Rack Group now stock top racking manufacturers

Posted on 10 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

What you need to know about rack guards

Posted on 6 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Even if we employ the safest of measures, accidents still happen, especially when taking a look at industrial storage. From drops to impacts, many things can happen that will damage your things, but of course, this doesn't mean you should do nothing about it. You should still implement as many safety precautions as possible to protect your items. This can reduce the risk of damage and even the severity of damage if it does occur.

That said, if you are using racks for storage, you should also consider protecting them to ensure your system lasts as long as possible. How, you ask? With rack guards of course!

What Are Rack Guards?

Rack guards are a form of protection that you can often find on the front uprights of racks and other storage units. They generally come in several different forms and can be attached directly to the racking, or installed on the floor directly in front of the rack. They are usually made from rubber, plastic, or metal and are designed to protect the rack from damage, whether it be from physical impact (drops, bumps, etc.), acting as a visual warning before impact occurs, or even protecting from damage caused by liquids or chemicals.

Rack guards are also a great way of protecting the items on the rack, as they can be installed at the back of each beam level to prevent pallets being pushed too far.

What Kind of Rack Guards Are There?

Rack guards can come in many different shapes and sizes, but there are three main types that are the most common:

Rack End Guards - These are placed on the ends of rack enclosures, and they can be made of polyethylene, steel, or a combination of the two. These are made to act as a visual signal to warehouse operators and absorb any impact that occurs, protecting the rack from direct damage.

Edge Guards - These are accessories that are installed on the front uprights of the rack enclosure. They are also made from polymer or metal and are intended to protect the rack and its contents from damage from pallets being moved on and off the rack.

Rail Guards – These are components that are attached to the floor in front of a racking bay, or even at the back of beams, and are often made from polymer. They are designed to prevent forklift trucks and other material handling equipment from pushing pallets too far into the rack.

What Are the Benefits of Rack Guards?

Rack guards are a great way of protecting your items from damage. Whether it's from bumps or drops, from environmental factors, or simply from a little bit of wear and tear, these guards can really protect your investment. They not only protect your assets from damage, they protect your warehouse operators from injury caused by damaged racking collapsing.

What Are the Drawbacks of Rack Guards?

The only real drawback of rack guards is that they can be expensive. They can add quite a bit to the overall cost of your unit, so it's important to make sure they are worth the investment. However, if you plan on keeping the rack for a long time and will be using other enclosures to protect your items, they can be a great way to protect your investment and can even help you save money in the long run!

Conclusion

Rack guards are a great way to protect the items within your rack, as well as the unit itself. If you are looking to protect and prolong the life of your equipment, be sure to take a look at rack guards! There are many rack guard solutions out there, so understand what they offer, how much they cost andhow you can install them to protect your assets before you make your decision. Some rack guard suppliers will even offer a free or reduced price sample of the guard for you to try before you buy.

Rack Group is a provider of UK warehouse racking solutions, offering repairs, protection, inspections, and more to help companies save money. If you are looking for rack guards, browse our full range online now.

Weight Load Notices

Posted on 2 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Do I need a Weight Load Sign for my racking?

PUWER regulation 4 requires that work equipment is:

suitable for its intended purpose
selected so that the risks to the health and safety of users can be managed
used only for the operations for which it is suitable

This regulation also states that work equipment should be accompanied by information, including user instructions.

Companies using racking can demonstrate they are abiding by this regulation by displaying signs specifying the safe working limits of the equipment.

Weight Load Notices are there to advise colleagues on the safe load limit for the storage system. This is to ensure the racking is not overloaded and therefore unsafe to use.

What does a Weight Load Sign need to include?

The safe working load limit of the rack needs to be displayed in a conspicuous location 2m from the floor, made from corrosion-resistant material, and should include the following information:

Suppliers name
Date supplied with contact information
Safe working load of each shelf
Safe working load of the bay*
Height to first beam
Beam pitch
Safety and warning signs

*IMPORTANT: The bay load is there to advise the safe limit for the whole system at one time and can often be less than the total of each shelf limit.

What happens if I alter the beams on my racking?

Whenever racking is reconfigured, the system should be inspected for safety and the Weight Load Notice updated if necessary.

If the racking layout is changed and the safe working limits are not recalculated, you could be providing inaccurate information to your warehouse teams and therefore risking the safety of the system.

What if I don't have a Weight Load Sign?

