12

Sep

Racking Inspection Checklist! How To Meet Warehouse Requirements

You invest a lot of time and effort into getting the ideal storage solution for your warehouse, but installing your racking and shelving systems is only the beginning. To remain legally compliant you must follow a warehouse racking inspection checklist, one that aligns with HSE and SEMA standards.

We look at how you can meet your racking legal requirements, run through the inspection process and provide you with your own racking inspection checklist.

What are your warehouse racking Health & Safety Executive (HSE) requirements?

Before we go into your inspection requirements, we first need to discuss regulations that relate to your warehouse and racking. As standard for most businesses, there is several HSE guidance which relate to the warehouse. These include best practice actions for manual handling, working at height and work equipment.

While following this guidance will create a safe working environment, there are additional documents which relate specifically to the warehouse and storage equipment. The first is HSG76 Warehouse and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety, which covers all stages of the racking’s lifespan. It emphasises the warehouse owner’s responsibilities to ensure best practice and outlines general preventative steps to avoid risk and hazards. There is also a significant section relating to the safe design, installation and maintenance of storage equipment systems.

The next place to look is the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA). They are a leading voice within the storage industry and, as part of their work, they have developed SEMA Codes of Practice, guidance notes and initiatives related to racking and shelving structures.

As the warehouse owner or manager, you need to be aware of your responsibility to follow the guidance found in HSG76 and SEMA Codes of Practice. While it is not a legal requirement to follow either of these, if there was a bad accident in your warehouse and the HSE investigates, you could be liable. If they take enforcement action, they will use these documents as a framework to potentially build a case against your business.

Pallet racking by Teepee Materials Handling: Ecommerce warehouse storage solutions specialists

How often should warehouse racking be inspected?

Here at Teepee, it’s not uncommon for us to arrive at an Expert Inspection and find weekly checks aren’t being conducted or repair recommendations ignored. While this might not seem important, it puts your business at risk! To find out the expected process for racking inspections, you need to look at HSG76 and SEMA for guidance.

They recommend the following:

  • Step 1: Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PPRS)

    You will need to appoint a PRRS who plays a key role in upholding standards and highlighting safety risks – both in your warehouse environment and with your racking and shelving systems. They will need the skills necessary to categorise different damage levels – from trivial to serious – or delegate this task to a competent person who has been on a Rack Safety Awareness course. They are normally a warehouse, facilities or health and safety manager.

    This person maintains rack inspection and maintenance records, analyses damage data, identifies where regular occurrences happen and implements required action. Importantly, they need the authority to implement immediate action where necessary and ensure any repairs are being carried out.

  • Step 2 – Employees

    Every day, employees are working around your racking, which puts them in the perfect position to spot obvious structural issues. Provide training on how to identify visible damage and instruct on correct reporting methods.

  • Step 3: Visual Inspections

    You will need to train a member of your team to conduct the Visual Inspections and maintain record their findings. This could be your PRRS or another competent employee.

    They will identify damage on the racking, check Load Notices are in place, correct procedures are being followed and write up a formal report on their findings. They will need to attend a training course like our Racking Inspection Training to learn how to inspect the racking. How often you need to conduct this visual inspection will be based on your risk assessment.

  • Step 4 – Expert Inspections

    This is an in-depth warehouse safety inspection of your racking. Only an inspector who has the correct qualifications, such as SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors, can perform one. They will conduct racking and storage assessments while also reporting and recommending how to maintain the safety of your racking.

What are your internal inspection responsibilities as the warehouse owner or manager?

Inspecting racking to uphold employee safety is a continual process and you cannot afford to relax at any point. It is estimated that there are around 700 pallet racking collapses each year. When the HSE comes calling, the penalties can be harsh, costing into the millions. On top of that, you have to manage production downtime, costly repairs and potential loss of your business reputation.

Taking the right steps (as outlined above) isn’t the end of your inspection responsibilities. When we visit warehouses to undertake their Expert Inspection, we often find that the weekly inspections aren’t happening or repair recommendations aren’t being followed through.

Here are the three important internal inspection factors you need to consider for your racking inspection checklist:

  1. Staff training

    While staff training is important, pick your course carefully. When looking for a racking safety course, it’s worth checking that it’s conducted by experts who work within the industry.

    On our Racking Awareness Safety & Inspection Course, we only put our experienced warehouse inspectors at the front of the class! Giving you and your employees the chance to draw on both their knowledge and experience. We deliver our course at your premises. This enables us to combine the classroom-based element of the course with practice in a setting familiar to your team. Our course will look at potential issues that can occur on racking, how to recognise signs of damage and your legal obligations to conduct the inspections.

    Upon completion of the rack safety course, we issue a certificate detailing the date achieved, the expiry date and the name of the facility’s competent PRRS. The certification lasts for three years, after which they need to go on one of our refresher rack inspection courses.

  2. Remember, react to issues!

    Make sure that the person responsible for authorising repair work on your racking is aware of the position of PRRS. Filing their internal inspection report and thinking you’ve ticked the box is not enough!! Anyone responsible for actioning repair work should understand that if the racking needs repairing, they should get a team in to repair the racking system immediately. Any delays in requesting and authorising the repair work are not acceptable. If you ignore damaged components on your racking over a long period, it can quickly result in a bigger issue.

  3. Follow the pallet racking inspection checklist

    While it is very easy to nod your head, safe knowing that you’ve trained your staff and appointed a competent person into the role of PRRS, you cannot simply leave them to get on with the job.

As the warehouse owner or manager, you have a legal responsibility to check the following:

Step

 Description
PRRS Make sure you have a PRRS in place
Staff Training Have you trained your team on how to work safely in areas with racking?

 

Are staff training certificates valid?

Visual Inspections

 Are visual Inspections carried out at correct intervals and are formal reports logged?

 

Do you have enough staff training to cover holidays or long-term absences? Remember this is a legal requirement
Expert Inspections Have you booked your expert inspection?
Maintenance

If damage is found on the racking, are the repairs completed?

Failure to complete the work within the timeframe stated on the inspection report could leave you legally exposed

Racking Repairs

On this last note, remember to take a careful approach to undertaking repair work. If your racking system is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, getting an unauthorised company to conduct the work could render your warranty null and void.

This is where working with Teepee could help. We are a SEMA Approved Member – Advanced and we are part of an association that features some of the leading racking manufacturers working within the UK. As an Approved Member, we are qualified to conduct work on behalf of the SEMA Manufacturers. That means we can undertake remedial work on racking supplied by a SEMA manufacturer and it won’t invalidate your warranty.

If the racking’s outside the manufacturer’s warranty, you can choose any racking system supplier to conduct the repair work. However, you need to check the installers credentials. A lot of racking installers still learn on the job and do not receive correct instruction on approved repair methods. That is why we use installers who have been through the SEIRS programme. This training instructs on correct industry installation methods and ensures their work meets a high standard of quality and safety.

Need Help With Your Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist? Teepee Can Help!

Now that you’ve read our blog, you’ve got no excuse miss any stage on our comprehensive racking inspection checklist. But if you need help at any stage, why not get in touch with Teepee? With over 35 years within the industry, we can offer far more than creating and delivering the perfect storage solution. Once your storage equipment is installed, we offer a long-term customer service package that supports you in the day-to-day running of your warehouse.

Our customer service package includes training for your team to equip them with the knowledge they need to recognise damage on your racking system. Our Racking Inspection training course will also provide one of your team with the information and skills they need to take on the role of PRRS.

We can also conduct your Expert Inspection regardless of who supplied your pallet racking system. Book a warehouse inspection with one of our SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARI). We’ll make sure you never forget your next professional inspection and ensure you meet SEMA and HSE recommendations. Two to three months prior to your inspection, we’ll get in touch to discuss your equipment, help with any problems you may have and book one of our qualified racking inspectors to pay a visit to your site.

If you need any work, our SEIRS-trained installers can get your pallet racking system back up and running in no time at all.

28

Aug

Warehouse Partitioning Modular Systems: Why UK Warehouses Are Adopting Modular Walls

As UK warehouses and factories face growing operational demands, warehouse partitioning modular systems are becoming go-to solutions for optimising space. It’s not hard to see why. With rising costs, changing workflows, and multifunctional teams often working side-by-side, partitioning allows businesses to create safer, more focused and productive environments without the need to relocate.

We look at the different industrial partitioning systems available, how to use them in your warehouse and the benefits they can offer your business.

What is Factory & Warehouse Wall Partitioning

As the name would suggest partitioning walls are specifically developed to break industrial units into smaller, distinct sections. Modular in design, you can easily assemble, disassemble and reconfigure them to give you the flexibility to enhance work flow and accommodate shifting business needs.

Warehouse partition walls are typically constructed from robust materials like steel panels, mesh, glass, or specialist hygienic cladding. The choice of partitioning material will depend on the environment they’re installed in. You also have the option to design the partitioning to suit the purpose. For example, storage, office spaces, hygienic partitions or even clean rooms.

