There is nothing worse than an impending disaster within your warehouse or distribution centre due to an unsafe racking system. It can be extremely costly in life and business operations when something like a pallet racking system is no longer considered safe for use.
What exactly causes such a reliable system to become such a danger to every part of the business? Furthermore, how can it be prevented?
Let us take a look at some of the common causes associated with pallet racking failure and strategise around ensuring the safety and proper management of your system.
Warehouse storage equipment is essential to operations for businesses storing large quantities of materials. When it is not maintained, it becomes a hazard.
Employees who have inadequate training on using and maintaining industrial storage racks are more likely to be the reason why they ultimately fail and cause catastrophe. The human element must be fully trained and aware of the risks before allowing them anywhere near or around pallet racks.
If you do not regularly inspect and maintain your warehouse racking, the damage and dangers to those around them become much more serious. Racking can become unsafe when signs of wear and tear are ignored, and repairs are pushed off to a later date.
The weight of the load on your pallets is also a key contributor to failure – mainly down to ignoring the required weight and overloading them.
The best way to avoid this is by installing a pallet rack safety system, designed to keep your racks upright and table, even when they are fully loaded – and not exceeding the industry standard weight limits of your designed system.
It is also imperative that you immediately replace any missing or damaged safety clips, keeping your system stable and preventing any beams from becoming dislodged during use. Improper fitting or replacement parts will eventually result in complications that can be devastating.
Moving parts of a pallet racking system can wear out over time, especially when exposed to the environment or chemical products. Rust from these specific exposures can lead to rust which results in costly repair – and even costlier injury to staff and damage to stock.
When a racking system has had an improper installation, it is a ticking timebomb. That is why it is imperative you only use professionals for securing your pallet racking system the first time.
Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today to ensure your business is fully protected again an unsafe racking system.
With your business growth inevitable, you look for better solutions to keep your operations on a progressive path. Self-storage is a good alternative to keeping your additional paperwork and stock in check, rather than relocating to bigger premises.
There is a definite skill to effectively stacking and storing files and stock so that they do not get damaged and to make accessibility much easier for your staff. Let’s look at some tips on organizing a self-storage unit for your warehouse.
Having pallet racking or commercial shelving installed within your warehouse is the best way to keep things organised. This does take some additional planning in the layout and allocation of space between them so that staff have adequate walkways to do their job and not hold up other workers.
The best way to utilise these options is to stock items that see regular use and replenishment at the front of your shelving so that it makes for quicker pick time.
It is a good idea to have sturdy storage boxes for smaller products that can be stacked neatly and not left in odd spots across your shelving.
Use a marker pen to clearly label these boxes so that it saves you time looking into many to find certain objects. Rather than stacking paperwork inside these boxes, try using boxes that come fitted with hanging files instead, enabling you to quickly find papers without waiting time rummaging through randomly stacked papers. These allow you to free up space by getting rid of bulky filing cabinets and simply organising them in boxes on their own dedicated shelf space.
An important part of storage with your commercial shelving or office equipment Manchester is the compilation of your inventory.
Your inventory allows for an at-glance detail of what type of product you have stored, as well as easier management of stock control moving forward. Shelving is also a great accommodator for those smaller stock items that are mixed between bigger items in your pallet and picking bays, allowing for these items to have their own specific space and not get lost in between bigger items.
Having a sectioned-off area just for smaller stock picks increases your efficiency and picking times, and greatly reduces your damaged stock levels by keeping them safely out of hectic picking lanes.
For more information on industrial storage racks and warehouse storage equipment, talk with the team at Monarch Shelving today.
When you think about warehouse storage systems, pallet racking is generally the first thing that springs to mind. After all, industrial storage racks are a speciality product that the team at Monarch Shelving talks loudly about and is proud to have a proven track record of stunning work.
Whilst it is a big part of our overall operation, there are many other ways to store your inventory that is just as effective as pallet racking and able to handle smaller items.
For your company’s non-palletised items, there are many other solutions such as long-span commercial shelving, a heavy-duty system that works alongside pallet racking in the same way, with upright frames and horizontal beams.
Long-span beams have a z profile rather than a box section of racking beams, allowing for the chipboard deck to sit securely between them. Support bars underneath the chipboard can take well over 500kg per shelf for almost all beam sizes. The system is robust and versatile and available in many sizes, filling the layout and the available space to accentuate the storage potential.
Cantilever racking is also an effective way for storing longer materials such as pipes, logs, rods, structural sections and flat sheets such as chipboard. There are options for both single or double-sided cantilever storage for long and lightweight items.
This system is easy to assemble, simple, stable ad safe – everything a warehouse needs. For heavier loads, we recommend higher-strength bespoke solutions which include systems for both indoor and outdoor use.
