Being that we are a construction company, we have always been serious about safety. It has always been our first priority for a plethora of different reasons.
However, it was not until about 5 years ago that we learned how much we did not know. ABCO started to work with our insurance company to create standards for our staff and plans in case of emergency. We are still evolving and we are still learning more every day.
Further to that, because we work with local code officials in townships all across the country, we have learned a lot of what they have to teach us. For them, it comes down to the simple fact that life safety is their only priority.
It is because of this that we are beginning to place even more of focus on helping our customers create safer environments for their teams. There are some seemingly basic life safety requirements that are often times overlooked and we are dedicated to increasing our own knowledge to ensure that we continue to provide more and more value to our customers.
Warehouse Safety
Is your fire protection system up to date? Do you have enough water flow in your building to support your commodity and how it is stored in your Pallet Rack or your Garment on Hanger (GOH).
Are your Egress Lights active and working? Do you have a clear Egress path?
Do you have the necessary safety barriers between lift equipment and walking staff members?
We can help you identify and rectify all of these potential hazards. Not only will it help increase employee moral by showing you care about employee safety, but it will also increase productivity by having standard operating procedures. On top of all that, a clearly documented safety protocol can also reduce your liability, and therefore your costs, with your insurance company.
ABCO Systems has developed a safety/maintenance program that can help with all of your needs.
There is an interesting trend in the used pallet rack market. When renting a warehouse, some landlords are throwing in a perceived bonus to get new tenants. Not only do they get the space, but it comes with rack already installed.
What a deal, right!
Well it can be a deal or it could be a nightmare. The only way to figure out the difference is with a lot of research and maybe some help from an expert. Both parties, the landlord and the tenant, need to know exactly what they are getting and whether the deal is actually a deal.
Here’s What You Need to Look for When Renting a Warehouse
Tenants
Current Capacity: You, when renting a warehouse, don’t know what the plan was by the original tenant that installed the rack. Were they storing car parts or giant stuffed animals? Even if you look at the old tenants product and believe it must have been heavier than yours, how do you know they did not have a WMS (warehouse management system) that only allowed certain items on the shelf levels and kept the heavier items on the ground?
Even the placement of the shelf levels effect the load capacity of the uprights. Without seismic and load calculations based on your product locations or having an experienced partner in the rack business evaluate the capacities of the system you may not realize the danger until it is too late.
Layout: How did the previous tenant layout the rack? Was it for single, double, or triple-deep storage? Does that work for your need? Does that truly optimize the space you are moving into for your product? If not, this means you will need to hire a company to relocate the rack so that it will work for your storage.
While this could be a good money saving tactic for the new renter, you need the help of an experienced partner in the rack business, to look over the layout and let you know how much it will be to reconfigure the rack.
Landlords
You have a building with rack in it, but that may be a turnoff for some renters. The rack may be for a very specialized layout or business and may not work for 95% of the market. In this case the best idea for the landlord is to sell the used rack, and rent the building empty.
If you wanted you could even reduce the price of the rental due to the windfall they are receiving for selling the used rack. Lower rent is always appealing to the market.
If you need help from either side, whether you’re a landlord with a current rack set-up or a client looking to rent or have rented a building with used rack in place, contact ABCO Systems to get a free review of your current storage. We buy used rack or can help you reconfigure the storage in a way that works for you.
Knowing how to install pallet racking can help you determine whether it is worthwhile to do it yourself or to hire out the installation. When you are putting together your warehouse design, being able to install your own equipment and infrastructure supplies means being able to control your bottom line. That’s why it is important to understand the labor costs and timelines for items like pallet rack installation.
Individual Instructions on How to Install Pallet Racking
The first thing to understand is that every manufacturer has slightly different instructions for how the pallet racks should come together. That means that you will need to refer to the individual instructions for your pallet racking to see how the pieces should fit. This also helps you to better determine whether or not your installation is going according to plan. Once you have understood the individual instructions that will let you put together the structures in your plan, it’s important to move on to the step they all have in common: concrete anchoring.