New racking should be supplied with Weight Load Signs upon completion of the install and before the racking is used. Newly installed racking needs to be inspected before it is operational. This inspection should identify any racking where a Load Sign is not displayed.

How do I calculate the Safe Working Load of my racking?

Every manufacturer design their racking to different working limits. Therefore calculating the Safe Working Load of racking is not a one-size-fits-all process.

To accurately calculate your Safe Working Load, you will need to supply us with the following information:

Width of the bay
Type of beam (open or box)
Beam dimensions (width and depth)
Frame dimensions (height and width)
Vertical beam pitch (height of each beam from the floor)
Upright duty (usually stamped on the upright)

There may be other information that's required. Please get in touch with our team if you'd like to order Weight Load Signs.

Racking Collapse Shrewsbury Image Source Aaron Chown SWNS Copy

The Main Reasons Behind Racking Collapse and How To Avoid These Risks

We delve into the most common causes of racking failures, explore examples and most importantly the prevention of racking collapse.

Read on

Simplifying Safety Barrier Systems: Making Informed Choices for Your Warehouse

In a recent webinar, experts from across IWS Group of companies came together to shed light on the importance of safety barrier testing and how to make informed decisions when selecting them.

Read on

The Rise of Polymer Over Metal Impact Barriers: The New Standard in Strength and Safety

How do polymer impact barriers stack up against their metal counterparts in terms of practicality and strength?

Read on

IWS Group Announces Acquisition of Anco Storage Equipment Ltd

Posted on 27 June 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Anco Storage Equipment Ltd Joins IWS Group

We’re very excited to announce our parent company, IWS Group, has acquired Anco Storage Equipment Ltd, the largest trade-only supplier of storage solutions in the UK.

Established in 1991 in West Sussex, Anco has gained an enviable reputation for quality and service at a competitive price. Exclusively through its trade-only distribution channel, Anco offers an extensive range of over 7,000 variations of products, covering all kinds of applications from industrial racking, multi-tier projects and mezzanine flooring, to office archive storage and modular shelving. Anco stores over £3M worth of stock in their warehouse to facilitate quick turn-around times on orders.

What does this mean for Rack Group and its Customers?

Anco and its wealth of storage solutions is the perfect complement to IWS Group’s growing portfolio of innovative industrial workspace brands. This acquisition will no doubt further strengthen our product offering, resource, infrastructure, and capability, to provide our Rack Group customers not only an enhanced range offering, but provides a whole new category of products and services available to you.

The IWS Group Family

About IWS Group

IWS Group is a rapidly growing family of market-leading product brands and service companies which provide essential supplies and services to the warehouse and logistics, material handling, and industrial sectors.

The group portfolio currently includes Beaverswood, Brandsafe, Rack Group, and now Anco.

Visit: www.iws.group

About Beaverswood

Beaverswood manufactures innovative products that improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of the physical workspace. The Beaverswood range of warehouse safety and management products includes labelling and signage, recycling solutions, identification products and visual communication solutions.

Visit: www.beaverswood.co.uk

About Brandsafe

Brandsafe is Europe’s leading provider of high visibility impact protection and site safety for industrial buildings worldwide, such as warehouses, manufacturing sites and logistics hubs.

Its innovative traffic management and pedestrian safety solutions are designed to sustainably prevent and protect people, products and property from impact damage.

Visit: www.brandsafeprotection.com

A new solution for end of aisle communication

Posted on 21 June 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

NEW shadow boards now available!

Rack Group are excited to announce a new product as part of our growing Warehouse Accessories range! Introducing the Modulean® Rack End Boards - these large shadow boards are designed for warehouse end of aisle racking systems.

Keep your warehouse organised with NEW Modulean® Rack End Boards

A range of standard 2000mm high x 900mm wide boards available
Suitable for all types of warehouse racking
Supplied with all products on display
Available with either single or double aisle markers
Each board is also supplied with a weight load notice

Available in 7 shadow board designs, each in 4 different colours

Being 2000mm high x 900mm wide, these Rack End Boards have been designed to fit warehouse end of aisle racking systems. 1100mm wide boards are also available to order to suit both sizes of pallet racking.

Each board is available with either single or double aisle markers, with easy to change inserts customised for your warehouse. Simply let us know what aisle information you need.

Supplied with the products on display including a title frame, as well as fixings, we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to install a Modulean® Rack End Board.

