime area for amendment.

With Valentine’s Day and Easter providing large stock for most shop and store chains as well as online ordering, this may be the best time to share some love for your operations and space with warehouse storage shelving units.

Contact Monarch Shelving for all your warehouse storage solutions today.

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Monarch Shelving Ltd
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