What are the benefits of modular warehouse partitions

Aside from segmenting your warehouse space, there are some key advantages to partitioning in the warehouse:

  1. Avoid relocation costs by optimising current warehouse layout

    Partitioning offer modular options which provides you with the ability to reconfigure or remove them entirely as your departments change. This can be incredibly useful in providing a solution that helps you avoid relocating!

  2. Divide workspaces for efficiency and safety

    They are highly beneficial in creating individual task areas. In a busy warehouse, where multiple teams operate in proximity, it’s natural for staff to become distracted by surrounding activities. Modular panels can help contain each workflow to its own area, improving employee focus and reducing unnecessary disruption.

  3. Reduce noise and dust

    They are useful in supporting health and wellbeing through noise reduction and dust containment. For example, you can use specialised partitioning minimise contamination risks for environments that require high cleanliness standards.

  1. Increase safety

    They can increase safety standards, especially in production facilities where heavy-duty tasks are carried out. For example, staff operating large-scale machinery in full PPE. Wall partitions introduce separation between these tasks, helping to mitigate the danger of accidents.

  1. Create restricted zones for sensitive goods

    Partitioned rooms can be used for areas with restricted access such as housing sensitive items or delicate goods. For instance, in healthcare settings where Controlled Drugs (CD) must be stored securely away from general supplies and unauthorised personnel.

    Partitioning at Unipart Logistics

How to choose an industrial wall partition

Whether you require mesh panels or a hinged door, there are several kinds of warehouse partitioning modular systems on offer, each offering components to match specific business requirements.

At Teepee, we supply three main varieties:

  • Steel partitioning systems

    Strong, reliable and constructed for industrial wall partitioning, our steel models are offered in single- or double-skin formats. These can be configured as solid or full mesh panels, or a mix of materials including wire mesh partition systems and glass. A variety of door options are available, too.

    Steel partitions are a popular choice across manufacturing, warehousing and secure storage industrial environments. As such, you can spot them being put to work in everything from cleanrooms to security applications.

  • Workshop partitions

    Here, a combination of steel, glass and mesh panel partitions regularly come together to set boundaries for manufacturing workstations. These workshop partitions are built to promote practical, safe and productive workflows.

    Our design team considers a range of additional elements to maximise functionality and construct bespoke partitioning systems to suit individual site demands. Lighting solutions, suspended ceilings and flooring – such as carpet tile and vinyl – can all be selected to create tailored settings and ensure workshops stand up to daily processes.

  • Clean room partitions

    Typically employed in food processing, pharmaceutical production and laboratories, clean room partitions enable factories and warehouses to form sterile spaces that minimise contamination risk. For these very reasons, they’re also a go-to in sectors like electronics assembly lines and paint booths where air purity and particle regulation are key.

Our design and installation department works to reduce ledges and joints in these builds, incorporating features such as flush glazing and concealed skirting to support hygiene-critical functions. To further limit dust-trapping crevices and maintain contaminant-free conditions, we install clean room partitions with smooth, easy-to-clean finishes. These areas can also be maintained in terms of temperature and humidity, helping to safeguard high-precision procedures and ensuring optimal inventory climate.

Stair Safety Barrier

Can you combine warehouse partitioning modular systems with your racking?

Whether your unit is ideally suited to mesh partitioning or solid steel partition walls, these solutions can be integrated with other storage equipment. This enables you to maximise your space and shape efficient, organised and clearly defined warehouses and factories.

For example, mezzanine floors can be paired with steel partition walls and double hinged doors to develop a two-tiered setup that maximises vertical volume while making sure divisions, operations or inventory categories are neatly separated.

Pallet racking can also be combined with steel partition walls to provide secure, high-density warehouse storage. And, with on-site visits, our experts can evaluate your facility to identify how to best accommodate handling vehicles such as forklifts, and recommend purpose-built solutions like very narrow aisle pallet (VNA) racking where current footprint is limited.

Alternatively, we can combine shelf systems with mesh partitioning and security doors to form enclosed zones that function as security cages. These approaches are ideal for storing high-value or sensitive items and restrict unapproved access while keeping stock structured and easy to manage.

How should I plan installing warehouse partitioning modular systems?

If you think partitioning could help boost your warehouse, you need to partner with a specialist who knows how to maximise your facility and understands the latest safety standards. For example, did you know that fire ratings, acoustic surveys and compliance with Building Regulations all need to be factored into your plans?

That’s why working with an expert like Teepee offers a real advantage. To deliver an optimal outcome, our specialists will conduct a detailed site survey to assess your premises’ floor plan, operational needs and stock movement. This ensures every aspect of your warehouse partitioning system is designed around the way your space operates, and its modularity accounts for any future changes.

From here, we’ll map out a custom warehouse layout that leverages square footage, enabling you to separate workflows, enhance security and keep production running effectively and safely.

Partitioning Workshop factory partitioning

 

Book your on-site consultation with Teepee

It’s evident that the phrase ‘don’t move, improve’ is no longer confined to the four walls of homeowners. In 2025’s climate of rising business costs and constrained capacity, making the most of what you already have simply makes sense.

At Teepee, we provide a complete package – from initial consultation and site surveys to the design and installation of a wide range of warehouse modular partitioning solutions, we can make a real difference to your business. Book your free site survey with Teepee today and discover how our bespoke partition wall systems can help you stay compliant, productive and future-ready.

10

Jun

Why Your Warehouse Needs Flexible and Modular Racking Systems

Next- and same-day delivery, seasonal spikes, flash sales, viral products, and inundated returns departments. Does this all sound familiar? If your warehouse is struggling to keep up with swiftly changing buying patterns, you might find your current racking can’t keep up with the pace. In our blog, we look at how analysing your storage requirements and designing modular racking systems can turn your warehouse into a business that easily pivots with changing demands.

How and why has warehouse racking changed?

Let’s be honest, today’s world of warehousing looks nothing like it did a decade ago. Back then, a warehouse was mostly seen as a storage space with layouts and racking systems which remained largely unchanged for years.

In comparison, today’s modern warehouse is in a constant state of flux with stock profiles driven by seasonal demands and ever-changing buyer behaviour. Logistics companies are now managing peaks, prepping for promos, and pivoting fast with every shift that comes their way. What’s more, with the UK warehousing market growing by 61% over the past 10 years, the urgency to stand out from the crowd and deliver faster than the competition has never been higher.

Advanced pallet systems

To keep up with the demand, you need systems to support speed, efficiency and instant modifications. If not, abandoned baskets will soar and customers will turn to competitors who keep pace with today’s fast moving commerce, resulting in lost revenue.

So, what’s the solution? The answer lies within the backbone of your warehouse – your racking.

How does modular racking help a warehouse?

In order to secure customer loyalty, you need racking that looks beyond conventional, fixed layouts in favour of flexibility and modularity.

The marginal gains theory is a powerful principle that can really drive improvements in warehouse capabilities. The concept was popularised by Sir David Brailsford, a British Sports Coach who used it to fine tune the performance of a pro cycling team. The approach focused on improving seemingly smaller factors like cyclists’ nutrition, sleep quality and even the cleanliness of their bikes. While each adjustment seems minor on its own, when combined, they lead to massive profits.

Apply that same methodology to warehousing, and there are huge benefits to be reaped. These flexible modular racking systems can deliver small savings that soon add up to larger profit.

Advanced pallet systems

Storage equipment layout has a substantial influence on ensuring wares sail through your warehouse smoothly, both in busier periods and throughout normal cycles. Yet to meet the constantly changing stock profile and processes, you need a racking solution that can easily shift.

A modular racking system is designed and installed with interchangeability in mind. This means your supplier has considered potential future growth for your business and addressed how the racking can expand. Your racking system should suit your current stock while remaining adaptable to different product types. It should also align with existing processes, yet be flexible enough to support future systems or equipment.

How to customise your racking and shelving?

Convinced that you need a modular racking solution in your warehouse. Here are the elements you can customise to make it adaptable.

Modular racking

experienced racking supplier

1. Expertly designed racking

When you work with an experienced racking supplier, they should design a system which not only suits your current business but one that can adapt and pivot as you grow in the future.

Is your current racking suited to your current stock type and processes? Is there the option to adjust your racking to enable additional storage capacity? For example, adding to the height of the racking or reducing the aisle width. Can your supplier offer a wide range of effective storage solutions that will maximise your warehouse such as heavy-duty storage racking for large and heavy items or industrial shelving or smaller units?

While altering in-situ racking might not be simple, it can unlock a lot of potential within your warehouse.

storage solutions

2. The right racking for the job!

As businesses grow, you storage space will need to change and your racking has to adapt. To ensure you future-proof your operations you need to start with the basics – your racking. That means you need a selection of storage solutions which are right for the job.

If you stock large items, cantilever racking may be best, while simplified SKUs suit Drive-In racking solution. Also, consider your storage potential: for fast growth, choose adaptable racking or mobile systems to eliminate fixed aisles.

