Industrial Racking For Major Chemical Company

Thistle Systems has designed manufactured and installed an industrial racking solution for a major UK chemical company which has increased the pallet positions by over 25% as well as adding new walkways to increase access.

The project saw Thistle redesign an existing racking facility which was using a combination of bulk stacking and standard adjustable pallet racking with a new layout that featured extra deep industrial racking with timber decking for maximum safety and effectiveness.

With some design modifications and careful , Thistle were also able to add an additional run of racking and incorporate a walkway which ran right through the racking to enhance accessibility both to the products and to fire escapes in the event of an emergency.

In addition to providing a design solution that increased capacity by 25%, Thistle also developed an installation schedule which minimised downtime and available storage capacity by carrying out all works over 4 weekends where specified runs were dismantled and new bays reconstructed.

Thistle Systems’ Project Manager, Mike Rose, explained “With floor space becoming an increasingly expensive commodity, many companies are looking for alternative solutions to bulk stacking however the key element of industrial racking is to design and specify the right grade of racking to accommodate the products being stored.”

He continued, “The existing racking on the project had deteriorated with several damaged components caused by a heavy duty load. By increasing the specification of the racking, increasing the depth of the bays and adding timber decking to support the materials being stored we have delivered a robust industrial racking solution that will withstand the test of time.”

Click here to download our industrial racking brochure or for more information contact our technical sales team now on 01236 453888.

Rack Protection for Drinks Manufacturer

Rack Protection from Thistle

With delicate raw materials such as aluminium cans and paper packaging being stored, rack protection was a key requirement to ensure minimal damage to the materials and the racking.

The MaxPRO system is manufactured from laser cut, high tensile steel to withstand an even greater impact and protect the racking, the floor and the goods being stored.

Thistle Systems also installed the revolutionary UprightPRO upright protection system, which incorporates a PU spring to absorb any impact and enhance the protection offered to the racking as well as preventing the concrete floor from cracking.

Thistle Systems’ Sales Director, Alan Scott, explained “More and more companies are recognising the value of a high quality rack protection system to not only prevent racking damage but also minimise any stock loss. They also recognise that damage to their racking system not only incurs the cost of stock and racking structure but more importantly can cause a serious impact on health and safety in the workplace and performance through unavailable racking areas.”

He continued, “Our MaxPRO rack protection system delivers unrivalled levels of protection with a higher grade of steel and our unique PU spring system which absorbs the impact as opposed to simply getting in the way.

For more information on our MaxPRO rack protection system, contact our technical sales team on 01236 453888.

Carton Live Shelving for Wine Distributor

Thistle Systems has enabled one of the UK’s leading wine distributors to transform the performance of their warehouse by installing a new carton live shelving system and reconfiguring their existing warehouse to improve throughput and increase capacity.

With a growing portfolio of clients and commitment to offering a nationwide next day delivery service, the wine distributor needed a system that would increase capacity by 18% but the transformation of the picking speed was critical and immediately delivered a 21% increase in picking and replenishment.

Using their Max the Cube approach to assess the existing 3 warehouses which was using standard adjustable pallet racking with picking areas, Thistle Systems worked closely with the Warehouse Manager and the Logistics Manager to redesign the entire facility to create a system where one warehouse became a dedicated picking area with carton live shelving.

The thistle team then reconfigured another warehouse to increase capacity by changing the layout of the system, adjusting beam heights, reducing aisle widths and adding additional pallet bays.

And by re-using some of the existing racking on site, Thistle Systems were able to transform the entire operations on a very tight budget to the delight of the client.

Thistle Systems’ Sales Director, Alan Scott, “This is a situation we encounter every day with successful companies which see their warehouse systems grow organically until they reach a point where they recognise the system is having a negative impact on performance and service.”

He continued, “The carton live system enables the company to have a greater number of individual picking faces within the area and the nature of carton live means that the next case of wine is automatically presented, delivering significant operational improvements.”

For more information on our carton live systems and our reconfiguration service contact our sales team now on 01236 453888.

Thistle Systems Secure Industrial Mezzanine and Office Fitout

Thistle Systems has secured a major contract for a mezzanine floor for one of the UK’s leading suppliers of renewable energy thanks in no small part to the company’s expertise and experience in interior fit outs.

