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

Complete Guide On How To Manage Seasonal Demand in Warehousing

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.

17

Oct

How to Improve Storage Solutions In Your Warehouse

In most warehouses, running at maximum efficiency is critical to the operations of your business. If stock is easy to locate and move through the space it increases productivity, reduces costs and improves customer satisfaction. To achieve this, everything needs to run at optimum efficiency and playing a central role to this, are your storage solutions. Improve their functionality, design or even the type of racking and shelving you have in your warehouse, and it can make considerable improvements and cost reductions.

At Teepee, we have over 35 years of experience designing, supplying, installing and maintaining racking and shelving systems. We’ve learnt a thing or two about how to boost storage solutions in your warehouse. Read our top five list of recommendations and then get in touch for a free consultation.

Why do I need to improve my storage solutions?

With most warehouse businesses, there is always a need to make improvements. Perhaps you want to turn orders around more quickly. Maybe you’re looking to add new stock lines. Or you could be looking to divide your warehouse to accommodate different processing tasks e.g. zones for standard retail goods, online orders and handling returns. The issues are far-reaching, yet most can be improved by making simple adjustments to your storage solutions. There may even be some issues you didn’t realise could be fixed by updating your racking. For example, the layout of your storage solution could be causing unnecessary accidents or creating problems with overstocking.

Warehouses come in all shapes and sizes and while there are limitations, the footprint of your building shouldn’t dictate how effectively the space works or prevent you from exploring ways to create extra storage capacity. Manage the space and stock well and it should lead to increased profitability.

The changes don’t always need an expensive outlay, sometimes a few changes to the racking style or the design in your warehouse can make huge difference.

Improving storage options usually falls into five key areas:

  • Enhancing the design to create a safer and more streamlined warehouse
  • Improving warehouse efficiency to increase profitability
  • Maximising your space to enable you to grow
  • Safety
  • Delivering the best Return On Investment for your racking

wide aisle pallet racking are ideal for large bulky items

Issue 1: Incorrect design for your storage solutions

When we visit a warehouse, the first thing we explore is whether the design of your equipment is working for your company.  It is easy to pick racking that matches your stock type, but really you need the design of your racking to match your processes.

Your racking plays a pivotal role in getting the stock from A to B in the most efficient manner with minimal sticking points. Any supplier should be looking at how many pallets are passing through the warehouse – where they enter the warehouse and what happens to the pallets after they have been delivered. They should also check if there’s an area to store the deliveries and then consider how the pallets move to the racking. Finally, how does the stock move to the final stages of being picked and packed before leaving the warehouse?

A bespoke storage solution design should consider your immediate and future requirements and optimise the layout to organise your stock and streamline processes. It should then select the best solution for your business, whether that is pallet racking or combining a mix of solutions into one structure. Get this right and it will provide the outline for a successful warehouse.

Issue 2: Maximise efficiencies

There are plenty of ways to improve efficiencies and some may require small changes, but it is largely down to how you manage your inventory levels. How organised are the storage areas – a critical step if you hold multiple products. You can efficiently categorise your pallets in different ways, whether that’s by SKU, size of product or even based on stock demand.

Once organised, next determine how easily your team manage stock levels. It’s no good suddenly running out of particular type of item when an order needs to go out the door. The design of your racking should improve visibility to make items easier to locate. Not only does this improve pick and pack times but also reduces wasted man hours searching for particular types of item. If you have a large number of pallets per SKU then a bulk storage solution such as a drive-in/drive-through racking will be worth considering but if you have multiple SKUs, you may need more than one type of storage system.

You also need to maximise efficiency by asking if your racking matches the stock profile. If you have small items stored on a pallet racking shelf it’s going to waste a lot of valuable space. You may also consider how stock moves around the warehouse and whether it aligns with your racking. Could automation improve and speed up the processes and how well does everything integrate with the picking and packing process.

Racking that has been cleared of products for a warehouse racking inspection

Issue 3: Not enough storage space!

This is a key problem most warehouse owners face. Here’s the scenario – customer demand has grown; you need to hold more stock, but you’ve run out of capacity. The solution is normally to move warehouse. The problem is overheads associated with renting a larger warehouse along with the cost of physically moving can quickly eat into your profits. That’s before you even consider purchasing new racking to accommodate that extra stock.