If you are looking for storage solutions for your employees to keep their personal belongings safe within the workplace, there is a huge selection of office equipment Manchester storage requirements that can safely handle large amounts of storage.
These items are smaller than larger storage racking and shelving and able to occupy smaller rooms and office space, available in many different sizes and colours and are suitable for long-term use. This also helps when it comes to storing company records, documents and assorted filing needs that need to be found when required. The ability for these items to have their dedicated storage area helps to keep your business organised and running smoothly.
Whatever your warehouse storage requirements, the team at Monarch Shelving will have either an existing or bespoke solution for your business. Contact us today to discuss your space and how you would like to fill it with commercial storage solutions available to you.
A pallet rack system is essential for any warehouse seeking to bolster its storage space and keep the organisation in line. Pallet racking is a solution that improves the efficiency of any inventory, no matter how big or small the size of the warehouse.
Space is one of the key worries for warehouses, especially when that space is running out. Warehouses are expensive in both purchase and rent with many businesses feeling the pinch of being able to extend their growth to a second site.
This means that every business needs to be fully utilising their available space in the meantime. pallet racking systems are the most effective solution for this, designing and planning the installation to be specific for the business needs and growth. Without choosing the correct design for your warehouse, storage of goods will become more expensive and complicated, becoming harder to organise accessibility without the right system.
Pallet racking saves considerable space and maximises the use of the existing property.
Product safety should always be a top priority. In using the correct industrial storage racks, you have fantastic safety provided for all products stored as well as the employees working within the area.
Pallet racking is constructed from high-quality materials that ensure a dependable and secure level of storage no matter what type of business you have. All employees must know all safety factors, helping to minimize and prevent injury. All pallet racking can be accessed easily, but ensuring that all employees understand how to use the system keeps them safe and the business running smoothly.
Finding the most convenient and efficient method of storage can be a time-consuming affair, and you have so many other elements that need your attention as a business owner.
If your warehouse is constantly stacked or has a lot of space available, storing your items efficiently is much easier with a high-quality system. Pallet racking improves efficiency and the overall efficiency of the rest of your business. With storing made easier, accessibility is quicker and you open up new potential for storage.
With no specialist equipment needed to store items, forklifts can be used to load and unload materials, without causing any delays or issues with your warehouse operations.
A pallet rack system is a smart business choice that provides storage space for you to grow your business in all seasons and in sales rush periods. Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today for all your commercial storage needs.
A pallet rack collapse is a huge threat to your business, which is why the installation of your system has to be done by an experienced and professional team with all of the qualifications and accreditations to ensure it is done properly.
A racking collapse costs hundreds and thousands of pounds in damage to stock, potentially causing serious harm to warehouse workers and visitors near the system and bringing a close to your business, either temporary or permanent.
The good news is that this is a fairly uncommon occurrence, but it is something that you always need to be aware of. A pallet racking collapse is preventable and only happens when the materials, installation and training around them are at fault – as well as it being unmaintained.
The biggest cause of warehouse storage equipment collapse comes down to overloading your pallets. This should always be avoided as it not only damages the pallet, causing the timber to fracture and collapse the runners, but also contribute to overload on the beams and frames.
Stick to and know your manufacturer’s recommendations on weight loads for your system, and always opt for new pallet racking over second-hand racking, ensuring that any hidden dangers are not just simply sprayed over such as rust and oxidation. If you do not buy new, you will be unaware if the structure has had constant overloading previously.
Display load notices at all times so that staff and forklift drivers are always aware of weight limits to your system. Different types of stock require different types of pallet racking, so make sure that you are using the right pallet racking system for the intended stock.
Forklift incidents are by far the most frequent cause of a pallet rack collapse, sometimes from a single clip of an upright causing an entire aisle to collapse.
Be sure that every driver has received proper training before being allowed to operate a forklift anywhere around your aisles and pallet racking system. Column guards and end-of-racking barriers should also be installed to reduce damages and collapse, as well as ensure that your warehouse pick system has adequate aisle space between racks and speed restrictions are in play for any vehicles around the racks.
Properly mark your floors to highlight potential accident spots and make sure that the forklift operator is using the correct forklift for the job, with aisles clear when operating.
For more safety tips around your industrial storage racks, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.
Pallet rack safety backing is a measure to improve warehouse safety by preventing any falling items within the warehouse. Warehouse incidents caused by falling items make up a large percentage of the yearly workplace injuries and lost inventory percentages. Over 50,000 workplace injuries occur every year and the main instigator is falling objects from pallet racking and commercial shelving.
The main solution to bolster your warehouse against falling hazards is pallet rack safety backing.
Pallet rack safety backing is made of welded wire mesh panels or nets that attach to the back of your pallet racking system, enclosing the pallet rack bay or shelf level and preventing items from falling, or being pushed off of the racing.
