Lack of warehouse space? Make Your Racking Work Harder!
If you work in the warehouse and logistics you will be very aware of how challenging the industry is at the moment. Growth in online shopping has remained high leading to increased stock requirements. This has driven a need for more storage space but with a noticeable lack of warehouse space, moving premises is not always an option. On top of this rising inflation is hitting hard and businesses are having to review costs and ensure any decisions deliver maximum Return on Investment. After all your warehouse space is a valuable commodity.
As a leading voice within the storage industry, SEMA (Storage Equipment Manufacturer’s Association) believes a lack of warehouse space shouldn't be a problem. Through your racking, the backbone of your warehouse. Invest wisely in your racking and you can ensure your assets are working harder and, perhaps more importantly, they also create a safe environment for your employees.
Invest Wisely
When it comes to the racking market there are a whole host of options available. Taking the simplistic view of filling your warehouse with as much storage equipment and buying the cheapest available is not the best approach!
You should view your racking as an investment. Suppliers must design the structure for its intended purpose so that it can deliver on the longevity of the structure and safety of your warehouse. For this you need to work with experienced suppliers, such as our SEMA members, who have the experience and interrelated structure that will support you through the full life cycle of your equipment.
Quality in Racking
When you have a lack of warehouse space you need to choose equipment that it will add value and deliver on safety. There are a lot of racking suppliers on the market and it can be hard to distinguish which is the best system for your warehouse.
One advantage of buying products from a SEMA Full or Associate Members is that they subject their products to rigorous and independent assessments. This guarantees structural engineers have designed the product to SEMA Codes. Its structural rigidity meets precise criteria under specified conditions, to bear heavy loads and, once loaded, the rack or its components should not distort.
Maximise Your Space
If you have a lack of warehouse space and not enough storage, then redesigning racking might provide a solution. You can achieve efficiencies and extra storage by reducing aisle widths, doubling the racking depth, increasing the height of your storage or even adding additional space with mezzanine flooring.
However, creating a design that will seamlessly blend new equipment into your existing racking requires a significant level of technical knowledge and expertise. Will it improve efficiencies within the warehouse and stretch your storage capacity to the max? Will the design futureproof your storage requirements? Is the space safe for your employees?
Experienced designers, such as our SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members - Advanced , who have the technical knowledge and expertise to design a solution that addresses every space saving step. SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members - Advanced work closely with our manufacturing members and this relationship allows them privileged access to their technical departments. When they create a new design it comes with assurances it it will be compatible with existing equipment and designed to meet new weight requirements and clearance.
Remember the market is uncertain and material and labour costs are expected to rise. If want to implement some racking in the next year, our suppliers recommend you speak to them as early as possible to secure the best prices.
Racking Installation - Don't Invalidate Your Warranty!
The installation stage is just as critical as the design and quality of your equipment. Has the installer used the correct number and type of floor fixings? Is the racking sufficiently shimmed and fixings positioned and tightened to manufacturers’ tolerances? Getting this wrong will greatly impact on not only the safety of the equipment but also its longevity. It is also a legal requirement for you to ensure the installer is ‘competent’.
Maintaining high installation standards is especially important when dovetailing equipment into your existing system.
SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members - Advanced use SEIRS trained installers, a unique initiative from SEMA that aims to raises standards at the point of installation. SEIRS instructs installers on the safe and correct methods of installation to meet SEMA defined standards and manufacturer specifications.
One last consideration is whether the work will impact on the warranty for your current racking. Through the supportive structure of SEMA, Approved Members are qualified to conduct work on behalf of SEMA Approved Manufacturer - Full Members. That means any remedial or alteration work undertaken by these companies will not invalidate your warranty.
Ongoing Costs
Investing wisely in your storage equipment doesn’t stop once it has been installed. To deliver on longevity of your equipment and, perhaps more importantly, the safety of your workforce you need to make sure your racking is properly maintained. This means implementing a continuous routine of maintenance that includes regular inspections by employees who have received Rack Safety Awareness training on how to correctly use the equipment.
The HSE also recommends an annual expert inspection undertaken by a technically competent person who has sufficient training and knowledge. To support this, we operate our SEMA Approved Rack Inspector (SARI) initiative. These highly qualified professionals must successfully pass our intensive three-day training course, written examination and practical assessment to achieve their qualification. A report from a SARI provides you with clear guidance on the condition of your equipment and uses a traffic light system to indicate actions required and over what timescale.
