Off the shelf.

"I had read about Redirack in previous issues of Rack It. When they contacted me regarding the new project, I was already aware of their pedigree.” Says Nick Bennett, Logistics Manager at Interface Solutions International (ISI). The company recently moved to a new purpose built head office and distribution centre, adjacent to Birmingham’s NEC. Employing eighty four staff, ISI distributes a range of computer and peripheral products through a number of dealers and systems integrators.

The new premises were planned in response to the company’s need to centralise its administration functions and improve distribution facilities. Due to the high cost of office space in the area, the brief was to maximise storage capacity in the 23,000 square feet allocated to the distribution centre. The storage system had to be complimentary to ISI’s operating procedures in order that customer service levels were not compromised.

The result is a block of narrow aisle racking, serviced by Bendi fork lift trucks. Within the scheme, there are nine double runs of racking, with four or five beam levels, providing 240 picking levels, 348 full pallet picking locations and bulk storage for a further 1566 pallets. Top beams, at the buildings apex, are at 6800mm. There are a number of interesting features within the scheme. The lower beam levels, dedicated to order picking are timber decked. Special beams enable the timber boards to be countersunk to give a level surface. Sacrificial legs are fitted to the first frames on each run. The sacrificial leg is easy to change in the event of damage to the most vulnerable uprights. The final three runs of racking are installed in a lockable caged area. This provides additional security for the storage of high value items, such as PC’s.

Nick Bennett is pleased with the finished scheme and the choice of supplier “Unlike other companies who just wanted to sell us racking, Redirack made it clear from the start, that they wanted to work with us to achieve the best solution.” He says. “The system suits ISI’s current needs. It can also be extended, as the business grows.”

A run of Redishelf completes the installation. As featured in Rack It 27, Redishelf is a new shelving system. This is an ideal storage solution for the 500 small parts, such as printer cartridges and other consumable items, which ISI holds in stock. Redishelf is exceptionally strong and easy to install. It is bolt free, the components simply slot together. Based on a range of standard components and accessories, it can be configured to suit a variety of small parts applications.

“When I visited Redirack for a demonstration of the Redishelf product, I was immediately impressed by its sturdy construction.” comments Nick Bennett. “It is an excellent system and so easy to install. All items are easily located, which is important when offering customers an off the shelf, next day service. We can reconfigure it ourselves to create extra storage locations. Its child’s play, like building meccano.”