Jason Thomas, Rapid Racking’s Design Team Leader, planned a Narrow Aisle Racking system for Musical Instrument distributor, Normans Musical Instruments in earlier in March. The project required careful consideration and intricate planning to ensure the solution suited the specific forklift model the warehouse team would be using.

Rapid Racking’s Design team have completed a warehouse installation of Narrow Aisle Racking for musical instrument specialist supplier, Normans Musical Instruments, based in Burton-on-Trent.

Having purchased an articulated forklift truck for their warehouse, Andy McKeown, Director of Norman’s Musical Instruments, called the Rapid Design team for a high density storage system that would best suit the Narrow Aisle forklift’s specification.

Rapid Racking Design Team Leader, Jason Thomas, who managed the project, comments: “The client briefed us on the operational requirements of the forklift and requested a racking design proposal to fully maximise the capacity for storing pallets of boxed musical instruments.”

Jason carried out a survey to examine the stock handling requirements and the dimensional constraints of the site. He states: “It’s crucial that the aisle width and racking height suit the parameters required of the specific forklift truck, and that the layout accounts for the space required for safely manoeuvring the truck.” The client had committed to a particular brand of articulated forklift truck and Jason’s experience and industry knowledge enabled him make allowances for the pros and cons of such equipment. “The great advantage of articulated trucks is that they are able to work in much smaller aisles than conventional counterbalance trucks, but the pivoting action of the mast is such that the pallet swings past the end frame of a racking run, the racking must therefore be set out just short of walls”. This is something that is often overlooked by racking suppliers and when the racking is installed it is then too late to put right, resulting in the loss of some pallet locations.

Jason’s design for Norman’s Musical Instruments comprises 7 runs of Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking, allowing for storage of a total of 421 pallets of up to 1000kg each. The aisles are just 2.3m wide and the layout provides sufficient space for transfer aisles as well as the clearance required at the dead-end aisles of the racking runs. The system ensures maximum accessibility in a compact footprint. Frame protectors are fitted at the racking ends as an added safety precaution.

Shortly after the plans were submitted to Normans Musical Instruments, approval was given by their forklift supplier and Jason arranged for an installation in February 2012. This took a SEIRS qualified installation team just two and a half days to complete.

A month on from the installation and Normans Musical Instruments are pleased to be promoting their recent expansion to their customers, through images of the warehouse on their Facebook page captioned: “loading up the NEW warehouse racking with the NEW fork lift…. all so we can hold more stock for YOU!” For more information regarding Normans Musical Instruments, visit www.Normans.co.uk.

Andy McKeown comments: “We also had a Mezzanine Floor/Small Pick Racking Area installed into another of our warehouses about 4 years ago by Rapid Racking.  I was really impressed by the personalised design and quality of the installation which made them my preferred choice for our new pallet racking.  From the initial visit right through to fitting, the service was impeccable and I am pleased I made the decision to work with Rapid Racking again.”

To find out how the Design team can create a solution for your business, call 01285 686868 or email design@rapidracking.com

Comments are closed.