Tailored racking
February 1st 2006 Link 51 has provided the ideal mix of storage space at Britvic with pallet racking tailored to the precise operational requirements of the application
An excellent example of a pallet racking facility being tailored to the precise operational requirements of a customer can be seen at Britvic's Tamworth premises in the West Midlands.
A comprehensive Link 51 installation has now been completed and is at the heart of a major refurbishment of the existing Britvic site. Today, a combination of static and drive-in racking is available in a layout that is designed to give the customer the ideal blend of bulk storage and order picking locations whilst, at the same time, maximising the use of the space available at the facility.
The location offers some 10,000 pallet positions, 1,500 of which are back-to-back, single depth locations dedicated to order picking from where the company assembles loads for onward distribution. In turn, this is fed by a versatile drive-in racking design that whilst offering four bulk storage levels throughout, offers a choice of depths of between three and seven individual pallets.
"This variation allows us to maximise the efficiency of our storage operation," comments Britvic's Drive Site Team Leader, John Spencer. "Slower moving products can be stored towards the rear of the drivein facility with those requiring more regular access towards the front." The arrangement optimises the interface between bulk storage and picking locations.
The facility focuses on distributing Britvic's own extensive range of famous brands - together with others it manufacturers under license - exclusively to the 'on premise' sector of the market. In turn, this can see up to forty 40-foot trailers departing for customers' own regional distribution centres with, typically, a similar number delivering each day from Britvic's five UK factories.
"It is therefore a very intensive operation," adds John Spencer, "which requires the racking to be sufficiently robust for continuous 24 hours a day, 5? days a week use. This too has been a key feature of the Link 51 design which includes, for example, fittings such as a guide rail edge protectors that help the efficient operation of the 18 Hyster forklift trucks operating at the site."
The Link 51 installation is complete with a further dedicated static racking area where slatted shelving supports refrigerators and vending machines. "This simplifies pallet positioning and allows weights up to one tonne to be accommodated in this area," comments Chris Hopkirk, Link 51's National Accounts Manager, "which in turn helps Britvic to optimise its operation by bringing both its drinks and equipment supply into the one location.
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