Plus, consider how modular is your new racking design. Could you extend on top of the structure or add additional storage shelves or runs when needed?

A Load Notice

3. What is the load capacity of your racking?

Racking is designed to carry a specific weight capacity. When ordering racking, your supplier customises the racking to the load type and weight of each shelf.

That means, if your stock profile changes significantly and you need to carry additional weight, you will need to check whether the shelf can support it. There should be a Load Notice on the racking which advises on the correct weight carrying capacity. For more information, head over to the SEMA website.

racking accessories

4. It’s all about the storage accessories

While you might think that shelving or racking accessories are only for ‘at home’ systems, you’d be wrong. Using a range of accessories plays a key role in make your storage equipment fully modular and you can tailor them to suit your specific needs.

Go for something simple like storage bins to create stacks of pick bins or insert drawers which are ideal for small storage of items such as manufacturing parts. Alternatively, you can insert full- or half- height dividers into the shelves to split up the space. These can be used as pick bins or tailored storage such as tall but narrow products. You can even go for hanging rails to hang garments for clothing manufacturers.

Ai Warehouses

5. Automation Compatibility

Most warehouses today almost always require the use of automation and AI, and you need to design your racking system to accommodate changing systems.

After all, integrate these technological advances and it can improve productivity, increase the flow of stock, deliver consistent results. But, any new technology must work for your warehouse, your current operations and your racking. Get advice from industry experts to seamlessly integrate the new technology with your racking and maximize your ROI.

Benefits to your warehouse with modular racking

Mezzanine floors designed and supplied to a Burton-upon-Trent facility by Teepee

There a few ways modular racking systems improves warehouse efficiency:

  • Adapting to your stock profile:

Interchangeable parts – such as adjustable racking – means you can conveniently change your setup to suit your inventory types and volume requirements.

They’re fast and straightforward to adjust:

Specifically manufactured for quick alterations, modular alternatives result in minimal downtime and reduce the requirement for staff redeployment.

  • Improved space = reduced costs:

Modular pallet racking systems maximise the space warehouses already have available, negating the costs and disruption linked to moving to larger premises or even extending existing sites.

  • They ease picking and packing for employees:

With items now organised, it’s much easier for team members to locate, pick, pack and ship products, which streamlines workflow, cuts down time spent searching for SKUs and strengthens employee satisfaction.

  • Supporting staff during high-pressure periods:

During busy times – such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping frenzy – the ease of locating, picking, packing and shipping lines helps workers meet targets. This brings down stress levels and, importantly, supports worker wellbeing and productivity.

  • Heightening safety:

Warehouses with better organisation naturally benefit from a reduction in workplace risks. For example, reductions in overcrowded aisles, improperly stacked inventory and hazardous spills.

  • Reducing inventory loss:

Easily reconfigurable storage reduces the threat of stock being misplaced or damaged. With more racking options, everything has its place and is stored in the appropriate manner.

  • Preparing for the future:

Modular racking systems are designed to grow with your inventory levels, meaning your warehouse is futureproofed. Consequently, should you be ready for expansion, your warehouse can shift to accommodate it.

  • They save costs and overheads:

The marginal gains associated with modular racking systems all point to significant savings in terms of downtime, labour, expansions and utility bills, enhancing overall warehouse efficiency.

How Teepee Can Help Build Flexible, Modular Pallet Racking?

The perks of choosing a flexible storage solution are tangible. With Teepee, we can work with you to create a customised solution tailored to the flexibility of your current stock criteria and future growth.

With over 30 years’ experience, we know what works best to improve warehouse operations, boost worker output and make the most of your space. We complement our fully flexible turnkey solutions, which include racking, shelving, mezzanine floor and factory partitioning systems, with racking inspections and team training at your warehouse, making us a complete partner in storage strategies.

Modular Storage systems

As consumer demands continue to evolve and expectations for even faster deliveries persistently rise, the ability to fulfil orders efficiently and promptly will make or break many warehouse businesses. And behind the scenes, even the smallest gains cannot be underestimated in contributing to successful operations.

To learn more about how our flexible and modular racking systems and see how our design team can transform your current processes, get in touch today for your no-obligation racking solution quote.

 

24

Apr

How to Make Your Racking Boost Your Ecommerce Warehouse

Over the last couple of decades, the logistics industry has seen many changes. One thing that possibly has had the biggest impact is the fast-growing and fiercely competitive e-commerce landscape. As a result, the modern ecommerce warehouse has had to evolve quickly to the changing demands, with spaces transforming into multi-functional platforms that can change and quickly respond as orders ebb and flow.

In our blog, we examine how ecommerce businesses are evolving and how your choice of racking, warehouse design, and storage equipment can give you a competitive edge.

Ecommerce Warehouse

Why has ecommerce changed?

The popularity of ecommerce is not a new phenomenon. Ever since the first online purchase over a couple of decades ago, it has been growing in momentum. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic that the online platform exploded. So much so, it’s reshaped the world of retail businesses and this year alone, it’s expected that nearly 85% of the UK population will shop online.

Adding to the success of ecommerce businesses has been the recent launch into social media sales via platforms like TikTok Shop where consumers can buy directly from a post or live stream. In this arena, trend shifts are rapid, and it only takes one viral second for a product to blow up overnight.

How has ecommerce impacted the logistics industry?

With increasing demands, distribution centres and warehouse managers and business owners have inevitably had to step up. As online shopping has become more accessible, this has also led to an increase in customer expectations. Shoppers have moved on from the traditional three-working-day model, now demanding next-day and in some cases, even same-day delivery. Orders have to be exact to meet expectations and there has to be a seamless system for processing returns.

For any ecommerce warehouse, flawless order handling and meeting rapidly changing stock profiles is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s essential for protecting your company’s reputation and uphold customer satisfaction and keep them coming back. The impact can be severe if things do go wrong or there are delays in the supply chain. Customers won’t hold back when they receive late or incorrect deliveries, damaged goods, or face out-of-stock items. One bad social media post can do serious damage, and if there’s one thing today’s customers aren’t, it’s forgiving.

An warehouse that meets customer demands

An ecommerce warehouse that meets customer demands

To meet demand, you need an efficient e-commerce warehouse layout. This means the design of your racking needs to play a pivotal role in getting the stock from A to B in the most efficient manner with minimal sticking points.

When we visit a warehouse the first thing we examine is the type of ecommerce warehouse it is and how the design of your racking and shelving could improve your overall business performance:

  • How many pallets are passing through the warehouse?
  • Where do they enter and leave the warehouse?
  • How does the types of product seamlessly move from the arrival bay to the shelf and then the packing area?
  • How does it then leave the warehouse?

We can then design a bespoke storage equipment tailored for an ecommerce environment that allows your processes to run as smoothly as possible. This means no sticking points that cause delays.

The right racking for your ecommerce warehouse

While many ecommerce warehouses share similar footprints, each operations is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all ideal solution.

Factors like headroom, floor space, load-bearing capacity, stock turnover, and product shelf life must all be considered. Luckily, there are numerous options to meet almost any need—it’s about finding the best fit for your facility.

Here are some of the options:

Wide-aisle racking

This is the most commonly available type of racking. With wide aisle racking, the aisles are wide enough for standard forklift trucks and manual pickers to access stock and manoeuvre between the bays.

Wide Aisle

Very narrow aisle (VNA) pallet racking:

If you need to maximise the storage space on offer without moving to a bigger facility, you could install Narrow Aisle Racking (NAR) or Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking. Both structures minimise the width between the bays to create narrower aisles. With NAR it is possible to use standard forklift trucks although greater care is needed during picking. VAR racking does require specialised forklifts and guidance systems for stock picking. These structures are typically suitable if you have the ceiling height to go upwards.

VNA Racking

Double deep racking

This type of racking is ideal for non-perishable stock. The structure consists of two runs of racking sitting back-to-back, typically in a cube shape. Stock is loaded and unloaded from one face with pallets accessed like standard racking. The advantage of double-deep structures is their ability to store two pallets in a racking’s depth while minimising the amount of allocated floor.

Double Deep Racking

Drive-through and drive-in racking:

These structures are alike in appearance but different in the flow of goods. Drive-in racking works on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) system, replacing aisles with deep storage lanes to maximise space within a cubic layout. Each lane is allocated a single SKU with stock accessed and loaded from the front of the structure.

Drive-through racking follows a first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle, with stock loaded from the front and unloaded from the back. Like drive-in racking, it offers high-density storage but with access at both ends.

Drive in pallet racking

Push-back racking and pallet live racking:

Pushback racking operates on a First In Last Out (FILO) basis.  Pallets are loaded and unloaded from the front with these structures holding up to 10 pallets deep. The stock sits on a gravity roll track with pallets pushed to the back when another is loaded. This racking enables you to store several SKUs without having to move large quantities to gain access. Pallet live racking works on a First In First Out (FIFO) system. Again, pallets sit in lanes, but they are loaded on the replenishment side and collected from the opposite side. Pallets are held in place by a series of inbuilt brake rollers to control the flow of items.