If you’re working with limited space, it might benefit your business to review your current storage solution and see how a few adjustments can create additional storage and maximise your warehouse space. One great example is to utilise the unused space above your head by building your racking up. You can choose a multi-tier racking system although it may not always be possible depending on your current equipment. Alternatively, for a quicker and potentially cheaper option, you can add mezzanine floors to your warehouse. These can be used for a wide range of options such as adding shelving, adding an office or creating zoned areas.

Not all racking is made the same, while Adjustable Pallet Racking is ideal for bulky items, another option could be 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 are loaded onto a gravity roll track that pushes previously loaded pallets deep 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.

Consider whether the design of your storage equipment is maximising the entire floor space. Although pallet racking will take up a large footprint, it is possible to use smaller solutions such as industrial shelving to maximise unused areas. Shelving also makes retrieving products much quicker which can speed up order processing times.

push back racking can maximise storage capacity within a smaller footprint

Issue 4: Safety

Working in a warehouse can be a dangerous environment and, if you look on the HSE website, you will find numerous guidance documents on how to operate safely. Your racking and shelving plays a crucial role in maximising the safety of your warehouse and it’s an important element to consider when looking to improve your storage solutions. Every day your racking will be subjected to knocks and bumps which will damage the racking. Ignore the damage and it can quickly escalate into a much bigger problem which impacts the safety of your warehouse.

Your racking should be designed to reduce unnecessary wear and tear, but you can also reduce risks by incorporating training for your team. This element is so important it is recommended by the HSE in their HSG 76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety and by SEMA, a leading voice in the industry on storage equipment safety.

When looking for a racking safety course, it’s worthwhile getting training in a familiar setting from experts who work within the industry. That’s why our interactive Racking Awareness, Safety & Inspection Course is delivered by our experienced inspectors at your premises.

The classroom-based element of the course will equip candidates with a level of competence that meets Health & Safety guidelines and legislation. Yet, there is also an important practical section which allows your employees to work alongside our qualified inspector to ensure continuity of findings between the in-house and expert inspections.

A Teepee inspector carrying out a pallet racking inspection in a warehouse

Issue 5: Storage Solutions Return On Investment (ROI)

Training your team will play a significant role but you have to follow this up with an Expert inspection In accordance with HSE requirements, this should be at least once a year and only conducted by a professional with the correct qualifications to undertake this type of inspection. They will conduct racking and storage assessments while also reporting and making recommendations to maintain the safety of your racking. Conducting an Expert inspection is another essential element in maximising the lifespan of your equipment. Damage on racking can very quickly grow from a small problem to a much larger issue which could increase repair costs and minimise the structures integrity.

Before asking a company over to repair your racking, first check their credentials. Not all repair work is valid (you can visit SEMA’s website for guidance on their recommendations). You should also check if the installer is replacing non-structural elements with the correct part according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Finally, check how the work will impact your manufacturer’s warranty. Any warehouse racking repairs using third-party materials or unqualified installers could alter the original specification and verification of the product and its integrity. The company undertaking the work must provide a warranty to confirm that the repairs are covered by the manufacturer.

Get in Touch

Are you looking for the perfect solution? At Teepee, we have provided a variety of creative solutions for major manufacturers and retailers across the UK, and with a 35+ year proven track record, we have the experience and knowledge to assist you in maximising your warehouse.

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

13

Sep

Everything you need to know about industrial shelving solutions

In most UK warehouse spaces, racking is seen as the obvious choice for providing storage solutions that maximise your business. After all, the structure can hold heavy weight, it’s robust and, when designed correctly, can efficiently fill the full height of your warehouse. So why do you need to bother with shelving solutions?

For any business, shelving solutions can provide an easy and cost-effective way to store all the items they need for the day-to-day running of their business. However, get yourself some industrial shelving and it can take your warehouse storage system to the next level.

We explain all about industrial shelving solutions and how they can benefit your business.

Industrial Shelving vs. Racking?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes down to whether to choose shelving or racking. However, you may decide to go with shelving for three key reasons.

The first, is how you will pick your stock. With industrial shelving, you can only hand load stock, unlike racking which can use forklift trucks, automation or by hand. Industrial shelving units are smaller, allowing you to install them into restricted areas in your warehouse. The last, possibly biggest advantage, over industrial shelving is cost. Industrial shelving units are typically cheaper than traditional racking. This has the benefit of allowing you to increase capacity while avoiding the expense of moving or purchasing new systems.

These advantages make shelving solutions the ideal companion to sit alongside your usual racking systems. Even better, there are a number of different options to choose from.

What industrial shelving solutions are available?

Shortspan Shelving

Shelving is available in all sizes and it’s worth researching the best system for your inventory.