To help you comply with regulations, a weight load notice is also included with each board, which are mandatory for all racking. Weight load notices can be printed with weight limits and information – please confirm the details you need printed. If no information is received these will be supplied blank for you to add your information using a marker pen.

Causes of Racking Damage

Posted on 15 June 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Racking damage and how to prevent serious accidents

Racking systems are vital for efficient warehouse storage and operations. Not only are they a big investment, they are also used extremely often every day. This makes them vulnerable to being hit by moving vehicles and pallets.

Minor damage might seem like a small risk initially, but left unmonitored and these little bends can worsen into serious damage.

Ignoring serious damage doesn't make the risk disappear. If left untreated, racking can buckle and collapse, causing a domino effect and knocking whole aisles of racking over.

So, what are the main causes of racking collapse?

Let's look at some of the most common reasons why racking collapses, plus tips on how to reduce the risk:

Racking incorrectly installed

Unqualified installers can build racking incorrectly, compromising its safety. Ensure you always use a qualified, experienced racking installation company that can guarantee installation to the manufacturers instructions.

Racking uprights should always be bolted to the floor using at least two fixings per base plate. Cutting corners won't save time or money long term. Not installing racking properly will likely lead to accidents and legal cases brought against the warehouse owner.

You should also make sure you're choosing the right type of racking for your products and operations. Courtesy of Dexion, we have a handy guide on how to choose warehouse racking.

Overloaded pallets and beams

Every beam of racking has a weight load limit. These limits should be clearly displayed for warehouse teams to see. They should also have training if needed to make sure they understand, and abide by, these limits.

It is a legal requirement to display Weight Load Notice Signs on every aisle of racking. Missing, damaged, or incorrect Weight Load Notice Signs will be identified during your annual racking safety inspection. These should be installed as quickly as possible to prevent possible accidents caused by incorrect loading of pallets and beams.

Impact from material handling equipment

MHE (Material Handling Equipment) frequently moves pallet and stock around the warehouse. Manoeuvring narrow aisles of racking with large, bulky and heavy pallets can often lead to bumps and scrapes with the racking uprights, beams and bracing.

Without barriers and guards, racking can be quite vulnerable to these types of collisions. This can lead to buckling and tears in the components, and ultimately racking collapse if left unrepaired.

Reduce this risk of racking collapse by installing racking protection barriers and guards. Check out our racking protection guide here.

Racking reconfigured and not re-inspected for safety

It's really common for warehouses to change their operations or alter capacity. One of the great benefits of using storage systems like pallet racking is that they can be reconfigured easily.

The risk here is that making any changes to racking beam levels can change the Weight Load Limit. If racking is altered without an experienced engineer, there is a danger that the Weight Load Notice Sign is not updated accordingly.

This can then lead to unsafe working loads of the beams, and potential danger of racking collapse. Ensure all racking is altered by a professional, the weight load limit is recalculated, and the Weight Load Notice Sign is updated to reflect the changes.

Racking components not repaired properly

Repairing racking using in house teams is not necessarily a danger to the racking itself, assuming the person has the relevant skills and training to do so.

Where the risk lies is when racking components are repaired by unskilled and untrained individuals. 'Repairing' torn components by welding patches over the damage is an example of risky repairs and can lead to serious damage.

Repairs are categorised by a traffic light system, created by SEMA. Your annual racking safety inspection will identify any damage, as well as which category they call under. Make sure you follow all guidance from your inspector to keep your warehouse operational and your team safe.

How can you minimise your risk of racking collapse?

Make sure you use qualified installation teams to install and alter any racking systems to the manufacturers instructions
Book a racking safety inspection at least once a year to capture issues and damage
Repair damage as soon as is required, according to the SEMA traffic light coded system
Ensure your teams have sufficient training to know what to look for and what actions to take if they spot an issue

Visit our Maintenance & Repairs page to browse more types of racking damage, and what steps you need to take next.

Recently had an inspection? Send us your report and we can quote your repair work.

The Main Reasons Behind Racking Collapse and How To Avoid These Risks

We delve into the most common causes of racking failures, explore examples and most importantly the prevention of racking collapse.

Read on

Simplifying Safety Barrier Systems: Making Informed Choices for Your Warehouse

In a recent webinar, experts from across IWS Group of companies came together to shed light on the importance of safety barrier testing and how to make informed decisions when selecting them.

Read on

The Rise of Polymer Over Metal Impact Barriers: The New Standard in Strength and Safety

How do polymer impact barriers stack up against their metal counterparts in terms of practicality and strength?