Push Back Racking

Multi-tier pallet racking:

If you want to maximise the usable warehouse space, you could consider multi-tier racking. This structure configures warehouse shelves between usable walkways on multiple racking levels. Teams can use the different levels for traditional storage and to create separate picking and packing zones. This structure is perfect for hand-picking procedures and is an ideal way to utilise headroom and take unnecessary strain off your footprint.

Multi Tier Racking

Optimising ecommerce warehouse racking

No doesn’t matter which of the wide variety of racking you choose for your ecommerce warehouse, getting the most out of the structure depends largely on how you optimise the shelf space. To make stock easier for employees to locate, pick, and pack, incorporate the right accessories. Take pick bins, for instance, they’re great for organising smaller items and keeping fast-moving stock within easy reach. Alternatively, labelling such as barcodes, QR codes, colour coding and directional labels can help employees find items faster and increase pick accuracy when switching up stock.

Choose accessories that maximise your processes and day-to-day functions become quicker and employees stay productive.

Automating the Process

We’re living in the age of Industry 4.0, and with the rise of e-commerce business, automation has found its way into more and more warehouses. These intuitive and cost-saving systems can speed up processes, reduce reliance on employees, operate 24/7 shifts and minimise errors. There are plenty of advanced technologies available for the smart warehouse; from ASRS systems for tracking real time data to conveyor belts, Warehouse Management Software (WMS) and autonomous mobile robots. Get the ideal automated system in place and it should transform your warehouse into a reactive space that meets changing ecommerce demands.

Big names like Walmart are embracing automation into their fulfilment centres to compete against e-commerce leaders like Amazon, who already deploy 750,000 bots working alongside its staff.

However, there are key issues to be aware of. Racking often needs to work hand in hand with robotics, and its design plays a key role in rapid, accurate picking rates. You need to assess whether the initial outlay will provide enough benefits to make a decent Return On Investment (ROI). Plan how the structure will fit into your warehouse, what the space requirements are and whether it works seamlessly with your racking.

Preventing damaging downtime in your ecommerce warehouse

One last consideration in running an ecommerce warehouse is what happens when you lose productivity. Employees often take severely damaged racking out of service for repairs, costing time as they remove stock and potentially reducing storage capacity or forcing relocation within the warehouse. Not ideal if your warehouse runs continuous ecommerce operations.

While racking damage can’t be completely avoided, proper maintenance and training can greatly reduce downtime. Train employees to work safely and report damage, and enrol a team member in our Racking and Safety Awareness programme to become a PRRS. They’ll conduct regular inspections, keep records, and ensure compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requirements.

About Teepee

If your ecommerce warehouse needs some optimising why not get in touch? With over 40 years of experience, we’ve been designing racking systems that truly support the day-to-day running of warehousing operations. Systems that unlock dead zones, boost daily warehouse operations, increase capacity within and accommodate future growth the modern ecommerce warehouse to enhance processes and reduce operating costs.

Yet it goes beyond that. We also understand how to enhance the different types of ecommerce warehouse functions to boost customer service and profitability. From design, supply, and installation to transforming your space into a smart warehouse with expert inspections and maintenance guidance, we can support every stage.

We’d be happy to visit your facility and provide a free, no-obligation appraisal, along with an accurate quote tailored specifically to your ecommerce business.

20

Mar

Reducing warehouse costs? Meet the challenge with your racking

In any business, you have to balance the books. You need enough revenue to pay your overheads, including warehouse costs, employ staff, and invest back into the company. Somewhere along the line you also want to make a profit. Yet, as material and living costs increase, the financial world has tightened its proverbial belt, and other businesses have followed suit.

There’s no ignoring the fact that logistics and warehousing are expensive industries to run. Making your warehouse profitable has recently become increasingly harder, yet despite this, there are ways for owners to reduce costs. We look at the seven key areas to address.

Warehouse costs to consider

Before we examine ways to save, let’s first determine the warehouses costs associated with your operations.

First, the rent. In the UK, this typically costs around £5 to £9 per sqm. This square footage is an essential outlay and to maximise value you need to use the space wisely. That is where the next important cost comes into play – equipment. Depending on your operations, this list can be long and include everything from pallet racking and shelving to store the stock, right through to forklift trucks and conveyors for moving pallets around the warehouse. You also have to consider other warehouse costs such as administrative and transport fees along with energy and security costs. Finally, the cost of paying your staff is an essential element in most logistics’ companies.

Reducing Costs

How to reduce warehouse costs

It’s almost impossible to avoid warehouse costs associated with your facility but there are ways to maximise your Return On Investment (ROI). By analysing what you have in place and how you can improve warehouse operations it’s possible to reduce ongoing costs and make significant long-term savings.

Warehouse Expenses

Utilise the space – increase storage capacity

Utilise the space – increase storage capacity

One of the biggest warehouse costs you will have to factor in when running a warehouse is the cost of rent. Therefore, it makes sense to maximise every last metre of that space and make the warehouse work hard for you. The sums are obvious, enhance the floor space and you can hold more stock. The more produce available the bigger the opportunities to sell more orders. More orders equal greater profits.

Yet achieving this isn’t simply a case of stuffing in as much racking as possible. You need an intuitive solution designed to optimise that space. Maximising the available space is all about filling it wisely and may require a mix of storage equipment options. Apart from  adjustable pallet racking, several complimentary solutions can maximise both floor and vertical space. For example, shelving can efficiently utilise small spaces while mobile shelving can remove the need for static aisles and increase capacity using a smaller footprint.

Streamline processes - reduce labour costs

Streamline processes – reduce labour costs

Of course, filling that space won’t maximise your costs if you haven’t considered how to streamline processes to increase efficiencies. Stock arriving at the warehouse door should move seamlessly to its storage location. Then, when needed, it must be easy to locate and move swiftly to the packing zone. Finally, its last journey is when it heads out the other side destined for delivery.

Failing to implement a smooth journey for your orders will increase warehouse costs over  time. If staff can’t find stock because the labelling or storage solution is inefficient then you’re reducing the number of orders you can fulfil. Alternatively, if pallets are held up at sticking points within the warehouse it not only reduces optimal picking timescales but can also result in stock getting lost or damaged. These problems can be overcome with a clever racking design that accommodates distinct zones to help staff and machinery perform their designated tasks and reduce time spent getting from point A to B.

Warehouse Automation – speed up order timescales

Automation – speed up order timescales

The presence of automation and robotics in the warehouse environment has grown significantly in recent years and it’s not hard to see why. These methods can provide significant benefits including speeding up processes and speeding up the movement of stock. Yet, there are other, perhaps unrecognised, benefits. Automation can increase safety levels, by moving stock away from employees and removing repetitive tasks to improve employee retention.

Automative processes and digitisation do not necessarily require complicated systems built at scale and even small steps can make a big difference to your output. For example, by updating your Warehouse Management System for one better suited to your business it should make stock easier to store and locate. Even adding labelling systems on your racking can make a big difference. However, to benefit from the advantages your automation system delivers it must work in cohesion with your racking.

Avoid moving warehouse – reduce overheads

Avoid moving costs – reduce overheads

We’ve talked about how you can optimise the warehouse environment to enhance efficiencies and increase order processing, yet have you considered the impact of growth? If your warehouse is running as a tight ship it should lead to an increase in sales but with this comes the requirement for additional storage space. Moving location to bigger premises has a hefty price tag. First, there will be the increase in rental costs, then you need to consider moving fees and potentially purchasing racking for your new space. On top of this, you could face a temporary reduction in order processing while you move location. It all adds up.

Instead, look at how you can control warehouse costs by managing the timescale. More often than not, it’s possible to delay moving by enhancing your current warehouse setup. Hopefully, you previously worked with an experienced racking supplier who has already designed an intelligent and flexible racking system that is simple to adapt. If not, there are still options. There may be the possibility of extending your racking upwards to utilise the roof space of your warehouse. There may be the option to adjust your equipment into Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking which enables you to reduce aisle widths to create more runs of racking within the same footprint.

Create a multi-functional warehouse – maximise your budget

Create a multi-functional warehouse – maximise your budget

In most cases, the main function of a warehouse is to store stock but that doesn’t mean it can’t pivot into a more multifunctional space. Adjusting your pallet racking into a multi-tower with multiple floors enables you to create layers of storage space while also creating more picking and packing stations. You could consider mezzanine flooring which adds floors to your warehouse floor that you can turn office space, additional storage density or zones for different retail functions such as online or high-street shops.

Another option is to divide your warehouse space into smaller, functional zones. Installing factory partitioning will separate and segment the area to accommodate different production stages in manufacturing units, organise storage areas for raw materials or divide the floor into specific workstations, helping to streamline operations and reduce warehouse costs. Alternatively, systems like clean room partitions are constructed using high-quality materials to minimise contamination making them ideal for food processing or pharmaceutical manufacturing areas.