Pallet-racking back guards protect against more than just personal injury. It also protects against lost inventory, pallet racking damage and forklift damage.
It is an added layer of overall pallet rack safety for the warehouse that can be reinforced for overhead storage levels. Any possibility of products falling from overhead is a risk that needs to be minimized in your business. Back-to-back pallet racking systems do not usually require safety backing, but stand-alone rows with open backs not against a wall are the primary culprits for falling stock.
Forklifts can very easily push pallets, boxes and other products too far and off the back of the shelf level.
Designated pedestrian walkways need to be free of hazards, especially falling objects and trip hazards. When working around potential risks, warehouses must have markings and caution signs around the area, and pallet rack netting present.
Some round or cylindrical products are prone to tipping and roll off of shelves, such as canisters or other odd-shaped items. Pallet rack backing or a wire partition needs to be in effect to prevent them from harming staff. High bay racking is nearly impossible to see when loading and unloading, where even the most skilled forklift operators risk bumping or knocking products due to lack of visibility.
Pallet racking back netting prevents damage and harm in these instances where difficult forklift angles can result in an incident.
The wire mesh backing is formed of panels made from sturdy wire mesh, framed and fitted for each specific bay of pallet racking. It is stronger, more durable and safe as a backing option than netting.
Pallet rack netting is similar but consists of plastic or nylon mesh rather than solid metal, able to span an entire row of pallet racking and trimmed according to the system dimensions.
For more information on pallet racking safety measures, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.
Once you have purchased a pallet racking system from Monarch Shelving, checked the materials and had it delivered, pallet racking installation is the final part of the process. That does not mean it is an easy feat to accomplish once it has arrived.
Depending on the size of the project, certain materials may arrive after the initial components have been delivered. In the majority of cases, the client is excited to see everything arrive on time and ready to go with the installation.
The installation process is meticulously thought out before the materials arrive, with extra thought put into the externals of the building such as roller shutter doors, the yard space, turning circles, height restrictions and the road to the premises.
Can the unit even accept delivery of a 12m pallet racking bundle? And if it cannot, how will those materials be off-loaded and brought into the building? To minimise distance for transport once off-loaded, the materials should be off-loaded internally. Space for a 40ft articulated vehicle reversing into the unit needs access to both sides for easier offloading.
This space needs to be clear of materials, and plant equipment and spacious enough for a temporary construction zone safe from everyone. The installation manager will confer with the team for a suitable set-down zone so that everything can be accessed safely without obstruction.
The project manager will provide each team member with an installation pack containing a fully comprehensive method statement and risk assessment. Depending on the size of the project, several drawings will be included for a clear method of the build process.
Each installation team will have a preferred method to build, with careful thought and planning required to ensure the work takes place with an emphasis on safety. With the building process, a blueprint frame is constructed by installing base plates, horizontal, top horizontal and diagonal bracing and splice kits (when applicable) held together in the correct locations through the supplied fixings. This frame is technically completed but not removed from the jigging station.
The second frame has the upright positioned directly above the blueprint frame and bracing. This speeds up the installation of making frames as the measurements have been removed and are correct on the below frame. Due to the weight of the frames, mechanical lifting equipment is essential to raise frames and manoeuvre them to their standing place.
Ancillaries such as barriers, decking, post protection and labelling can be installed upon completion. Once this process is fully completed to plan, the racking will be inspected and signed over to the customer for use.
For more information on industrial storage racks, warehouse storage equipment, and pallet racking installation, contact the team at Monarch Shelving.
Online commerce has created many new small businesses that are in search of space to store backstock of goods. Whilst it may sound cliche, most new small companies start from modest beginnings and their best storage solutions for stock is to keep goods stored within their homes or sheds, piled up in boxes that take up entire rooms. It is an unpractical and short-term solution.
Businesses of all sizes need a place to store stock in a clean, safe and efficient setting and this is where warehouses come into play. But simply putting boxes into a building is not enough – good storage space is only as valuable as the methods in which stock is stored.
Choosing a warehouse will benefit any business with the advantage of increased storage space, allowing for dedicated warehouse storage equipment to safeguard your stock and make it easier to pick up an order. Many storage solutions, such as pallet racking and commercial shelving, improve the efficiency of the warehouse as a whole.
Commercial shelving is the perfect choice for improving your warehouse or storage space and is a very durable choice. A critical consideration for your storage is what material this shelving is made from.
Many people choose wooden shelving as it is sturdy and long-lasting, yet it does require regular inspections for potential damage and wear despite its everyday use. In the wrong environment – such as one prone to moisture or refrigeration, wood can be a significant problem in short order.
