BMW Select Thistle To Create Efficient Parts Storage Solution

When it comes to design and engineering, very few companies can compete with BMW. So when the German manufacturing giant were looking to design their parts store for their flagship showroom and workshop in Edinburgh, BMW turned to Thistle Systems to advise on creating a storage facility that would enhance the performance of the operation.

With no fewer than 19 individual work bays plus a dedicated retail facility the workshop of the new garage was almost 4 times that of the previous outlet and brought together two sites to achieve significant cost savings and in doing so becoming one of the largest BMW showrooms in Scotland.

Working closely with the parts team, Thistle's project team carried out a complete assessment of the type of products being stored, the expected stock turnover of each product and the accessibility required to ensure an efficient operation. A key aspect of the specification was ensuring that the aesthetics of the system integrated seamlessly with the stylish design of the new modern facility.

The two storey solution combined almost 80 bays of Thistle's Euro Shelving and longspan shelving together with specialist tyre storage accessories to create a solution that epitomized the German's reputation for supreme efficiency.

Thistle also designed and installed a high density small parts storage system to deliver the capacity required for such a large operation whilst minimising the required floor space. By using a bin system that can be sub-divided into further small parts containers, Thistle were able to create an additional 30% in storage capacity within the given area.

And to demonstrate Thistle's ability to design, supply and install the complete storage solution, Thistle also supplied the COSHH cabinets to safely store the garage's hazardous liquids.

Project Manager, Jim Young, explained "Car garages require a unique approach to their storage solutions as they typically house a broad range of products from small parts to body panels and from tyres to hazardous liquids - all with varying degrees of stock turnover."

He continued, "Thistle's unparalleled experience in the automotive market provided us with a great foundation however BMW's unique operation and their commitment to quality and efficiency drove us to work even harder to create a storage system that reflected their values."

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