Training, inspection and maintenance – deliver on your Warehouse ROI

Training, inspection and maintenance – deliver on your ROI

While designing the layout of your warehouse floor or manufacturing unit can provide multiple cost savings, you will only deliver true ROI if you can maximise the lifetime of your equipment. This means correct use and maintenance of the racking.

To achieve this, you need to cover three key areas:

  • Training

Training is essential for two key reasons; employee safety and minimising damage. If you train your team on working safely around racking it can reduce damage to both stock and the racking. Training will also help your employees identify damage on racking. If you spot the damage early on you can conduct the repairs before they turn into bigger, and more expensive, issues.

  • Inspection

Fail to meet your inspection requirements and you fail your racking. As the HSE states in HSG76 Warehousing and Storage – A Guide to Health & Safety ‘Any damage to racking will reduce its maximum load capacity. The greater the damage the less its strength will be.’ It’s for this reason that SEMA and the HSE recommend adopting a three-tiered inspection process. Every day, your employees should immediately report if they find damage. At least once a week, a trained team member should conduct a visual inspection. Finally, at least once a year a trained professional should undertake an in-depth Expert inspection.

  • Maintenance

    If your inspection does identify damage on your racking, then you need to get it fixed. However, choose your supplier with care. SEMA, a leading voice on storage equipment safety, has strict guidelines on permissible work allowed and your supplier may not be working to their recommendations. You should also be aware that any remedial or alteration work undertaken by a racking company not approved by the manufacturer could invalidate the original racking warranty and end up with unnecessary costs in the long term.

Work with Teepee Warehouse Solutions

Work with Teepee Warehouse Solutions – avoid unwanted costs

Now you know how to reduce overheads in your warehouse, how do you implement these actions? If you work with Teepee Warehouse Solutions, you can be safe in the knowledge that, as a SEMA Member – Advanced, we have undergone a rigorous independent audit process to prove we meet industry standards on quality and safety. This SEMA badge is proof to warehouse owners that we can support you throughout the safe design, supply, installation and maintenance.

With over 30 years of experience within the industry, we can help you find the perfect solution that will improve the productivity and efficiency of your warehouse. We offer full turnkey solutions supplying racking, shelving, mezzanine floor and factory partitioning systems. We can also conduct your Expert racking inspection and provide training for your team at your warehouse.

If you’d like expert advice on how to maximise your business, why not get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote. Plus, follow us on LinkedIn for exclusive tips and strategies.

28

Feb

5 Ways To Optimise Warehouse Space For Maximum Productivity

When taking the keys to a new warehouse there is a lot of potential that can be unlocked in that space. The natural reaction is to fill it with as much racking as possible to maximise the amount of stock it can hold. But, before diving in, it might be worth considering whether warehouse optimisation strategies could help unlock additional benefits and improve your warehouse

If you need a better racking system or setting up a new warehouse and are not sure where to start, don’t worry—you’re not alone. We have some tips to help improve your space.

Why is warehouse optimisation crucial for your business?

Before we run through how to optimise your warehouse, we’ll first look at why the racking in your warehouse matters so much.

You can’t escape the fact that the modern warehouse is an expensive outlay. Apart from the rental fees, you also need to purchase racking, machinery for picking stock and, increasingly in today’s environment, automation to increase productivity. The costs add up.

Warehouse Efficiency

To reduce overheads, you need to install bespoke racking solutions which drive down operational costs while boosting warehouse optimisation, efficiency and employee productivity. Get the correct system in place and you can streamline the throughput of products, from the moment they arrive at the warehouse door through to when the order leaves your facility. Make sense of your stock’s journey and not only will it reduce lost working hours, but it will result in enhanced staff satisfaction – after all who wants to spend all their time trying to locate missing items? This naturally results in a second benefit – customer satisfaction. The last thing any warehouse business needs is a customer who hasn’t received their order in time.

These are the five steps you should consider.

Step 1: Assess Your Space

Before making any decisions on your racking, assess what you’re working with. Although warehouse space is limited by its width and height, there are still effective ways to maximise it. Address how much and what type of stock you hold. You need racking or shelving structures which accommodate the product – whether that’s boxes or pallets – and its weight. Don’t forget to consider what happens when your warehouse business grows. Should you consider racking that adapts to varying stock levels or can be extended for more storage?

Accessibility is a often overlooked aspect of racking design, yet it is crucial for ensuring orders move seamlessly through the warehouse. To optimise the picking and packing process, consider the necessary equipment and how employees will interact during these tasks. Obstacles that prevent access to items or a lack of attention to safe working zones can significantly increase the risk of serious accidents.

Warehouse Space

Step 2: Optimise The Warehouse Layout

Once you have evaluated the space and understood your stock profiles, you need to create the best racking layout for warehouse optimisation.

Start by mapping out the warehouse and understand how products will move through the space. Consider each stage; where does it arrive, where will you store the stock, do you need a designated zone for picking and packing and how will it leave the warehouse? Do you need to create specific zones for tasks, for example, an area for packing, shipping or receiving items? Now work out where each of the zoned areas will sit to ensure they allow the stock to seamlessly flow from one zone to another. This will help you to spot areas where orders could get bottlenecked during the process.

During the process, you should also look at how you can reduce wasted areas the and utilise them for other tasks or storage areas. And of course, don’t forget to include areas you can’t change such as doors, corridors or office space etc.

Warehouse Optimisation

Step 3: Implement Smart Storage Solutions

The backbone of most warehouses is the storage equipment. It’s an almost obvious choice to go with standard pallet racking, but will that maximise the space? Racking is well-suited for larger and heavier items, with deeper shelves that are ideal for storing pallets accessed by forklifts or automated systems. In contrast, shelving is a practical option for lighter and smaller items typically picked by hand. Its more compact structure makes it perfect for areas with limited space.

If you’re going for racking, have you got the best system? There are multiple options and design configurations available which help improve the efficiency of the warehouse.

Racking Examples: 

If you want to maximise the available space you have a few options to choose from. You could go upwards with a Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking structure which is built higher while moving the bays closer together to reduce the aisle widths and add more storage capacity.

Alternatively, you can choose a multi-tier structure which creates multiple hand-loaded picking zones throughout the racking. Walkways are then fitted between the shelves which are accessed by a staircase.

If other options don’t work, mobile shelving eliminates fixed aisles by placing storage on tracks. Units stay compact and roll open as needed to access the correct bay.

VNA racking

Step 4: Warehouse Automation

Technology advancements are taking hold in the warehouse environment. To stay competitive, integrate technology into your warehouse and racking systems.

Now is the time to research the market and find out which system works best for you. While Warehouse Management Software (WMS) systems are not new, they have certainly evolved over the last few years. WMS are essential for providing real-time analytics and insights into the movement of your items and managing your supply chain fulfilment

However, when combined with AI, it can improve the process even further. This will increase the efficiency of your warehouse by avoiding the chance of stockouts and enabling quick response times. Get the right racking in place to support your WMS system and it can transform your warehouse.

Warehouse Automation

Step 5: Employee Engagement

Finally, none of these changes will stick unless your team is on the same page. Take time to train your staff on the new racking system and safety procedures. Racking training may seem easy to dismiss, but it offers valuable benefits. It enhances productivity and efficiency, reduces costly repairs from avoidable damage, and, most importantly, ensures your team’s safety.

That is why we run our Rack Inspection Training which equips your employees with the skills and knowledge they need to work safely and handle products in areas where racking is present. It also provides them with the tools they need to recognise damage on racking.

The course will also help you to meet your Health and Safety and industry requirements. As the owner or warehouse manager, HSE and SEMA expect you to perform regular inspections to check the racking is loaded and used correctly and report if damage is present. Our Rack Inspection Training course will train a member of your team to perform this important ‘weekly’ inspection.

Inspect racking

Finding a Racking Supplier You Can Trust

SEMA Approved Member - Advanced

If you search for a racking supplier online you’ll be inundated with options. For true warehouse optimisation, choose a supplier who can deliver a storage system that maximises space and efficiency, such as a SEMA Approved Member.

For over 50 years SEMA has led the way in developing best practices and standards within the storage equipment industry. As a SEMA Approved Member – Advanced, Teepee undergoes an independent assessment every three years to demonstrate our commitment. This rigorous process ensures our compliance with over 40 regulations, industry standards, Codes of Practice, and legislative requirements, allowing us to maintain our membership and credentials.

Contact Teepee Today

At Teepee Warehouse Solutions, we specialise in planning and installing storage systems for various industries, from retail stockrooms to warehouses and beyond. To ensure every customer receives the best possible storage system for their needs and requirements, we offer a site survey. This includes an expert visiting your premises to assess the space and recommend the best storage solution for your business.