Shortspan shelving

Shortspan shelving is ideal for storing smaller items and each shelf can hold up to 200 kg. Add in a range of complimentary accessories such as lockable doors, closed backs and/or sides, dividers and bi fronts and suddenly your shelving becomes incredibly versatile.

Longspan shelving

As the name suggest, much longer in width when compared to a shortspan system. This makes it the ideal system when you need to store large and long items. Plus, with the possibility to carry up to 1000kg per shelf it is ideal for heavier items.

Mobile shelving

This shelving can maximise the space in your warehouse. The shelving units have rollers on the base which run along tracks, enabling them to close together when not used. With shelves open only when you need access, it significantly increases the amount of stock you can store within the footprint of your space. You can choose from either light, medium or heavy duty systems.

Carton live shelving

On this shelving rollers are used instead of shelves to hold the stock. The stock is loaded in one side of the shelving and then retrieved the opposite end. It works with a FIFO principle, furthermore it can reduce order picking times by up to 65%. This type of shelving works best with longspan structures and can be fitted with some accessories such as drop-down angle tilt shelves or lane.

What to look out for with industrial shelving

Not all shelving is the same and before ordering, there are a few key areas to look out for.

1. Material

Make sure your shelving is an industrial system which is durable and suitable for your warehouse environment. You should also check what material the shelf is made from, it will be an important factor for the type of stock you hold.

Wood is versatile, plastic is corrosion resistant and easy to clean whereas wire allows for excellent visibility and ventilation. However, they all have a lower weight holding capacity. Steel is the best material for strength.

2. Installation

There is often a misconception that industrial shelving is difficult to install. However, many systems are designed for ease of installation and maintenance. Not only is this a benefit when first ordering your shelving but will provide additional advantages if you decided to reconfigure or move your shelving at a later date.

3. Design

Check if the shelving is modular in design. This allows you to quickly and easily reconfigure or expand your storage capacity without costing a lot of money. Furthermore, you should also check with the supplier to see what options you have for future expansion, i.e. can equipment be re-used to create a multi-tier or a high-density mobile system that will maximise your warehouse space.

4. Accessories

Can you customise your shelf space to make it suit your stock. A lot of shelving systems come with additional accessories such as dividers, drawers and pull-out units which allow you to create a bespoke storage for your stock. You should also check if you have the option of fitting either an open or closed backs and sides to segregate stock.

5. Weight

When thinking about whether industrial shelving will be a good option for your warehouse, you need to get rid of the misconception that shelving is only suitable for light-duty storage. Although a lot of shelving systems are only suitable for storing office suppliers or small parts, industrial shelving takes it to the next level.

In fact, industrial shelving comes in varying weight carrying capacities and this includes heavy-duty options. For example, our longspan shelving is capable of carrying loads of up to 1000kg per shelf, is an incredibly cost-effective option if you are looking for a solution to store archive boxes or boxed goods within a warehouse. Obviously, this loading capacity is based on uniformly distributed load, and it is never advisable to allow stock to build up in one corner!

Getting industrial shelving solutions in your warehouse can provide some big advantages to increase your storage capacity. If you’re looking at how you can maximise your existing space, why not get in touch and let us see if industrial shelving can make a world of difference.

14

May

Cantilever Racking – Everything You Need To Know

The great thing about the warehouse and logistics industry is the variety it delivers. Never more so than in the wide range of stock items companies have to store. It can range from large and bulky items right down to small, intricate pieces. This means you need a storage solution that accommodates all profiles and makes them easy to find, pick and pack.

With such a variety to cater for, choosing one type of racking for all your storage needs is never going to meet your needs. Instead, you need a range of storage systems designed to meet your bespoke requirements. Get it right and not only will it maximise your storage capacity, but can also increase productivity and drive down costs. It’s for this reason you need to work with qualified and experienced racking suppliers like Teepee. We have the skills and industry knowledge to design bespoke solutions that work for your business and processes.

So, what happens when you need to stock the unusual items? Those products that, due to their size or weight, simply won’t fit on a standard pallet racking system. This is where Cantilever Racking comes into play.

 

What is Cantilever Racking?

Cantilever racking at first glance appears to be a simplistic structure. However, it is the lack of details that provides the greatest flexibility for the logistics and storage industry.

