Storage capacity increased
February 1st 2006

Systems integrator SDI Greenstone has created more than 18% more storage capacity at the distribution centre in Rugby that Wincanton Logistics operates for Woolworths.

Acting in a project management role SDI Greenstone has installed additional racking and reconfigured the existing installation, to increase storage capacity from 27,000m3 to 32,000m3, providing more than 8000 additional pallet locations.

The distribution centre (DC) comprises two warehouse chambers with much of the stock previously block-stacked on the floor.

This arrangement did not offer the required storage capacity, and ease of pallet selection, that was needed to cope with the needs of Woolworths' business.

In one of the warehouse chambers SDI Greenstone has created eleven additional aisles of 10m, six-bays high, racking. In the second chamber as well as building in six more aisles and adding an extra 'step-out' tier at the end of some aisles, increased storage capacity has been achieved by 'bolting-on' an additional level to the existing racking.

The racking was sourced from SDI Greenstone's preferred supplier Linpac Materials Handling, who contracted a specialist Spanish-based company to handle the complex job of installing the additional upper level.

SDI Greenstone has also re-engineered and expanded the warehouses' sprinkler systems, so that fire protection now extends into every level of the racking.

Working round the existing operation, SDI Greenstone completed the entire installation in just 15 weeks - a week earlier than projected.

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