We also ensure your equipment stays safe and functional. To help you meet warehouse requirements, our approved inspectors can also conduct expert pallet racking inspections.

Ready to take your warehouse to the next level? Contact us today to find out how we can help you choose the best racking solution for your business. Let’s optimise your space for maximum productivity!

13

Jan

How Can You Trust Your Pallet Racking Suppliers

There is no escaping the fact that getting new racking for your warehouse is an expensive outlay. Of course, there are always pallet racking suppliers out there offering ‘cheap’ solutions, but make the wrong decision at the purchasing stage and undoubtedly it will cost more in the long run.

We explain what to look for in pallet racking suppliers and whether a company with the highest level of credentials will end up costing you more.

What credentials should pallet racking suppliers hold?

Do a quick Google for pallet racking suppliers within the UK and you quickly realise there are a lot of companies out there. However, with few barriers to entry, how do you know which one to pick? One option is to check their credentials. Companies like Teepee that are committed to continuous improvement and working to the highest standards are likely to hold several accreditations. Here are some of the accreditations you may come across, although it is worth noting that holding them does not necessarily guarantee a high level of quality in pallet racking installations.

Pallet Racking Supplier

ISO – Pallet Racking Suppliers

The ISO is an internationally recognised standard seen as a formula for the best way of doing something, whether it’s making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials. In the pallet racking industry, you will usually see ISO 45001 which covers occupational health and safety management systems, ISO 14001 which covers environmental management systems and ISO 9001 which covers quality management systems.

CHAS – Pallet Racking Suppliers

CHAS is the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) accreditation that proves a contractor’s health and safety processes meet a high level of compliance. The accreditation demonstrates that the company comply with the law, has sound management of current health and safety legislation and follows best practices.

SafeContractor – Pallet Racking Suppliers

SafeContractor is a third-party accreditation scheme that creates a unified system which enables customers to check their contractor’s credentials and ensure compliance across the supply chain. A business must prove that it meets current legislation and has processes in place to ensure it handles health and safety in the best way possible to achieve the approved status.

While these accreditations prove safety during the construction of your pallet racking system, they do not directly relate to the equipment. As you explore your options, you might also come across companies that are accredited as SEMA Approved Members.

SEMA Approved Member - Advanced

What is a SEMA Approved Member?

Let’s start by explaining about the Storage Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, commonly known as SEMA. For over 50 years, they have been a leading voice on the safety and quality of storage equipment such as pallet racking and shelving. Led by the combined expertise of their technical committee, they provide the industry with comprehensive codes of practice and documents which guide both warehouse owners and suppliers of storage equipment.

Their work extends over the lifetime of a pallet racking system, starting at the beginning with the design and manufacture of the structure right through to upholding safety in use and implementing a regular racking inspection regime. Manufacturing, supply, and installation companies make up the association membership. They also run two initiatives which train on installation methods and inspection processes.

What are the advantages of using SEMA Approved Members?

For a warehouse owner working with a SEMA Approved Member can save a lot of time and effort. When purchasing pallet racking solutions, the HSE will expect you to meet certain criteria and check the credentials of your supplier as stipulated in their guidance HSG76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Safety. Although it is not a legal requirement to follow the advice in this document, adhering to the guidance is usually enough to comply with legislation. Work with a SEMA Member and you can save a lot of leg work to check your supplier’s credentials.

Under SEMA, pallet racking suppliers of storage equipment like Teepee are known as SEMA Approved Members. You can only become a SEMA Approved Member if you can demonstrate that you work to SEMA Codes of Practice and meet their high levels of quality and enhanced warehouse safety standards. SEMA Approved Members offer a level of expertise and can design a pallet racks solution that will maximise your storage space, enhance efficiencies and increase productivity. They can also review your warehouse space to ensure your new racking will not only meet your current operations but is ready to expand to meet future requirements.

SEMA Approved Member

SEMA Approved Members Credentials

Pallet racking and shelving suppliers must undergo a rigorous independent audit once every five years. This audit will check the supplier meets SEMA requirements by adhering to over 40 regulations, industry standards, Codes of Practice, and legislative requirements. This provides you with peace of mind that your efficient storage will meet expected load capacity, deliver expected outcomes while also meeting the highest safety and quality levels. SEMA Approved Members must also commit to using SEIRS installers, and SARI inspectors. SEMA membership also checks the company has the correct insurance documentation in place, follows health and safety measures in place and environmental best practice.

There are two levels – SEMA Approved Member and SEMA Approved Member – Advanced. Teepee are SEMA Approved Members – Advanced. This means we demonstrate our commitment to a high SEMA criteria level as demonstrated through the audit.

Is a SEMA member more expensive?

Now you know that Approved Members such as Teepee are working to enhanced warehouse safety levels and the highest quality standards within the industry, it begs the question – is a SEMA Member more expensive? Of course, every supplier is different, and it is not necessarily the case that a SEMA member will be more expensive. However, when comparing quotes, you should consider how your supplier will impact ongoing costs.

With a SEMA Approved Member, you get peace of mind that covers the lifetime of your equipment. Through the guidance provided by SEMA, we offer support to warehouse owners throughout every stage of their pallet racks.

We also have the expertise and knowledge to supply bespoke pallet racking and shelving systems designed to enhance cost benefits. This includes maximising available storage capacity, boosting productivity and considering longevity by incorporating opportunities to extend or alter your pallet racking to accommodate future or changing business growth. The design should also minimise ongoing remedial costs by reducing unnecessary wear and tear.

Return on Investment

Once your adjustable pallet racking system has been installed, to maximise the Return on Investment, we support your team by offering training for your employees which guides how to work correctly in areas with pallet racking and minimise damage. Our interactive Racking Awareness, Safety & Inspection Course will also prepare a member of your team to undertake the weekly safety inspections – a requirement under PUWER.

There is one last advantage to working with a SEMA Approved Member and that is through the relationship we have with Manufacturer Members. When needing repairs on your adjustable pallet racking systems, you should be aware that not all work is valid – you can visit SEMA’s website for guidance on their recommendations.  We have access to SEMA Manufacturing Members’ documents and keep them up to date on approved repairs to their equipment. The manufacturer covers any work we undertake, which will therefore protect your equipment warranty.

Why work with Teepee?

Are you looking to improve your storage solutions? At Teepee, we have created a wide range of storage solutions for major manufacturers and retailers across the UK and, with over 40 years of experience within the industry, we can help you maximise your warehouse. As pallet racking suppliers we are product agnostic which enables us to design and supply the ideal pallet racking system to meet your needs.

We can deliver maximum operational efficiency by working with you to deliver a range of warehouse racking systems, including narrow aisle racking, wide-aisle racking, drive-in racking and push back racking. We can also design and supply mezzanine floor and partitioning systems that maximise your floor space. Plus, we work closely with our customers to design bespoke storage systems that get to the heart of their business to maximise their storage and boost productivity.

If you have any questions, get in touch with one of our team who are on hand to help you out.

09

Dec

Managing Seasonal Demand in Warehousing: A Complete Guide

How was your warehouse this Black Friday? Are you dreading the Christmas rush? Most warehouses feel the strain of peaks but instead of getting overwhelmed, now is the time to make a change with some planning to help you manage seasonal demand in warehousing.

There are ways to reduce the impact and ensure your business remains profitable when the orders flood in. With our reliable storage solutions, we can ensure that your systems run smoothly – even when running at peak capacity!

What are seasonal demand fluctuations?

Throughout most of the year, it can be easy to predict product demand and implement accurate inventory planning. However, seasonal demand covers the busy periods in the warehouse when buying habits change due to external events. Most typically they happen during holiday seasons for example when customers are looking to order more such as presents at Christmas. But, it can also cover seasonal events when the consumer is looking to buy more such as items for their annual holiday.

During these periods inventory levels usually run higher with product demand potentially requiring different stock profiles. To run the warehouse successfully you need to implement careful planning to mete the surge in demand.

how to manage seasonal demand in the warehouse

Why does seasonal demand in warehousing cause problems

the main problem is, the need to meet product demand fluctuations. Even though your warehouse can manage capacity for approximately 75% of the year, the other 25% suddenly requires solutions that can meet customer demand and xxx.

The main problem for warehouse owners trying to meet seasonal demand fluctuations, is the ability and flexibility to respond quickly. With customer demand buying earlier for large events such as Christmas, the additional stock requirements and need to hold excess inventory while also increasing pick speeds can place a great strain on the supply chain and the warehouse.

If your warehouse isn’t working at full capacity, here are some of the key areas to consider changing:

1. Warehouse Management – Designed For Speed

The Problem:

At busy times of the year, the key thing you need to unlock is faster picking methods. After all, get your stock from point A to point B in the quickest and safest way possible and it means the order will be despatched Just In Time.

Stock isn’t getting over to the picking and packing area as quickly as you need which is causing delays in getting orders out of the door – the last thing you need is disappointed customers. Even worse, your employees are complaining they can’t locate storage locations to pick the stock or it’s difficult to unload and movement between the zones in your warehouse is limited.

