Thinking inside the box
August 1st 2007

Thinking outside the box has become a cliché in marketing circles, but in the materials handling world, it's thinking creatively about what's inside the box - the warehouse - that can set companies apart.

That's just part of the challenge that print management and mailing company, Formpro MM, set for materials handling specialists On3. The task – how to make the most effective use of a new £10m investment in premises, production facilities and warehouse equipment for its new HQ in Hengrove, Bristol.

The start of On3's work began with an enquiry for a simple workers platform.

Now, Formpro is one of On3's largest customers and has gone from a £15m turnover business to £28m.

The Bristol depot is now able to use 7,700 pallet locations, thanks to 7.5m racking.

David Scammell, On3's managing director, believes the challenges set by the company's expansion allowed them to think quickly and creatively to maximise warehouse utilisation and profit.

"Formpro allowed us to carry out a complete needs analysis and consider all the options. That may seem common sense to most people but some companies are ready to push you their solution before they've even considered the issues. We thought about the needs of the new warehouse operations from a business perspective," explains Scammell.