With pallet racking, the structure consists of vertical uprights separated by shelves to create enclosed bays on which you hold the stock. Cantilever racking is very different and consists of upright steel columns sited on base units to create the frame of the structure. The racking is a self-supporting structure and to provide rigidity and strength to the frame, braces are fixed between the uprights. Arms are then attached horizontally to the columns which extend out to provide open and unrestricted access to the storage space. To maximise the storage capability of the structure and minimise wasted space, arms can be set at varying heights and to specific load-bearing requirements depending on the profile of your stock.

Cantilever Racking 1

Cantilever racking is available in two configurations:

  • Single-sided cantilever racking – as the name explains, the arms on this structure extend from one side of the central column. The racking can sit flush against a wall to utilise the full space of your warehouse.
  • Double-sided cantilever racking – to maximise capacity you can opt for a double-sided structure where the arms protrude from both sides of the central column. Due to the strength of the base, you can site these structures, unsupported, in the centre of your warehouse space.

To optimise the flexibility of the racking, you have the option of attaching pins to the end of the arms. These act as a barrier to stop items from rolling off the arms. Decking can be fitted to fill in the gaps if you are storing items that do not fit between the arms.

 

Do I need forklifts?

As with any racking you can choose whether to hand or mechanically load the cantilever system depending on the weight and height of the stock.

Standard forklift trucks work seamlessly with cantilever racking. However, if you are looking to maximise storage capacity you may opt to reduce the spacing between each run of cantilever racking. In these situations, it is possible to use side loaders or multi-directional forklifts which are ideal for narrow aisles.

 

What can you store on cantilever racking?

Cantilever racking offers a high level of flexibility especially when storing non-palletised goods. Unlike pallet racking, where product size is constrained by the size of the bay, the open structure of the cantilever can adapt to unusual stock profiles.

Arms can be set a defined lengths to ensure the width and weight of the loads are fully supported. Long items, such as sheets of wood and metal or pipe, can sit across multiple arms or you can design the arm spacing to exactly suit the stock. For this reason, they are often seen at builders’ merchants or timber manufacturers.

However, opt for a heavy-duty cantilever system and it can easily hold heavy-weight building materials such as rebar and lintels. Cantilever racking can also be used to store bulky and oversized items.

Cantilever Racking 1

Top 5 Benefits of Cantilever Racking

  1. Efficient use of space – due to the slim profile of the cantilever racking, the structure reduces the amount of floor space needed to store a high volume of stock. Plus, with single and double-side options it enables you to maximise usable space.
  2. Strength – When designed and calculated correctly, cantilever racking can safely support extreme weights and maximise storage capacity while at the same time taking up a smaller footprint in comparison to standard pallet racking.
  3. Cost saving – due to the open structure of the racking, stock is easily visible from most angles. This makes stock easier to locate and pick, increasing productivity. It also makes the management of stock levels far simpler.
  4. Easily adjustable – In most warehouses, requirements will change and cantilever racking can be easily adapted to suit the new stock profile. Arms are adjusted by unclipping and fixing into the new position on the frame.
  5. It can be used outside – when a galvanised coating is applied to the cantilever racking it minimises the risk of corrosion to the structure when used in outdoor spaces. This makes it ideal for builder’s merchants, garden centres or warehouse yards.

Looking for warehouse racking?

If you’re wondering whether cantilever racking could provide the solution for your warehouse, why not get in touch with Teepee? We offer a free consultation service to discuss your storage requirements and then recommend the best system for your business. We work with a range of different manufacturers to deliver a bespoke solution that meets the unique needs of your business.

Our experience within the racking and warehouse industry means that we can project manage from start to finish to offer the highest quality standards with the minimum of fuss.

02

May

5 Reasons Why You Should Install Mezzanine Floors

Space is a fundamental part of any warehouse and business. It’s used for storing stock, functional office space, creative studios, or even logistical purposes. When growing as a business, naturally your premises need to grow too, catering for the additional needs and demands of customers and clients. Whilst relocating or extending might be the first thing that comes to mind, you may want to reconsider your current space and how it can be transformed and utilised efficiently by using storage systems like mezzanine floors.

Mezzanine floors are a popular option for many businesses, and we can see why. They are versatile and can be custom-built for your needs, maximising the current usable space without having to expand the building’s footprint.

Read on and discover the top five benefits of installing a mezzanine floor in your warehouse.

 

1. Mezzanine floors = additional, flexible floor space

Whilst it may seem obvious, adding additional floor space is the number one benefit of installing a mezzanine floor.

However, the mezzanine floor does far more, increasing the profitability of your business by utilising an area you can’t normally use – your overhead space. This is important in an area such as a warehouse where the height of the building is typically vast and often neglected. Why extend outwards when you already have the space to build up? In some cases, you can almost double the floor space you have with very little outlay.

