Miller UK, which manufactures a range of buckets and attachments for the construction industry, supplying the leading construction machinery manufacturers as well as a worldwide customer base, has expanded its operation into one self-contained facility near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Its move into the new 15,000sq m facility has amalgamated its operation from three sites to bring full supply, repair and administration under one roof for the first time and has made extensive use of Link 51 pallet racking.
Installed to meet a precise build schedule, the design and installation expertise available from the racking specialist has helped Miller UK make the most of the available space in a new 4,200sq m refitted warehouse at the site and to structure its stockholding procedures to meet rapid response commitments.
Link 51’s XL pallet racking system is at the heart of the facility and has been specified to provide a choice of storage location dimensions, reflecting the range of products supplied by Miller UK. From buckets – up to a capacity of 2.4cu m – through couplers to special products and attachments, the choice of available units is extensive and calls for a highly effective and efficient storage system.
This in turn has pointed towards a variation in racking capacity and sizes, while the design has still had to make the maximum use of both the available floor space and the roof height, interfacing throughout with the company’s Linde electric fork truck fleet which operate from aisle widths of 2.25m.
Ten runs of back-to-back Link 51 pallet racking are now available in a design layout that has been created to reflect the narrowing of the warehouse at one end. Additionally a 17-bay run, accessible from one side, is located along a perimeter wall and is dedicated to the storage of piece parts. In all cases, the racking uprights extend to 4.8m, making full use of the available height within the premises.
“Throughout, our products are held on standard Euro pallets measuring 800mm by 1,200mm,” comments Simon Astley, facilities manager. “The larger buckets are loaded onto racking that also features timber boarding whilst elsewhere the pallets are located directly onto the racking beams. The positioning of the racking also takes account of a slight overhang on the pallet edges which are characteristic of some of the larger buckets so selective runs have been installed with a central gap running along their full length to increase the overall dimension.”