Metal shelving is an excellent alternative to wood, being robust and durable. Stainless steel shelving can protect against rust in moisture-centric environments also. Plastic storage shelving has been popular for many years thanks to its improvement in quality materials to make them stronger, as well as protected against stains and bacteria growth.
For larger warehouse operations, a pallet racking system is an ultimate solution for storage that allows for large numbers of pallets containing stock to be stored to ceiling height if required.
This not only allows for great use of additional space but also allows for many warehouses to increase their business by separating space for multiple clients. Warehouses with effective forklift operation can store larger quantities of additional stock at ceiling height and reduce their operations being compromised by stock at aisle ends.
As with shelving, pallet racking needs to be routinely checked for signs of damage or wear and tear, being sure to document and act on any structural integrity issues or incidents.
Whatever your warehouse requires in storage needs, the team at Monarch Shelving are on hand to supply and install the best solution.
No doubt Christmas has presented plenty of challenges for your business, especially when it comes down to where your stock is kept or where the manufacturing of your products takes place.
With the new year rapidly approaching, it can be a good time to begin planning for combatting next year’s storage needs. With many more people ordering items online than ever before – and it sure to continue – it is time to revamp the overall design and pallet racking needs.
Not only does a mezzanine floor or warehouse storage equipment system double the usable space in your warehouse, but they are installed to be extremely safe also. If your existing pallet racking or commercial shelving is outdated and much older than it needs to be, it may not be as safe as it was once installed, to begin with.
After the Christmas rush is over, there is a week or two of having to get your warehouse back in order. A tidy warehouse is a great start to the new year, getting things back to an organised state to improve stock flow and order fulfilment.
Your warehouse processes should grow and adapt to suit your business moving forward. Spending some time at the beginning of the new year to identify ways to improve your stock flow can save many hours much later on. This includes listening to your workforce who are mainly the first people to know when certain aspects need improvement.
Your workplace will be in a constant state of change as every year passes by, so it stands to reason that your workplace safety plans need to update with them.
Typically these are among the last items a warehouse owner thinks of when change is occurring, but the need to constantly develop a comprehensive and detailed plan to help protect your employees and stored products are essential. Look over your last safety plans to make sure they fall in line with whatever changes have been instigated over the last 12 months.
Even though pallet racking is made from very tough and durable materials, any damage sustained throughout the Christmas rush or overloading from too much stock can cause the entire system to become unsafe.
With innovations in warehouse storage equipment or changes in your business, there is an effect on storage flow. An update of your storage systems or a simple reconfiguration of your existing system will help improve warehouse storage capacity for next Christmas when it comes to picking and storage efficiency.
For more information about pallet racking for the new year, contact the team at Monarch Shelving.
One of the many pressures a warehouse or distribution centre faces is overstock, leading to floorspace and racking becoming overloaded. No matter what size warehouse you run, horizontal space is always limited.
What many business owners fail to grasp as a concept is that vertical space holds the solution to most spatial restrictions. No warehouse wants its stock on the floor or occupying the end of aisle space, so it is time to redefine how your space is used. This results in specialised pallet racking to boost that storage potential.
Warehouse racking appeals due to the relative ease it has in storage and forklift interaction. When distribution challenges come thick and fast, the best pallet racking for warehouses is future-proofed for decades to come.
If you have just purchased or rented a new warehouse space, it makes sense to install racking that supports the most efficient distribution process from the outset. There are different variations of pallet racking designed to suit every kind of warehouse environment in distribution and storage. As an example, there is double deep pallet racking for slow rotation stock lines, as well as live pallet storage for more rapid rotation – a highly effective system for fast handling times.
When setting up your warehouse racking system, you want to have optimum options to plan for the future, adapting to supply chain challenges or customer demand.
Business owners typically consider the horizontal space over anything else whilst not considering the vertical aspect of their storage needs. If you plan on using vertical space, you will need to ensure that your lifting equipment can accommodate it.
Your pallet racking system needs to consider enough room for forklifts and pallet trucks without wasting any potential storage space you have. Poor design wastes significant volumes of capacity in each aisle. Most pallet racking installations are configured with an aisle width of 2.5 to 4 metres. There is specialist narrow aisle pallet racking systems that reduce this to 1.6 metres.
Opting for vertical storage will help to improve efficiency and productivity within the warehouse. A well-conceived racking system, designed to meet the maximum requirements of the business, will easily support seamless stock handling and order fulfilment. Maximising this space with pallet racking ensures that your business will not need to invest in new premises or additional storage requirements.
For more information on warehouse storage equipment, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.
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Monarch Shelving Ltd
Unit F,Daltry Street, Oldham,
Lancashire, United KingdomOL1 4AB
Tel: 0161 627 3444 or 0161 622 0022
| Fax: 01706 880520
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