The contract will see Thistle Systems design, manufacture and install the mezzanine floor with a storage area to the ground level and office space to accommodate up to 16 personnel on the first floor.

As well as advising on the optimum design of mezzanine for the required usage, Thistle also space planned the office area with bench desks, side opening tambours and a storage wall to maximise the storage capacity with the minimum foot print.

As part of the office fit out, Thistle Systems will install air conditioning, create a kitchen area and supply all of the office furniture.

The project also requires pinpoint accuracy as the mezzanine floor will adjoin an existing structure and the client is looking to create an open plan area with a continuous floor level.

Thistle Systems Project Manager, Stephen McCormick, explained “Our ability to deliver the entire contract from design through to installation, provide expert advice on each area of the project and manage the building warrant side of things was a key factor in the client’s buying decision.”

He continued, “This provides them with the peace of mind that we are in total control of the timescales, the cost and the delivery, so that there are no surprises and there are no issues when it comes to quality.”

For more information on industrial mezzanines, office storage or interior fit outs contact Thistle Systems now on 01236 453888.

Flexible Mobile Shelving Enables Local Council to Save Money

A local council was able to save tens of thousands of pounds during a downsizing project thanks to the expertise of the Thistle Systems team and their ability to deliver a long term solution that built in flexibility.

Thistle System originally assisted the local council to design and install a major mobile shelving system some 8 years ago however during the initial discussion the client indicated that there was a strong possibility that it would need to be moved in the future.

So whilst other companies specified the standard mobile shelving system at the time, Thistle Systems recommended a modular solution, which was marginally more expensive at the time, but which could be easily dismantled and relocated.

The investment paid off and rather than having to write off a significant capital expenditure, the council was able to remove and re-use the entire mobile shelving solution in their new premises.

Thistle Systems Sales Director, Alan Scott, explained “Our focus has always been to develop long term relationships with our clients which means not only giving clients best value and service, it’s about develop the right solution for their requirements.”

He continued, “Our professional integrity and our commitment to delivering the right solution has cost us a few projects over the years, however it has won us far more respect with clients and indeed from customers who chose not to heed our advice and suffered as a result.”

To discuss your mobile shelving solution contact Thistle Systems now on 01236 453888

SPECIAL REPORT: The Issues With Drive In Racking

Like everything in life, drive in racking isn’t perfect.

We should know. We have been successfully installing drive in racking across the UK for the last 16 years.

And the bottom line is that we love drive in racking – in the right environment with the right conditions.

But we know it’s not always the right approach.

So if you currently have drive in racking or are considering installing drive in racking in your operation, then you MUST read on.

Drive in racking has become a firm favourite when it comes to high density racking solutions, especially in distribution centres and cold stores where there are large batches of the same SKU.

However we are seeing a growing number of companies who are moving away from drive in racking and looking at the benefits radio shuttles can offer.

That’s probably because our project managers discuss the pros and cons of all the potential alternatives with our clients before we propose the right solution for the individual project.

We also outline the potential payback periods and ROI on any investment in racking – which can often be a real eye opener for clients.

And when you see the 5 key reasons clients are moving towards radio shuttles, you will understand why.

Download the report 0n Drive In Racking now – absolutely FREE

The Pros and Cons of Drive In Racking

Drive in racking offers an ultra high density storage solution which can enable organisations to maximise the capacity of their storage facility however, it is vital that you understand the full implications of the drive in solution

Drive In Racking works on the FILO principle of storage and is ideally suited for environments where there is a large number of similar SKUs or in environments, such as cold stores, where space efficient storage is essential.

With careful storage design, drive in racking can achieve capital utilisation of up to 80% of the volume of the premises.

The nature of the drive in solution, i.e., that pallet trucks continually enter the racking, demands a robust system that is capable of withstanding the wear and tear of every day usage, however these can be minimised by incorporating key safety features such as guide rails, pallet supports and brackets.

Key Benefits

• Excellent space utilisation of floor area
• Excellent utilisation of cubic storage space
• Designed to suit any pallet size

Key Considerations

• Restricted to approximately 7-10 pallets deep for practical usage
• Height may be restricted to allow practical usage
• Use of guide rails to protect pallets and racking from damage
• Use of pallet support and brackets to accommodate differing load overhangs
• Accessibility to individual pallets can be restricted
• Time taken to deliver and retrieve pallets from system must be considered
• Can require multiple handling of stock to maximise utilisation

Thistle Systems provide clients with a completely different approach to storage solutions. We advise on not only the best solution for your particular requirements but demonstrate the potential return on investment and payback periods for each alternative.