Anchoring Your New Racks to Concrete
Make sure that you are going into this process with a floor plan, first and foremost. From there:
Consider whether you should use strike anchors or wedge anchors. Consult the specifications for your particular ABCO Systems model for recommendations.
Using the holes in the bottom of the racking as a template, carefully drill the holes for your anchors.
Clear the holes of all debris with a shop vac or air hose.
Place the washes and thread the nuts for each anchor.
Place each anchor in the hole, through the legs of your pallet racks.
Hammer the anchors into each hole and tighten all nuts with a torque wrench until they attain the correct tightness.
That is how to install pallet racking. From there, it’s just a matter of putting together your rack according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Owning and managing a warehouse requires a distinctive set of skills that few inexperienced people have. Space planning, inventory management, and asset utilization are just a few of the strategies that will need to be implemented in order to maximize the value of each square foot and protect the goods being stored. Keep these warehouse design tips in mind when organizing your warehouse space for the first time. Remember, if you are looking for pallet racks and other storage solutions, ABCO Systems has many valuable options to consider.
Shop With Specifics in Mind
Rounded numbers are not always going to help you shop for the right distribution center design solutions. You are going to need exact measurements to conduct space allotment calculations. These are some of the figures that warehouse managers will need to know:
Exact square footage
Loading bay height
Maximum load capacity of mezzanines, racks, hoists, and walkways
Maximum stacking height
Door, hallway, and passage height clearance
Storage structures, retrieval vehicles, and other warehouse equipment are going to have to work within the physical constraints of the existing site; additionally, they will have to accommodate the nature of the goods stored. However, the goods stored cannot exceed the performance capacity of vehicles and structures so a careful compromise has to be found.
Store According to Type
Stacks are not the perfect storage arrangement for all goods; shelving cannot accommodate every item type. Having a variety of storage solutions available is optimal, although few warehouses are going to be able to accommodate all possible types of goods. Creating sections of space dedicated to certain types of storage helps maximize these solutions. This also allows for optimal access and safe, efficient retrieval.
We Can Help With Warehouse Design
ABCO Systems offers design assistance and other consultation services; just call 201.507.0999. We can help you identify exactly what equipment is required for your new warehouse.
Any company concerned with inventory management knows the value of stockroom organization. If organizational strategies are not a foundational part of your storage handling protocols, then problems will become evident very quickly. Valuable stock can be misplaced, broken, or stolen as a result of poor organization. To keep your stockroom organized, utilize these tips.
Create Consistent Signage and Labeling
The stockroom manager might know where everything is kept, but do the newest employees? Clear, precise signage will help designate space use and accurate labeling will help prevent misplaced lots. Custom signage is available at reasonable prices from many shops. Labeling can be easily done in-house with basic design and printing tools.
Utilize Vertical Space
Square footage is not the only useful feature of a stockroom; your vertical space can be just as valuable – perhaps even more so. There are several ways to maximize the value of your vertical space, such as:
Shelving
Mezzanines
Rolling racks
Spinners
Lofts
Even small stockrooms can benefit from strategic vertical storage implementation. Storage fundamentals, such as pallets, should not be ignored. Sometimes the simplest solutions can be the most effective.
Develop Appropriate Storage Solutions
Different items have different storage needs. You can prevent loss through damage by storing items properly. This way stock can be quickly moved to the sales floor or packed for shipping. Good storage also facilitates accurate counting and rapid materials handling.
Clothing, for instance, often presents a storage conundrum. While racks might seem inefficient at first glance, stockroom operations can proceed more efficiently if garments are easy to see. Hanging also prevents wrinkling and crushing. There are numerous garment rack varieties to consider, so it is very likely that you will find some that suit your particular needs.
Explore Your Options For Stockroom Organization
There are more options available than you might realize. Stockroom optimization is a specialty of ABCO Systems, so contact us today to learn more.