The Solution:

You need to create harmony and a smooth operation in the warehouse to reduce potential bottlenecks, maximise efficiencies and meet the increase in demand. Achieve this by ensuring movement between the different areas is seamless by implementing a racking design that aids the process. Adopt a logical approach – when stock arrives it moves quickly to the correct position for storing. When needed it will be seamlessly picked and moved to the packing area before leaving, on time, for the customer.

flexible storage solutions to accommodate peak seasonal fluctuations

2. Flexible Storage Systems to Meet Market Trends

The problem:

In any warehouse, flexibility has to be the name of the game when it comes to your racking equipment. The design of your storage equipment must have the ability to grow with your business and maximise the potential of your warehouse space.

Your warehouse is full and there is no room to stock more goods but, as seasonal demand for items grows, your storage capacity is limiting the stock levels you can hold. Ideally, you want to avoid the heavy investment of moving premises with extra storage costs, especially with space unused during off-peak season operations. There is also the concern of what happens if there is supply chain disruption.

The solution:

Get your racking systems to drive efficiencies in your warehouse with a solution that matches your processes but also incorporates the flexibility to meet market trends and hold excess inventory when required. Work with warehouse storage experts like Teepee who will design a system that enables adaptability such as adjustable shelving, modular solutions or mezzanine flooring to optimise the available space. Different racking systems can also maximise the footprint of your floor such as Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking which utilises the height of your warehouse or Double Deep Racking which offers high-density storage by allowing you to create a depth of two pallets that sit back-to-back.

3. Faster Picking Times During Seasonal Peaks

The Problem:

Speed is the name of the game during warehouse peak season operations. The faster you get stock out the door, the more orders you can send and the bigger your profit. To meet expectations of timely deliveries and increase sales opportunities, your picking speeds need a boost, cut down on errors and prepare for seasonal planning.

 The design of your racking is enhancing the throughput stock and orders are flowing through your warehouse but you still can’t seem to increase picking times. During normal periods, this isn’t a problem but during peaks with seasonal products, it’s quickly creating issues.

The solution:

The first thing you can do is to go digital with your stock control with inventory management software.  You may already have a Warehouse Management System (WMS) in place but does the current system need a review? Can it deliver accurate forecasting and real-time stock inventory to meet fluctuations in demand patterns and eliminate wastage with excess stock?

The second step is automation. As the popularity of these systems increases, prices have been driven down. Even adding in only a few automated systems can quickly provide a large increase in pick time. Last but not least, see if your choice of racking can improve the situation. For example, push-back racking places the pallets on gravity tracks to enable high-density storage locations for several SKUs without needing to move large quantities of pallets to gain access

faster picking times and reduced errors in the warehouse

4. Staff Training

The Problem:

Prepare your team for working in areas with racking and it can provide multiple benefits. Not only will it keep them safe and provide them with the knowledge on how to look after the racking but they will also feel confident in working around the storage equipment.

The problem is, your team on the warehouse floor don’t understand the complexities of working around racking. They haven’t been shown how to read a load notice sign or how to place or remove stock from the racks. This can very quickly lead to damage which, in a busy warehouse when product demand is high, it can be a big problem (see Looking After Your Racking section below).

The solution:

Give your team the confidence they need to work safely in areas with racking and they’ll have the skills to work more efficiently. To achieve this, send them on a training course with experts within the racking industry. Ideally, you want to work with a company that designs and supplies storage equipment that will have a greater understanding of how these systems work and how to use them correctly. For example, our Racking Safety and Awareness Course will equip your employees with the tools they need to recognise damage on racking, correct loading methods and safe operating procedures.

5. Look after your racking

The problem:

Damaged racking is a disaster when the peak season operations periods hit. Ignoring even small damage on your racking is not an option and will likely lead to more serious issues. Getting damaged racking repaired will ultimately reduce order efficiency but throw in the busiest periods of the year and additional cost gains usually made at this time of year will instead slip away.

When you racking becomes damaged it can mean the whole bay being put out of action. But here’s the problem, your warehouse is at peak demand and you don’t have time to get someone in to repair it or consider how to work around a team fixing your racking.

The solution:

Take a proactive approach. This means implementing a regular inspection process with daily inspections by employees who work around the racking – our training can help prepare them for this task. Next, you need to appoint a member of your team to undertake the role of Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS). Their job is to conduct regular, weekly visual inspections and maintain a written record of their findings to ensure your company is meeting Health & Safety Executive (HSE) requirements.

Finally, make sure you book a visit with one of our approved inspectors for your Expert inspection. Conducted at least once a year, the Expert inspection can only be conducted by a qualified inspector. Get one of our inspectors in and they will identify any problems and then provide actionable solutions to keep your warehouse racking safe and compliant with regulations.

A SEMA-accredited Teepee inspector carrying out a warehouse racking inspection

Do you need help with strategic planning for seasonal sales?

If you’re ready to take your warehouse to the next level and get in shape for the peak season in 2025, now’s the time to implement an effective strategy that will help you to meet seasonal trends. Why not contact us and let’s have a chat about what problems your warehouse is facing and how we can help you meet product demand? With over 30 years of experience within the industry, we’re confident that we can find a solution to improve productivity in your warehouse.

12

Nov

What You Should Know About Pallet Racking Safety Guidelines

For any business, it’s common sense to ensure your equipment works correctly, built to product regulations and safe to use. Most of us know where to look for advice and the marks associated with meeting UK standards. However, one area that still seems to cause a lot of confusion are pallet racking safety guidelines. Yet getting it right is critical especially when you consider that in most warehouse situations the structure sits in close proximity to your employees. Ensuring it’s in tip top condition and meeting pallet racking safety guidelines is crucial.

In our blog, we walk you through the different life stages of your racking and explain how guidance from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and industry regulations impact how you look after it and the decisions you make when purchasing racking.

Pallet racking that has passed pallet racking inspections in a warehouse

Warehouse Safety Standards

We’re going to start our blog by looking at the end point – how to look after your racking. We’re covering this area first because it is the one most regulations and industry guidance reference.

When it comes to running your storage facility safely there are numerous documents from the HSE. These advise on safety measures that keep everyone in your the workplace safe.

The following list doesn’t cover everything, but the main guidance you should be aware of is as follows:

  • Health and Safety at Work Act is the primary safety legislation with covers occupational health and safety in Great Britain. It sets out the general duties employers have towards their employees and members of the public. You must also ensure that you maintain workplaces, equipment and systems appropriately and provide information and instruction on safe use, testing or examination to ensure compliance.
  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations reinforce the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974, by outlining that employers identify the risks faced by their employees, contractors and members of the public and take steps to control any danger as well as provide necessary training for employees.
  • Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations aim to ensure that workplaces meet the health, safety and welfare needs of employees. They apply to most workplaces but exclude construction work on sites, those in or on a ship or those below ground at a mine!
  • The Manual Handling Operations Regulations provides guidance on how to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling.
  • Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations often abbreviate to LOLER place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment.
  • Work at Height Regulations expects employers to prevent the risk of death or injury caused by a fall from height. Due to the height reached with racking equipment, the design may need to incorporate safeguards for arresting falls and guard rails.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations often abbreviated to PUWER, place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. It requires owners to ensure that the equipment provided is suitable for the intended use, safe to use, maintained correctly and inspected regularly.

There are two additional pieces of guidance information which are of direct relevance to the warehouse. This includes HSG76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety and SEMA Codes. It is not a legal requirement to follow these guidance documents. However, if you fail to meet your legislative requirements and HSE were to take enforcement action they can use the HSG76 and SEMA Design Codes frameworks to bring action against your business. We’ll discuss these in more detail later on.

Pallet Racking Safety Guidelines – Regular Inspections

warehouse safety - inspection

Most of the regulations above place a heavy emphasis on ensuring you maintain your equipment it and works correctly. Your racking is performing the crucial job of keeping tonnes of equipment safely above the heads of your employees. If you have a look at HSG76 it confirms that racking is manufactured from relatively lightweight materials. This fact does limit the amount of abuse it can withstand and any damage will reduce its load carrying capacity. The greater the damage the less strength the structure will have.

For this reason, it is incredibly important to implement regular inspections. The first stage is to ensure your employees have the skills to identify damage on the racking. They should then be aware of how to report it immediately to the person responsible for inspections. You should also nominate a member of your team to perform visual inspections and maintain a formal written record. At Teepee we offer training to prepare your team for working around racking.

At least once a year, you must support the regular in-house pallet racking inspections with an expert inspection. This inspection must be undertaken by a qualified rack inspector who has the correct qualifications. Their role is to conduct racking and storage assessment reports on the racking and advise if it requires repair work.

