HI-LO awarded major racking contract by JD Williams

When Fulfilment Logistics, the transport and warehousing division of leading direct home shopping company, JD Williams, needed to equip its new 87,500 square metre facility with a narrow aisle storage system, it turned to leading racking and storage equipment manufacturer, Hi-Lo Storage Systems. Undertaken in partnership with its distributor, West Pennine Storage Equipment, Hi-Lo has installed its Premierack system to provide Fulfilment Logistics with maximum storage density and efficiency whilst providing 100% accessibility to individual pallets.

Fulfilment Logistics is responsible for the distribution of JD Williams's fourteen million product lines, which are stored on pallets in the company's warehouses for subsequent picking, packing and distribution. The new facility at Glossop, Derbyshire, one of five warehouse complexes managed by Fulfilment Logistics on behalf of JD Williams, has been purchased to meet the company's requirements for future growth and to improve productivity.

Hi-Lo delivered considerable savings to Fulfilment Logistics by designing the racking so that an existing wire-guided system could be retained. It achieved this by custom manufacturing row spacers for each rack so that the Premierack could be installed within an area between the double entry rails.

Then, by installing 9750mm high racking with seven storage levels, Hi-Lo was able to create a total of 7,406 pallet locations made up of 900mm depth frames and standard 2700mm x 2000-ton capacity beams. To complete the installation Hi-Lo installed P&D stations at one end of each double run.

“Hi-Lo did a fantastic job for us”, says Graham Turnsall, Project Engineer at Fulfilment Logistics. “They were highly recommended by West Pennine Storage Equipment, a company we work with quite regularly. Although we went to tender, we chose Hi-Lo as they offered us quality products, excellent lead times and affordable prices backed by a first-class reputation for service”.

The FEM compliant Premierack system combines several key features including uprights that can be reversed in the event of damage, thus reducing waste and an anti-twist foodplate/frame design. The uprights, which are available in a variety of gauges, have 50mm slots, thereby increasing the racking system's flexibility and maximising space utilisation. The beams are available in open, box or stepped form, allowing greater adjustability, and the stiffening ribs and rolled edges of the five-hook connector offer increased stability and safety.

Other benefits of the Premierack system is an innovative footplate with two front tabs to secure each upright to the floor, offering improved frame stability when loading and unloading the racking and preventing the frame from rotating if it is struck.

Contact:
Hi-Lo Storage Systems,
130 Nathan Way,
West Thamesmead Business Park, London
SE28 0AU
Tel: 020 8855 6000
Fax: 020 8316 1306 web:
www.hi-lo.co.uk