Read on

How to choose warehouse racking

Posted on 25 May 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

No warehouse can operate at optimum capacity or efficiency if the internal space isn’t configured with the right industrial racking to suit the products being stored.

You can have the best pallet racking equipment in the world, but if it doesn’t complement your operation, then efficiency will be compromised. Getting it right is key to successful logistics.

Here, we look at some of the many different types of pallet racking and explain when and how they are best deployed.

What is warehouse pallet racking?

Broadly, warehouse pallet racking comprises a system of metal uprights and cross beams that are used to support the goods being stored.

The type of racking and the way they are configured can be adapted to meet the needs of the warehouse, whether the goods being stored need fast turnaround or longer-term storage; whether they are hand-picked in small amounts or by the pallet-load; or whether the set-up is manually operated or uses robotic automation. They all, however, aim to optimise the space available.

Narrow aisle pallet racking

Narrow aisle pallet racking is ideal for a warehouse where the storage floor space is limited, as it offers high density storage while at the same time allowing for quick order-picking and fast accessibility to every pallet.

Varying shelving heights and depths, together with height-adjustable supporting beams assure maximum flexibility. Narrow aisle pallet racking can represent a space saving of up to 40%. The associated handling equipment is often highly automated to ensure speedy picking, straight from the pallet.

Pallet flow racking

Pallet flow racking is also known as live pallet racking. Pallets travel smoothly on rollers. While the front pallet is removed on the front side of the rack, the rear pallet is held back. Pallet movement is always safe and smooth thanks to automatic braking, along with a combined load guide and end stop unit.

The two main types of live pallet racking are the gravity FIFO live storage system and the push-back LIFO system.

Gravity FIFO live pallet racking system

Here, the loading area is at the opposite end to the picking area, with the pallets travelling along a system of rollers that form a slightly inclined rail. FIFO pallet racking is ideal for products needing perfect stock rotation.

Push-back LIFO racking

Here, there is just one loading and unloading area at the front of the structure, and the pallets are stored by pushing the previous ones towards the back of the racking.

Crane racking

Crane racking is a fully automated storage system, ideal for storing pallets and large items.

Designed to work within very narrow aisles and at a height of more than 30 metres, crane racking is an efficient, optimised storage solution.

Guided by a management software system, the crane travels along the aisles of the warehouse, where it enters, positions and extracts the goods.

For multi-deep configurations, crane racking is equipped with a shuttle which retrieves the pallet and delivers it directly to the front, ensuring maximum accessibility.

Multi-tier pallet racking

Multi-tier pallet racking introduces different levels to the warehouse, with varying heights of floors and aisles, all of which help make best use of the vertical space available.

Each different floor level can be accessed by stairways, and are linked by walkways. On each level a system of shelving is created for the different types of products.
Multitier shelving is particularly useful for businesses selling small products, such as pharmaceuticals or spare parts, that need to be hand-picked.

New USA Master Distributor for Rack Armour

Posted on 13 May 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Rack Armour has been a brand sold across the USA and Canada since it’s US patent in 2012. Since then the unique polymer racking upright protection guard has grown in popularity thanks to its ballistics-grade exterior and impact absorbing foam interior.

Based in Anaheim, California, Lean Inc Materials Handling specialise in racking alterations, repairs and designing efficient warehouse layouts. Lean Inc also supply a range of racking protection products that complement the racking installation services they offer.

Stuart Ovington, Managing Director at Rack Group says “Bringing Lean Inc on board as the Master Distributor is an exciting next step for growing our Rack Armour brand in the USA. We will be able to streamline our operations and ensure our customers receive a fast and reliable service."

5 Ways to prolong the life of your racking

Posted on 10 May 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

How to prolong the life of your racking

Let’s face it, storage equipment doesn’t come cheap. Racking plays an essential role in keeping your warehouse operational, yet can also be the reason why you encounter disruptions and down time. This article delves into some of the ways you can get the most out of your racking, ensuring it lasts for years to come.

Racking has a very important job to do. Storage equipment is designed to hold tremendous amounts of warehouse stock. This stock is precious, as are your people who work in and around it. It’s also a huge investment for your business. Whether you choose to buy brand new, or source some quality second-hand systems, you’ll want to prolong the life of your racking for as long as possible to get a good ROI.

If well maintained, industrial storage equipment can last for years and years. This of course depends on how busy your warehouse is, the types of products you are storing, and the environment your racking is stored. It also depends on how well you treat it.

