Background
Kloeckner Metals UK is a key member of the Klöckner & Co. group, one of the largest independent distributors of steel and metal products and steel service companies worldwide. The company prides itself on its ability to meet customer requirements and as such, the management team are often on the lookout for ways to reduce turnaround times to fulfil customer orders more efficiently.
Requirement
Aganto was contacted initially in June 2018 by Project Leader Tim Lumb for the procurement of a suitable storage structure at the Exeter site. Kloeckner operate throughout the UK in a number of market sectors, including marine parts supply. At the time, only relatively low volumes could be kept on site due to a lack of storage, which affected the rotation of stock. An increased stockholding of steel marine plates would help accelerate order response times while helping reduce overheads.
Solution
Following a consultation and site visit, three 10-metre-long retractable tunnels linked end to end were proposed to store the 2.5M x 3M flat marine plates. Tim commented, “We did consider a permanent canopy on the side of a building, but this was proven to be a more expensive. We chose Aganto as they were more competitive on cost. The delivery was also better.”
The three tunnel units were purchased in white PVC, each 2.8m external width (at gable ? end) x 10m length in 1m sections – and within a single day – were swiftly installed by Aganto’s in-house site team. They were linked in three x 10m sections, making one long tunnel 2.8x30m with 2m side height / 2.36m total/max height.
The retractable sections provide flexibility to access the stock via forklift and the closed ends, robust PVC cover and aluminium frame keeps stock secure and protected against the weather. The tunnel’s pneumatic tyres enabled the structure to be easily located with no foundations or groundworks required, on sloping tarmac.
Speaking to the Operations Manager, Mark Howard, nearly one year on, the structure is in regular use, with the centre section retracted and re-extended around once a month. “I am happy with the service we received from Aganto and would definitely recommend both the company and retractable tunnels as a practical and cost-effective storage solution. Installation was carried out without disruption, and the site team were polite and professional. The tunnel has been completely fit for purpose, and 10 months on – still looks smart.”
AGANTO
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