In May 2025, AR Racking completed the installation of its AR PAL racking system to help increase seasonal storage capacity at B&Q’s Blyth Distribution Centre (DC). The project added new storage locations to the existing facility to increase capacity and improve seasonal logistics performance.
B&Q sought a solution that combined high density with full product selectivity to handle fast-moving seasonal ranges. The company chose AR PAL, which offers rapid accessibility and can be tailored to CHEP UK pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) as well as the bulkier loads introduced in the second phase.
Over the build period, Key Account Manager Mike Smyth and the AR Racking team worked hand-in-hand with lighting and fire-protection engineers, aligning construction schedules and minimising disruption. Mike Smyth added, “We adapted each task during the build to the required overall programme and clear, daily communication was key.”
The new racking installation expands the existing storage capacity at the DC and drives efficiencies by streamlining order preparation for peak seasons, cutting internal travel and loading times. Its phased design also keeps the facility fully operational during future expansions or layout changes.
“We entrusted the first phase to AR Racking because of their ability and willingness to work with every project partner,” says Jeff Tearall, Property Portfolio & Specifications Manager at B&Q. “In the second phase, completed early in 2025, AR refined the design and delivered the solution on schedule, which has supported us in fulfilling orders even more smoothly and efficiently.”
The Blyth DC project demonstrates AR Racking’s strength in providing scalable, safe solutions aligned with the demands of omnichannel distribution. Backed by its own industrial base and a global footprint, AR Racking continues to grow its portfolio of projects that blend advanced engineering with close customer collaboration.
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