Climate change has become a growing and global need. Finding ways for industries to reduce their carbon footprint has become increasingly important and logistics is no exception. Every consideration, no matter how small the change, can make a big difference. It’s therefore unsurprising that at IMHX this year, sustainability is on the agenda in a big way.
For the warehouse owner there are a number of steps that can be taken including the use of environmentally friendly vehicles and packaging, reducing waste and improving the warehouse environment. What should also be included in this list is your choice of storage solution!
Reducing Carbon Footprint
One of the biggest steps you can take is to buy British made products. It is estimated that nearly half of the UK’s carbon footprint comes from emissions associated with imports. As the UK’s largest manufacturer of storage systems we are proud to say that our pallet racking, shelving and lockers are made here in Britain across four factories and one in Spain. That means we’re never far away from our customers and our products have a much shorter distance to travel which will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Of course, there are other advantages. It also means much shorter lead times, less risk in the supply chain and better customer service overall. So, no more worrying about delays or disruptions to your timeline! Sustainability doesn’t stop at how far your product travels. If you need more storage space it can make environmental sense to expand on your existing system rather than extending the footprint of your current location. Not only will this provide enhanced energy efficiency, after all filling unused space reduces your heating or cooling requirements, but also significant financial savings.
Reliability in Storage
Sustainability must consider the lifespan of your racking. It is thought that extending the life of a product can offer greater environmental impact than most other measures. This is achieved by reducing energy requirements to dismantle, recycle and manufacture a replacement.
With racking, this means you need a system that has been designed correctly for its intended role and manufactured to the highest standards and to relevant codes. With rising costs, investing wisely in your storage can also make a sensible return on investment and increase safety.
Whittan’s own in-house designers can ensure you deliver. By visiting your site, we can examine what products you are storing now and possibly in the future. We will also look at how you handle the goods and what space you have available. With these findings we can then advise on which racking is most suitable and design a bespoke system to meet your needs.
As a Full Manufacturing SEMA Member our designs are submitted to independent product assessments. This guarantees they have been designed by a structural engineer to meet SEMA Codes and their rigidity is calculated to meet precise criteria under specified conditions. In other words, the racking will live up to the job it has been designed to do – carry heavy loads and once loaded its components will not distort. Our solutions are also in line with British standard requirements and British Safety Council Certifications.
Smart Installations and Maintenance
Of course, the lifetime and safety of your racking will only ever be as good as the teams that install and maintain it. Installation is a critical stage in the lifespan of your racking. After all, even the smallest of changes in design can affect the structural integrity of both existing and new racking. That is why our teams are SEIRS registered, a unique initiative from SEMA that aims to raise safety standards. To achieve their accreditation SEIRS installers must undertake a rigorous training programme, adhere to SEMA installation codes, and renew their membership every three years.
Once the storage equipment is in place you then need to implement a comprehensive inspection and maintenance programme to uphold the quality of the product. No matter how carefully you use your storage scheme, damage will occur from time to time, which can limit its lifespan and impact on the safety of the equipment. Our SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors are skilled engineers who can assess your equipment and determine the safety and structural integrity of your pallet racking systems and warehouse safety.
To top it off we have recently been awarded the industry leading Alcumus SafeContractor accreditation.
Trusted Brands
If you’re looking for a safe and reliable solution then consider products from one of our industry leading brands. Our extensive range of pallet racking and shelving from Link51, Polypal UK, Polypal Europe and Apex is custom designed to include anything from a few simple bays all the way through to a multi-tier structure. We also have our range of modular LinkLockers and Probe lockers that can fit your space and adapt as requirements change.
If you’re looking to maximise every inch of your space, then you might look at one of our mezzanine solutions from HiStore which can create usable floor space and works in harmony with our other storage solutions. Everything is supported by our storage accessories, including our LinBins, that aim to maximise the capabilities of your equipment, optimise stock control and increase picking efficiency.
Whittan at IMHX
Richard Moss, Whittan’s Chief Sales Officer, comments “IMHX is the perfect opportunity for companies to connect with some of the leading industry suppliers and experts working within the UK. With over 70 years’ worth of experience Whittan are equipped to help you increase efficiency, optimise productivity and enhance the future of your business. By visiting Whittan at IMHX 2022, you get the chance to speak to one of our industry leading experts who can work with you to understand your requirements and guide you towards the best storage solution for your business.”
Visit Whittan on Stand 5F55 and you can speak to one of our experts, who will be on hand throughout the day to discuss your requirements.
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