Mezzanine floors are not only to limited storage facilities and with the correct design for your specific requirement, they can also support other business needs such as increased production or an office area.

The size of the mezzanine floor won’t limit your requirements either. Providing the mezzanine meets safety standards set out in UK Building Regulations, the floor can be as large as your space enables and even accommodate multiple levels.

Mezzanine Floors

2. Mezzanine floors create a multifunctional warehouse

Warehouses are often used as a central hub for everything, from customer service, office space to delivery and returns. Some warehouses offer the full 360 service with the need for training areas and recycling zones. They might even have a customer shop or outlet on site too.

Using a mezzanine floor allows you to centralise your business and consolidate operations into one space e.g. instead of separate locations, you could instead look at splitting the space in your warehouse for specific roles. Perhaps you need to separate your e-commerce business from your retail and trade business – this could be the perfect solution.

The advantage of having one space is collaboration between teams. Different departments can work closer together and understand systems better when they are all under one roof. They can support one another and resolve issues quicker through better communication. A mezzanine floor allows you to be more flexible with your operations and gives you the space you need.

Mezzanine Floors

3. A cost-effective business alternative

Installing a mezzanine floor could seem an expensive outlay, but in reality, it is far more cost-effective than renting another warehouse or relocating to a new unit. With the correct mezzanine for your business, the space should increase productivity and efficiency. Plus, by designing the floor for your exact specification, you can easily future-proof the space by accommodating future growth and changing requirements.

As an attractive asset for other businesses, it can even increase the value of your building if you’re planning on selling it. However, if you do become too attached, as a semi-permanent structure you may take it with you when relocating.

Mezzanine Floors

4. Minimum hassle, maximum benefit – Mezzanine Floors

Refurbishing a new warehouse, installing your shelving, relocating your stock and office equipment, and updating your return details can take months to do. That’s on top of dealing with the challenge of running a business efficiently. Installing a mezzanine level will minimise your downtime. The mezzanine can be modular in a bespoke design to meet your individual needs, allowing a fast and efficient installation that reduces disruption to day-to-day operations.

It’s worth noting that mezzanine floors are considered semi-permanent structures. As such, these structures do not require planning permission and you only need building regulations approval. We’d always recommend checking with your landlord and local authority with regards to floor slab suitability and means of escape. Get in touch with our team and we can help with any questions you might have.

5. It’s not a quick fix

Although a mezzanine floor is classed as a non-permanent structure, that doesn’t mean it’s only temporary. In fact, just like your racking, you should view your mezzanine floor as a long-term solution that is designed and built to last. The design of your floor will incorporate the weight load requirements to ensure that the platform will safely support activities.

This makes your mezzanine floor an ideal choice when looking to future-proof operations. Instead of moving to a larger site, you can expand and work with what you already have. It means less risk and more growth.

Of course, as with any structure, you will need to conduct regular inspections to maintain its weight-bearing load and structural integrity.

Mezzanine Floors

Looking to install a mezzanine floor in your warehouse?

Are you ready to take the next step in growing your warehouse and business? At Teepee, we’ve been providing high-quality warehouse solutions for over 35 years. We are your trusted partner, ensuring that your warehouse or workplace is as efficient as it can be. Our experienced team will work with you to create tailored designs that meet your needs. We will conduct the necessary assessments to ensure your structure meets safety, building and quality standards. Get in touch with our specialists today.

04

Mar

Improved warehouse safety – make your racking a priority task

Safety has to be a priority in any warehouse. They are busy environments. Heavy stock is moving around and you must protect employees while working in the space. However, over recent years with the fast growth in e-commerce, pressures have increased within the warehouse. With a drive for additional storage capacity and faster throughput of stock, are you remembering to maintain warehouse safety?

In the warehouse, the main focus areas for safety are slips and falls, manual handling and keeping your employees safe around moving vehicles. The challenge, especially as our warehouse spaces get busier, is how to minimise the risks. This is where your racking comes into play. Get the design of your storage equipment right, take the correct measures on maintenance and training and it will address many of your safety issues.

Here is our checklist of key points to consider to maximise pallet racking safety.

warehouse safety - pallet racking safety

Warehouse Safety – roles and responsibilities

Before we look at how your pallet racking can make a warehouse safe, you first need to understand your responsibilities towards warehouse safety. Fortunately, serious incidents around racking are rare, but they can and do still happen. This is why there are several regulations and guidance documents in place that any business owner must follow to meet their health and safety requirements. These are:

In addition to these, there are three regulations and guidance documents which specifically relate to increasing warehouse safety. These also cover safety in the design, installation and use of your pallet racking equipment.

Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) sets out the legal duties of everyone involved in a construction project. Although you may not realise it, large pallet-racking projects fall under the category of construction work. CDM 2015 requires the client (anyone who has construction work carried out for them) to make sure their project is suitably managed and upholds the health and safety of anyone involved.

In conjunction with industry unions, associations and employer bodies, HSE produces HSG76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety. The document offers advice to warehouse owners in increasing safety and covers general health, safety and welfare, materials handling and storage.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, 1998 places the responsibility on employers to uphold safety for their employees by ensuring the work equipment they use is in good working order. The regulations include pallet racking and other storage equipment.

Increase Pallet Racking Safety

Making sure your racking equipment and warehouse space meet industry regulations is essential. However, in an industry with so many different suppliers, knowing who to work with can be a challenge. How do you know they have chosen the right system for your warehouse? Does the design increase warehouse safety standards? Will the structure meet its intended purpose? Are they meeting all the regulations?

Checking the credentials of your suppliers can take a lot of time, especially if you’re not a racking expert! One place to start is by contacting SEMA, a leading voice in the storage equipment industry. Their guidance works through the design, supply, installation, use and maintenance of storage equipment.

To help warehouse owners even further they also work with leading industry suppliers to create a network of approved members. Work with a SEMA Distributor Company such as Teepee and you know they undergo independent audits to ensure they meet all the industry requirements and standards. This provides clear proof to warehouse owners that their new storage system will be correctly designed using new products that are installed by trained and qualified teams to meet HSE standards and that the member is correctly insured. It will save you a lot of time and effort making sure you tick all the health and safety boxes!

warehouse safety - loading

Prioritising pallet racking safety

One of the advantages of working with a SEMA Distributor Company is that you know they are benefitting from the technical expertise available through the group. That means we are kept up to date on the latest industry regulations, technical requirements and design guidance.

To enhance your warehouse safety, we will make sure that your racking considers the following:

  1. Safe working spaces
    Keeping your employees safe when working in areas with pallet racking has a lot to do with the layout of the equipment. Of course, optimising the racking must address how to increase storage capacity, processing order timescales and productivity. But good design and layout will also help reduce accidents, keep your employees safe from moving vehicles and minimise the risk of slips or trips. This includes creating clear pathways, designated loading and unloading zones, and ensuring stock is accessed safely.
  2. Moving vehicles
    In the modern warehouse, you will inevitably see some form of vehicle moving around the space. Forklift trucks are the most common but, with the increase in automation and robotics, the requirements are changing. However, with warehouse workers also using the space there needs to be constant management to prevent accidents. Traffic routes around the racking should allow pedestrians to see the vehicles and drivers to operate safely. Where possible, employees should be kept separate from the vehicles.
  3. Racking designed for stock profiles and picking methods
    As warehouse spaces become larger, so too do the size and height of the racking structures. It is not unusual for workers to work above floor level on mezzanine or multi-tier structures or through the use of forklift trucks. Keeping everyone safe on the shop floor requires a design that includes enough space between the beams for the picking methods, equipment used and stock profiles. The racking aisles must also accommodate safe access to goods, use correct racking protection products and incorporate the moving space of fork-lift trucks and robotics.
  4. Pallet racking – weight limits
    The design of your racking includes limits on the weight the structure can hold and how to load it correctly. The precise details can be different for each bay or racking run depending on the stock you carry. Important guidance when you consider that, in its simplest form, your racking is a basic metal frame. Ignore the weight-carrying specifications and it can lead to a potential failure of the racking. You can’t expect everyone to remember the different weight-carrying capacities which is why your employees need to pay attention to the Load Notice. This key warehouse safety sign clearly shows the correct loading and weight procedures for the structure.
  5. Pallet racking safety equipment
    If you have the optimal design for your racking it should keep everyone safe. However, it can only meet its intended purpose if everything is working correctly. Your supplier should also build in safety equipment that protects the racking from damage including rack guards and post protectors. Finally, for correct installation of the structure you must use a SEIRS installer who has trained to meet SEMA and industry standards. That way you will know pallet racking safety pins are correctly securing beams in place. Locks are in place to ensure adjustments are not be made by unauthorised members.

warehouse safety - rack protectors

Improving Safety

The racking is in place and stock is moving through the space seamlessly. Stock efficiency has increased to minimise order timescales and increase your profitability.