To find out more about drive in racking, contact us now on 01236 453888

Thistle Reconfigures Automotive Storage System for Major Dealer

Thistle Systems has helped 2 major car dealerships to combine their service centre by dismantling, reconfiguring and extending their existing shelving system in their new premises.

With an enviable reputation in the Automotive market and an extensive network of suppliers, Thistle Systems were called in to assist with the move and to supply additional shelving that matched the existing shelving.

After carrying out a full survey of the existing shelving, Thistle’s Project Team designed a layout that maximised the capacity of the new storage facility whilst accommodating the diverse range of parts that ranged in size from spark plugs to tyres and exhausts as well as new COSSH cabinets.

The team were also able to identify the make of the existing shelving from their extensive network of manufacturers to ensure that the new system matched perfectly.

Thistle Systems’ Project Manager, Jim Young, explained “We are seeing a growing trend of companies consolidating their premises as they look at every means possible of minimising overheads and costs however the automotive industry is one of the few sectors where competitors are now sharing premises and resources.”

He continued, “The secret of success with these projects is in the design and being able to incorporate as much of the existing shelving as possible. Our knowledge of the automotive sector and the products being stored enabled us to optimise shelf spacing, small storage containers and dividers to deliver a solution that maximised the storage capacity within the available floor space.

For more information contact us now

Office Fit Out for Dundee Media Company

Thistle Systems Interiors team has successfully completed an office interiors fit out for the quay side headquarters of a fast growing Dundee media company thanks to its philosophy of making workspace work.

Thistle’s interiors team worked closely with the client’s team to advise upon key issues that would help to achieve their brief of a bright, modern office which provided sufficient space to grow into whilst taking into consideration that it was a listed building.

With this in mind, Thistle’s team delivered a solution which maximised the available space of the premises with a feature mezzanine floor to capitalise on the height of the building, bench desks to comfortably accommodate the company’s team of highly skilled employees and glazed partitioning to form offices and private meeting areas.

Thistle’s Interiors Project Manager, Paul Hayes, explained “Every company is looking to get everything they can out of the available space, however it is vital that you achieve the right balance of space utilisation, comfort and productivity.”

He continued, “The mezzanine provides the comfort with valuable additional floor space. The modern looking bench desks provide a flexible amount of work space and the glass partitioning system creates private areas without encroaching on the available light.”

And whilst many companies find these types of projects a little challenging, Thistle’s approach and philosophy is a perfect fit.

Paul explained, “We particularly enjoy getting to grips with these types of contracts which many contractors may consider to be a little small and find difficult to commit resources. Our combination of experienced project managers and a highly skilled workforce enables us to deliver superb solutions that maximises clients’ budgets, on time and to very tight budgets.”

For more information on the interiors and fit out solutions offered by Thistle Systems visit www.thistlesystems.co.uk or call 01236 453888.

Major Floor Over Shelving System for Distribution Company

Thistle Systems has installed a major floor over shelving system to create a highly flexible storage solution for one of the UK’s leading distribution companies.

The client was looking to maximise the storage capacity in the available floor space whilst providing a flexible system that could accommodate a diverse range of products to be stored, from small components to large, bulky products.

The finished solution was a Floor Over Shelving System featuring heavy duty shelving with small parts storage to the lower level to allow quick and easy access to the fast moving stock of smaller components.

The heavy duty shelving was used to support mild steel decking and enabled the first level storage solution to be designed independently from the lower level.

The decision to adopt a floor over shelving solution enabled the distribution company to have the right storage solution for their requirements whilst removing the need for additional structural steelwork and the associated costs of a mezzanine floor.

Thistle Systems’ Sales Director, Alan Scott, explained “To the untrained eye, the finished solution looks and acts like a mezzanine floor however, thanks to our knowledge of racking and shelving systems, we have been able to develop a cost effective solution that meets the needs of the client.”

He continued, “It’s this lateral thinking and experience in developing highly effective storage that has enabled Thistle Systems to carve out a unique reputation in the market as a company who develops innovative solutions that deliver bottom line benefits.”