If you need an expert inspection, book an appointment with one of our Teepee inspectors. Their report will detail specifications, conditions, damage list by location and photographic evidence for remedial works by your approved supplier.

racking repairs - installation

Racking Installation

Be aware that HSG76 states it’s not sufficient to assume contractors carrying out racking maintenance are competent and work safely. You must check and establish their credentials prior to them starting the work. Ensure they have suitable insurance cover, and provide method and risk assessments prior to commencement of work on site.

With very few racking installation qualifications on the market, this can be a difficult area to check. That is why the Storage Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SEMA) set up their SEIRS training programme for installers of pallet racking. SEMA is a leading voice on safety within the storage equipment industry and if you look at the racking sections in HSG76, you will notice their work is referenced throughout. As one of the SEMA Approved Members, we must commit to using with SEIRS registered installers for our racking installations.

SEIRS is a two-stage training programme which instructs on the correct and safe industry practices for installing racking. Some racking projects are built on construction sites, and it may be a requirement of the project manager for installers to hold a CSCS card. Be aware that CSCS class certain activities such as racking installations as a specialised skill. In these cases you can only access the correct card through one of their partner card schemes. A CSCS card for racking installations is only available through SEIRS.

Pallet Racking Safety Guidelines – Racking Design

At the start of your racking’s journey, it must meet set criterion to ensure the structure is suitable for the job. In other words, it must work for your space, picking methods and stock weight and type.

This is where design codes help. They ensure ensuring suppliers can demonstrate the systems they supply conform to quality standards and health and safety requirements. We meet these conditions by using codes when designing racking. In the UK, we must ensure it conforms to either EN 15512 or SEMA Design Codes which seen as the standards of the industry.

An example of warehouse pallet storage racks designed and installed by Teepee

Trust in Teepee

As a SEMA Approved Member we are regularly kept up to date on the latest industry requirements for the design and installation of racking systems. This way, you know we have created a safe working environment for your employees. To gain our membership we must demonstrate that we work to over 40 regulations, industry standards, Codes of Practice and legislative requirements.

The membership is awarded after we meet the conditions of an independent audit which checks our work across five key areas. These include:

  • SEMA standard compliance
  • Making sure we maintain proper legal and insurance documentation
  • Conformance to Health and Safety requirements
  • Commitment to reduce environmental impacts
  • Work towards the highest quality standards

We have also been awarded SEMA’s top membership level for racking suppliers. By achieving the SEMA Approved Member – Advanced status which demonstrates our commitment to meeting a high SEMA criteria level.

Are you looking to improve your storage solutions? At Teepee, we have created storage systems for major manufacturers and retailers across the UK. With over 40 years experience within the industry, we can help you maximise the performance of your warehouse. We work closely with customers to design bespoke warehouse pallet racking systems that get to the heart of their business. Our systems help them to maximise their storage and boost productivity.

If you have any questions, get in touch with one of our team who are on hand to help you out.

28

Oct

Transform Your Warehouse Into A Treat This Halloween

With Halloween lurking around the corner, is it time to see if you are delivering a trick or a treat and consider whether it’s time to transform your warehouse?

At Teepee, we specialize in supplying warehouse systems such as partitioning, racking, mezzanine floors, and safety barriers—solutions that can turn your warehouse into a functional masterpiece, with less fright and more delight! We can show you how to avoid monsters lurking in the aisles and instead treat your warehouse to a hauntingly good transformation that will enhance productivity, and storage capacity, to increase profitability and safety.

1. Clear the Cobwebs: Organize Your Space with Effective Racking Solutions

transform your warehouse and clear out cobwebs

Don’t let your warehouse feel like you’re navigating a haunted house. Are dark corners making items disappear? Do piles of stock appear to be moving all by themselves? If your warehouse layout is looking more like a horror scene, it might be time to sweep out the cobwebs and go for streamlined and efficient racking.

The best way to get the most out of your warehouse is to go for a bespoke design. That way you can have a racking layout which works perfectly for your business. The design should accommodate stock profiles, and your picking methods, while also enhancing inventory management. It should enhance the journey of stock as it moves through your warehouse, making sure it is easily accessible and seamlessly moves through the space until the moment the order leaves the building.

A bespoke design will also consider the type of storage equipment you need, whether that’s pallet racking for larger goods, narrow aisle racking to increase storage capacity within the footprint of your building or shelving that can fill a tight space in your warehouse.

By getting Teepee to design a racking system tailored to your exact requirements, we’ll take the planning and design weight off your shoulders. Our design will maximise the space in your warehouse and avoid the ghastly scenes of overcrowded aisles and disorganised inventory.

 

2. Banish Hazards with Safety Barriers

transform your warehouse with safety barriers

When things go bump in the warehouse, make sure it doesn’t turn into a horror story. Getting suitable protection around high-risk areas can help your warehouse to operate safely while keeping your workers protected from any unexpected scares. It is also a requirement to ensure you comply with current Health & Safety Legislation and Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) recommendations.

The problem is, with so many options on the market, which is the best one for your racking and business? One advantage of working with a supplier like Teepee is that we are product agnostic which means we can supply the best safety equipment to suit your warehouse – regardless of the manufacturer. We offer a range of steel or impact-resistance plastic safety barriers and guarding systems such as racking safety barriers, pedestrian barriers, end-of-aisle racking barriers including upright protection guards, mezzanine floor stanchion guards and protection barriers around machines, offices and building walls. We also offer a bespoke manufacturing service to meet individual needs.

3. Banish the spectre of unused space

transform your warehouse and maximise unused space

If your warehouse is haunted by the lack of storage space or inadequate areas for picking and packing tasks, maybe it’s time to consider how to maximise your warehouse. Any building has constrains with the height and width of the structure, but it is possible to enhance what you have with a few little treats.

There are plenty of options to incorporate into the warehouse that can provide additional storage capacity. With multi-tier racking you build upwards to utilise the space above your head by creating levels and walkways on which you place shelving to create picking lanes. Another option is to introduce some space-saving models such as Push Back racking which operates on a First In Last Out (FILO) system. The racking stores up to 10 pallets deep and can optimise the space by up to 85%. Pallets load onto a gravity roll track that pushes previous pallets to the back, then, when you pick a pallet, the next one behind will move forward. Pallets load and unload from the same aisle picking space and you can store several SKUs without needing to move large quantities of pallets to gain access.

If it’s usable space you’re looking for, you might want to consider adding a mezzanine floor. These structures are custom-built for your needs and can be used for multiple purposes including additional storage, production space and even offices.

4. Divide and Conquer this Halloween with Partitioning Systems

transform your warehouse with partitioning

Instead of going up, why not look at casting a spell by dividing the floor space you currently have. After all, a chaotic warehouse layout can make it feel like everything’s closing in on you, much like a claustrophobic haunted house.

Maybe you need to better utilise the space on your factory floor. Perhaps, you’re looking to create extra rooms for dedicated workspaces or offices for private meetings. At Teepee, we can supply bespoke and multi-functional partition walls that solve all your nightmare dilemmas.

Our industrial partitioning solutions offer the flexibility you need to create distinct work zones on your factory floor, ensuring the safety of your employees and enhancing the productivity of your business. Whether you need to section off areas for manufacturing, storage, or office space within your factory, our factory partitioning walls are the ultimate solution for all your partitioning needs. If you already have dedicated office space, we can also provide glass office partitions to enhance your layout.

5. Scare Off Downtime with Regular Inspections and Maintenance

transform your warehouse and scare off downtime

Nothing is more terrifying for a warehouse than unexpected downtime due to damage racking. You can avoid frightful surprises by regularly inspecting your storage equipment.

As a SEMA Approved Member – Advanced, we recommend their advice of following a three-tiered inspection approach.

  • Every day your team should be keeping an eye on your racking and reporting if they see any knocks or bumps. Why is this important? Well, your storage equipment is manufactured from lightweight materials and there is a limit to the amount of abuse it can withstand. As explained in HSG76 Warehousing & Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety, any amount of damage can significantly reduce the load-bearing capacity and stability of the racking structure.
  • Once a week a nominated member of your team should perform a visual inspection. The role is also known as a Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS) and they should check everyone is following correct usage, record damage levels and implement action on any points. A formal record of their inspection will be written for your records. To prepare your team for damage checking the racking and undertaking the weekly inspection we offer our Racking and Safety Awareness Course.
  • At least once a year, you must submit your racking to an Expert inspection. This can only be done by a competent and trained inspector with the correct qualifications for this type of inspection. They will conduct racking and storage assessments while also reporting and making recommendations to maintain the safety of your racking. If you need an expert inspection, get in touch and one of our approved racking inspectors to visit your site. They will produce an electronic report that details damage list by location, a traffic light reporting system for the completion of repair work and photographic evidence for remedial works.

If you want to make your warehouse a fright-free zone this Halloween why not get in touch with Teepee. With over 35 years of experience within the industry, we have the knowledge and skills to discuss your project and determine the best solution for your facility! We can also arrange a free on-site consultation to ensure your warehouse design maximises your business.