Now the biggest challenge – how to keep it all working correctly!

The answer lies in equipping your employees with the knowledge of how to work in areas with racking. It may seem easy to dismiss racking training as an unnecessary step, but it does provide you with two clear advantages. First, and perhaps most importantly, it will keep your employees safe. Second of all, it will help to maximise the lifespan of your racking (which is ideal for maximising the ROI).

That is why we run our Rack Inspection Training. The course equips your employees with the skills and knowledge they need to work safely in areas where racking is present. It also provides them with the tools they need to recognise damage on racking. After all, the sooner damaged racking is reported, the sooner it can be fixed and the safer everyone stays. Finally, our course will help you in meeting your PUWER responsibilities by training a member of your team to perform the HSE and SEMA recommended weekly inspection.

warehouse safety - inspection

Ongoing Warehouse Safety

The final step is to ensure your racking keeps everyone safe for as long as possible. You can only achieve this if the structure is subject to an Expert inspection at least once a year. This inspection must be undertaken by a professional with the correct qualifications. Their role is to conduct racking and storage assessment reports on the racking and recommend if repair work is required.

Ideally, you want an approved racking inspector who uses a traffic light reporting system according to SEMA guidelines. Their report will indicate where damage is present and action requirements over what timescale.

  • Green areas indicate where damage falls within SEMA limits and is considered safe and suitable for use, but it will need reviewing at the next inspection.
  • Amber shows where the damage is severe enough to require remedial work, but you don’t need to offload the racking immediately. As pallet positions empty, you must not refill the area. Repairs not completed within four weeks automatically become a red risk.
  • Red risk areas indicates a dangerious level of damage and the racking requires immediate offloading. At this stage, you must isolate the racking and not use it until the repair work is complete.

If you need an expert inspection, get in touch with Teepee and we can arrange for one of our fully qualified and insured racking inspectors to visit your site. They will produce an electronic report that adheres to SEMA inspection guidelines. The report will detail specifications, conditions, damage list by location and photographic evidence for remedial works by your approved supplier.

Need help in upholding warehouse safety?

At Teepee, we’re more than just creating and delivering the perfect storage solution. We place safety and high standards at the forefront of every racking design and installation we fulfil.

If you’ve got a warehouse storage project planned, why not contact Teepee? Our experience within the racking and warehouse industry means that we can help deliver a project that promises safety, quality and reliability throughout the lifetime of your racking.

01

Feb

Warehouse Trends 2024 – How to Plan Warehouse Racking Systems

Is your warehouse ready for 2024? At this early stage of the year, it is the ideal time for businesses to review their warehouse and work on a plan that will boost productivity and increase efficiencies. Maybe you’ve run out of storage space? Do you need to review your warehouse racking systems or your picking and packing timescales are too slow? Do you need to upgrade your warehouse management, or do you want to analyse changes in customer behaviour? In this new era of increased e-commerce, the warehouse and logistics industry is rapidly changing. However, new warehouse trends and developments are arising that could provide the answers.

So where is the best place to start? With so much noise, it’s hard to pinpoint the changes that will provide the best Return On Investment. If you’re worried about the affordability of new technologies, not sure how easy they are to implement or concerned about disrupting warehouse life, this blog is just for you.

With over 30 years of experience working in the storage equipment and warehousing industry, we know a thing or two about how you can give your warehouse a push in the right direction. Our complete guide will give you some pointers. We look at ways to improve the agility of your supply chain, and how you can future-proof your warehouse for this new revolution in warehouse trends.

Warehouse Trends - add workable space with a mezzanine floor

Optimising Your Warehouse Space

Before looking at new warehouse trends and what to invest in, let’s start off your 2024 plan with something you already have – your warehouse space. With the cost-of-living crisis challenging our year ahead and warehouse space at a premium, how can we make changes without breaking the bank?

In recent years, warehouse owners have faced the problem of not having enough storage capacity. This could be due to rising costs or a lack of availability of suitable units. Moving doesn’t always have to be the answer. Instead, look at making the best use of your space and invest in a new warehouse racking system. You may not realise it, but your racking could be the key that unlocks a lot of the problems you may experience in your warehouse.

