Moving premises or upgrading an existing warehouse can be a disruptive and costly process. Fortunately, a warehouse refurbishment or complete warehouse fit out can be a lot simpler than you might think, with careful planning and execution. Whether you need to reorganise space or completely transform a warehouse, it pays to understand all your options.
Space design and storage are your starting point. An accessible layout with a defined workflow goes a long way to support sustainable business growth. Furthermore, fully utilising every inch of warehouse capacity ensures maximum return from your premises.
While every business is unique, with individual challenges to overcome, all warehouse refurbishments and warehouse fit outs follow the same basic principles.
Space Planning
First, consider inventory, stock movements, picking and packing, lifting equipment, and people. Every process needs to be mapped and considered as part of an operations ecosystem. Both equipment and workers have safety requirements to consider. For instance, different types of lifting equipment require a certain volume of space in which to safely operate, and workers must be shielded from hazardous processes and machinery.
Inventory usually takes up the largest volume of space. The key to success here is to make full use of vertical warehouse capacity. Building upwards is the best way to accommodate more stock with a minimal storage footprint. There are storage solutions for every type of stock, from bulky and heavy to lengthy and numerous. Well-designed storage solutions protect stock and improve handling times. Warehouse storage which achieves both, will result in healthier margins.
For storage of high-density, small parts and non-palletised goods, multi-tiered shelving is ideal to maximise the vertical space available in a warehouse. Multi-tier shelving incorporates stairways and raised walkways between multiple storage floors. Each floor can be fitted with storage – shelving and racking – designed and built in a bespoke configuration to efficiently store different product ranges, such as fast- or slow-moving stock lines.
Developing a system to store palletised goods depends entirely on the volume of stock, frequency of stock movements, and standard or non-standard pallet sizes. Raw materials for instance, often has a large amount of pallet overhang or arrives in non-standard pallet boxes, both of which require an equally non-standard racking configuration. A quality storage supplier will be able to design and install a pallet racking system which is future-proofed for anything your supply chain or customers might throw at it.
Making Extra Space
It might seem like moving premises is the only option for a growing business. Hold that thought. There is a simple, low-cost solution you might not have considered. Installing a mezzanine floor is a relatively hassle-free method to almost double warehouse capacity. A mezzanine can accommodate machinery, shelving, offices, and showrooms in a short timeframe due to the ease of installation. All that is required is sufficient vertical capacity and a solid ground floor.
Top tip: Look for a mezzanine floor installer with full design support and will make Buildings Regulation application on your behalf. An installer with comprehensive knowledge of Building Regulations will take this invariably stressful element of project management out of your hands.
The Benefits of a One-Stop Contractor
When it comes to commissioning a warehouse refurbishment or full warehouse fit out, speed is of the essence. Any investment needs to deliver a return as quickly as possible and the key to this lies with your contractor. A contractor able to survey, design, build, install and finish the complete project will offer a faster turnaround and a more competitive price than using multiple contractors. Often, being responsible for the entire project is a sure-fire method for bringing quality and efficiency to your project.
Key warehouse refurbishment services:
- Shelving and racking
- Office fit out and facilities
- Floors, walls, and ceilings
- Partitions and screening
- MEP; mechanical, electrical, plumbing
- Building Regulations application
Dealing with one contractor and a single point of contact, makes a major project, like a warehouse refurbishment, a hassle-free process. The related administration is greatly reduced, as is the burden of managing a major project.
Top tip: Look for a single contractor with good reviews, case studies and testimonials as a measure of quality.
Industrial Refurbishment Specialists
As an industrial refurbishment specialist, Prodek offer a complete service. With a proven track record of satisfied customers, we have proven that working with a single contractor delivers the quality and efficiency a warehouse refurbishment needs to deliver rapid value. Our customers tell us they prefer the speed and ease of dealing with a single contractor as it often cuts the project completion time in half.
The first step in a major project is a site visit by a team of engineers. The aim is to gain a deep understanding of how a business operates now, and its future infrastructure needs. You want to use a contractor with considerable experience in space planning and lifting equipment. Prodek engineers are experts in how space it used. They will find every pinch point and every square inch of under-utilised space. The result will be a design which makes every square metre of your premises deliver maximum revenue.
From the warehouse and goods yard to staff facilities and the boardroom, Prodek will provide a complete, ready-to-use space without having to hire additional contractors to complete the job.
eCommerce Warehouse Fit Out
As a specialist supplier for e-commerce operations, Prodek design and install tailored solutions for fast-paced picking and packing activities.
Prodek warehouse shelving systems come in a variety of configurations, tailored to the individual business and distribution method. Carton flow storage – also known as roller bed – is a popular parts storage system for both assembly and dispatch activities.
When a lack of space is a problem, Prodek mezzanine floors are the ideal solution to provide new space for storage, offices, and machinery. Industrial, factory and office partitions create segregated areas for shielding processes such as machinery or storing hazardous chemicals, private space for meetings or first aid, and staff facilities such as locker rooms or canteen space.