This brings us to our first tip on how to prolong the life of your racking:

1. Make sure your warehouse operators are fully (and regularly) trained

This may sound obvious but the main source of damage to racking is due to impact from Material Handling Equipment such as forklift trucks. This seems like a sensible place to start when looking at ways to prolong the life of your storage equipment. Ensure your teams are not only trained when they join your company, but have regular refresher training to keep their skills sharp.

It’s also important to ensure your team is confident working with the racking itself. One example could be with the weight load limits on your particular type of pallet racking. Displaying weight load notices at the end of every aisle of racking enables your team to quickly check limits and ensure they are followed. Overloading racking, or storing pallets with uneven distribution of weights is one way storage systems can be weakened, potentially leading to racking collapse.

So, you’ve had your racking installed by a top-notch team of qualified installers, your MHE drivers are fully trained and your stock is safely loaded. It’s now time to talk about protecting that lovely new racking installation of yours. As the classic saying goes, prevention is cheaper than the cure. Which brings us to tip number two:

2. Protect racking uprights before damage occurs with guards

Whether you prefer metal guards, or hard-wearing polymer guards, choosing to protect your racking uprights will save you money in the long-run. Guards can cost as little as £10 each, protecting the most vulnerable part of the upright. In comparison, a full upright replacement can cost up to £500.

Racking upright guards can perform for many years, being replaced only when repeated or major impact has occurred, making them a cost-effective option. Not only do they protect the upright from most types of impact damage, they also act as a visual deterrent to MHE operators. Usually sold in bright yellow colours, the upright guards signal a hazard to drivers whilst they move around the warehouse.

There are also other types of protection systems you can utilise to prolong the life of your racking, which brings us to tip number three:

3. Install racking protection barriers in high-risk zones

The end of racking aisles can be particularly vulnerable areas for racking damage. Warehouse vehicles will often turn tightly down aisles, causing impact to occur. Our next tip to prolong your racking involves installing impact protection barriers in these high-risk zones.

End of aisle barriers absorb and deflect impact, and come in all sorts of styles and materials. Choose the best option for your warehouse depending on the type of vehicles in operation and the type of racking you have. You should also factor in the amount of maintenance that might be required for certain types of barriers. If contact occurs with painted metal barriers, for example, the barriers will require frequent re-painting to ensure they remain highly visible and keeps your warehouse looking clean and tidy.

With your barriers and guards in place, it’s now time for tip number four:

4. Regularly inspect your racking for signs of damage or safety issues

UK guidelines recommend employers conduct regular and annual racking safety inspections. By checking over racking regularly, and reporting damage straightaway, you’re not only meeting these guidelines, but you’re also helping to prolong the life of your racking.

In busy warehouses, frequent little knocks to racking can go unnoticed. Large pallets of stock can also obscure some areas of damage. Ensuring your team routinely checks over your racking for defects means any potential issues can be flagged and action can be taken. This might be to unload the racking bay and carry out urgent repair work, which leads us into our final tip:

5. Repair damage to racking quickly to reduce serious consequences

The level of damage to racking uprights, bracing or beams is often categorised as a traffic light system by SEMA. Green signals that the damage should be monitored but no immediate action is required. Amber risk signals a hazard that requires action as soon as possible. Damaged categorised as a red risk requires immediate action as the damage is considered very serious.

The level of damage will prioritise which repair work needs to be carried out first. Staying on top of repair and maintenance work will help reduce repair bills long-term as some green or amber hazards may develop into red risk hazards, which are more costly than smaller repairs. Ignoring repair work won’t make the damage go away. Make sure you’re taking all the steps to prevent catastrophic accidents involving collapsed racking, and prolong your racking for as long as possible.

Is your warehouse 100% safe? Webinar

Posted on 1 May 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

The Ultimate Guide to Racking Safety Audits

This is where the safety Webinar on ‘Is Your Warehouse 100% Safe? The Ultimate Guide to Racking Safety Audits’ will take place - at 2pm on 18th May 2022!

Has auditing become a lengthy, over-complicated process?

Graeme Waller, (Training Manager at Rack Group,) and Kirsty Rogers, (Managing Director at Specialist Industrials Ltd,) will discuss how to organise, plan and successfully execute your warehouse safety audit - making audits faster and easier.

This Webinar supplies all the need-to-know basics in just a 30 minute live conference, complete with a live Q&A so you can speak directly to the experts about your specific issues.