  • Lack of storage?
    Choose warehouse racking systems which increases the density and capacity of your space. For example, a multi-tier structure adds additional storage space and maximises the full height of your building. Or create additional floor space within the same unit with a warehouse mezzanine floor. If you haven’t got the height opt for a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) which decreases the aisle width and allows more racking within the same space.
  • A need for speed?
    Ensure your layout works for the throughput of your stock. Its journey from the moment it arrives in the warehouse until the moment it leaves should be seamless. To speed up the process, the design of your warehouse racking systems should enhance the flow of the stock, making it easy to locate and removing sticking points. You could even opt for a system such as push-back racking. This operates on a FILO (first in, last out) system which provides less need for manual stock rotation to increase picking and packing timescales.

Future Proofing: Keeping up with Warehouse Trends in 2024

Is your warehouse ready for the future? Can it maximise your business for years to come? Although your warehouse might have supported your business performance in the past, there is no guarantee it will do so in the future. This is especially true when you look at the rise of e-commerce and the demands it places for faster delivery times and multifunctional spaces.

Of course, installing the best warehouse racking systems for your space can help, but to stay competitive in 2024 it is also critical to understand what the new warehouse trends are and how they can improve your business. To help you out, here we share what we believe the future holds. Not that we are psychics or anything.

Warehouse trends - automation

Automation Trend

Even though we have just stepped into 2024, the warehouse industry knows that the advancements in warehouse automation and AI will continue to be a hot topic. After all, integrate these technological advances and it can improve productivity, increase the flow of stock, deliver consistent results. However, for a lot of smaller logistics, cost has been a prohibitive factor. As the growth and uptake of automation continue, prices are expected to come down and, with the efficiencies it can deliver, should offer a high Return On Investment for businesses.

Of course, any new technology must be the right fit for your warehouse and work with your space. To be successful, the new solutions have to be harmonious with the traditional – your warehouse racking systems. Get advice from industry experts on how automation, robotics or AI will work for you and whether the design of your racking accommodates key elements. For example, does it provide clearance for the movement of automation or build on the improvements the new technology can deliver?

Data is King!

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are not new in the modern warehouse and most businesses have one in place to improve efficiencies. However, as technology advances, now might be the time to address whether your WMS still works for your business.

WMS are essential for providing real-time analytics and insights into the movement of your stock and managing your supply chain fulfilment. Combine the system with AI, especially with hybrid operations, and 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 warehouse racking systems in place to support your WMS and it can transform your warehouse.

Warehouse trends - inspection

Sustainability

As transparency becomes a big factor, customers are expecting businesses to share their contributions to reducing carbon emissions. As the new generation becomes more conscious about environmental impacts and methods towards achieving net zero targets, sustainable efforts by businesses have become a major factor that has influenced buying behaviour/ purchasing decisions. Warehouse owners must prioritise the integration of sustainability at an early stage.

It can be challenging to implement sustainability in the logistics industry. Yet even small changes can be implemented that can make significant savings on carbon emissions. Whether it’s implementing energy-efficient lighting, HVAC or increasing the number of recyclable materials used in your packaging. Also, examine the credentials of your warehouse racking systems. Look at where it has been manufactured and the journey it makes to your warehouse. Alternatively increase the lifespan of your equipment by adopting a rigorous inspection regime

Warehouse trends - work environment

Quality Work Environments

With rising mental health issues over the past 10 years, the focus on well-being in the workplace has become an important factor. Fostering a positive work environment has proven to have a great impact on employee engagement and organisational performance.

You can support your team by introducing a positive work culture. Specify designated break areas that are comfortable and relaxing. Equip them with the knowledge to perform their job correctly. When it comes to your racking this has the added benefit of keeping them safe! Send them on a training course like our Rack Inspection Training course. Delivered by our expert instructors, the course provides them with the knowledge to work safely around warehouse racking systems. They will also learn how to recognise damage to the equipment. Training is a great way to bring peace of mind to any work environment.

How can Teepee help?

We hope this blog gives you a better understanding of how to give your warehouse a boost in 2024.

Need some help? Why not get in touch with Teepee and see how we can help to upgrade your business in 2024? As a SEMA Distributor Company and through our experience with a wide range of industries, we can provide a full turnkey solution that delivers everything you need to maximise your performance and increase safety:

  • Start with our free site visit to establish the best design solution for your space.
  • Project managing from start to finish. We oversee a smooth and seamless delivery with all works meeting required quality and safety standards.
  • Supplying a flexible storage solution to meet the unique needs of your business, including warehouse mezzanine floors.
  • Installing the highest quality standards with very little interruption to your business
  • Providing aftercare: maintenance, repair & inspection.