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Finding the best solution for your warehouse planning takes organization and attentive follow-through. Determining everything from the size of the pallet racks to how much industrial shelving will be needed is essential in order to make the best use of available space.

Tips for warehouse planning

Knowing what’s most important in the warehouse planning process is the first step in creating a space that benefits both you and the rest of the warehouse personnel, Here are some steps to follow when considering howto set up your warehouse for optimal functionally.

1. Define your objectives. First, determine what you hope to accomplish by setting up your warehouse. Do you need more pallet rack positions or do you need to improve order picking? Do you want to improve efficiency without increasing resources or do you want to improve safety? Ask yourself these types of questions to come to a clear understanding of why the planning needs to happen.
2. Collect relevant data. Collect all data relevant to the current building or the current layout of your warehouse so that you can determine the scope of the project. Include architectural drawings showing columns, doors, height restrictions, docks and storage racks. Determine the size of the units being stored, the type of forklifts you have along with the existing aisle requirements, your pallet rack type if any, and available space that will be considered for industrial shelving.
3. Analyze the data. After collecting the specific information about the warehouse, analyze the information with respect to your current objectives and needs. This will help you determine whether your objectives and needs make sense in relation to the actual warehouse layout. Seek help of some experienced material handling equipment specialist to assist you in analyzing your objectives.
4. Create a plan of action. The implementation plan should be detail all the steps required to create the warehouse layout. The ideal warehouse implementation plan should indicate when a task is required to start and finish, based on the availability of resources , and whether you have obtained inside help or outside contractors.
5. Implement the plan. Be sure to follow the plan to the letter, and be aware of changes that may need to occur in order to continue. If new equipment is required, make sure you have experienced material handling professionals to assist in the successful implementation of the plan. Also, be sure to have experts on your side who can take care of things like ordering permits and going over inspections.

Proper planning and implementation of your warehouse layout are crucial in making optimal use of your storage space.

Maintaining safe pallet racks as part of the industrial shelving components is imperative to the safe storage and handling of materials in your warehouse of manufacturing facility. However, safety often gets put in the back burner and, as a result, damaged pallet rack can create complications in your work space and injury and liabilities for your business.

Ensuring Safe Pallet Racks

To ensue that your pallet rack is not damaged, make sure that working loads are at safe level at times. Pallet racks generally are designed to hold the specific weight and size of the products stored. Never overload or exceed the recommended load specifications for a pallet rack system. Place signs that show load limits for the racking prominently throughout the warehouse.

Also, report any forklift accidents, collisions, dropped or misplaced loads, and any other incidents that resulted in pallet rack damage. When an incident occurs, immediately report it and check the integrity of the rack system. Upright frames showing significant damage must be pulled from the floor immediately to prevent collapse and injury to warehouse personnel.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Have your storage rack routinely inspected for integrity and safety. Regular inspection of racking should be conducted by both in-house personnel and by independent auditors to check rack integrity and identify potential safety problems, such as a damaged pallet rack. In order maintain and preserve the safety of the rack system, you must regularly audit your pallet racking. A proper audit should focus on these key areas:

1. Check that loads conform to the design of the rack and that signs are posted to remind personnel of safe working loads.
2. Check for upright damage: are footplates, braces, and anchor damage free?
3. Check your beams: Are beams overloaded? Are beams damaged? Are beam connector safety clips missing? Are all beam rivets properly affixed to the upright?

Making Safety Our Priority 

Making sure that you and your personnel are working with safe industrial shelving solutions must be a priority. Contact the experienced rack professionals at HD Shelving today to schedule regular inspections of your pallet racks for damage and potential safety hazards.

When thinking about warehouse planing pallet rack wire deck ensure the safety and efficiency of the shelving system. The key to ordering and incorporating the proper wire decks into your warehouse’s industrial shelving plan include understanding benefits, and how they can ultimately save time/money for your company.

The Benefits and Types of Pallet Rack Wire Decks

To order pallet rack wire decks, first examine the advantages of having them in your warehouse. For instance, wire decks improve overall safety by providing full deck coverage, so pallet sit safely in rack. In addition, the open mesh design of wire deck increase fire safety, thus lowering insurance premiums.

While all wire decks offer the same benefits, remember not all wire decks are created equal. There are several types you can choose from, including:

• Waterfall Deck- While this is common for roll form beams, since roll form types beams are most commonly used there is also a type of structural beams. In this type of wire deck, the meshing wraps over the beam.
• Inside Waterfall Deck- This type of decking hides the “mesh waterfall” inside the step beam. This is the ideal type of pallet rack wire deck for those craving a cleaner unobstructed look.
• Flat Deck for roll form or Structural Beams- Flat decking lacks a bend at each end of the meshing when it reaches the beam. This comes in roll form or for structural beams.

How to Order the Right Pallet Rack Wire Deck

There are certain key considerations to bear in mind when preparing to order wire decks. Discuss with your professional supplier the types of decking available and, once you’ve determined what type will fit your needs, have the following information ready when you order:

1. The manufacturer of your rack – that is, the brand of the rack you will be ordering
2. Length of the beam – inside the uprights. The most common length is 96 inches.
3. The type of beam you have – roll form usually have a step, whereas structural does not.
4. The dimension of the out-to-out beams, which is the common depth of the rack – for instance. 42 inch deep for 48-inch deep pallet.
5. If you have a roll form beam – the inside dimension of the step.
6. The weight of the pallets to determine the capacity of your wire deck – the most common wire deck is 42 inches deep by 46 inches wide. There are two decks per beam level.

Shelf Master Can Help You

The team at Shelf Master has been helping warehouses and storage facilities with their pallet rack wire deck needs. Call Shelf Master today for a quote and join us on our social networks.

As issues of fire safety compliance become more prominent in warehouse and storage facility maintenance. It is important incorporating fire protection systems as a part of industrial shelving units when storing materials. Just as local building require structural calculations and drawings by a registered engineer, a “High Pile” storage requires a professional fire consultant, knowledgeable in the local fire codes.

What is “High Pile” Storage?

“High Pile” Storage, defined by most color codes, contains closely packed piles of combustible material on pallets, racks, and shelving where storage exceeds 12 feet in height. When high-hazard commodities are involved, such as Group A plastics, rubber tires and flammable liquids, the minimum height for storage drops to 6 feet.

Those involved with high piled storage, whether for new projects or existing warehouses, should be aware of the complex issues involved. If ignored early in the process, potential difficulties revolving around fire protection systems turn into very expensive and difficult propositions.

Code Requirements for Fire Systems Anaheim

Most codes require an operational permit if over 500 ft. 2 if high pile storage is present in a building. These permits are often regulated by fire departments and cannot transfer to new tenants or building owners; the required protection depends on the proposed storage commodity, height, and method of storage, which allows each individual case to be reviewed of compliance.

Responsibility if the client

Many clients sign a lease for a warehouse/storage facility just to face the requirement of a high pile storage permit. Even with a new facility, those responsible for obtaining permits may not know the requirements. In the worst case scenario, an entity will sign for a building with inadequate fire protection, requiring a major upgrading (and unaffordable) expense simply because the company was unaware of the codes.

Automatic fire-extinguishing systems are typically provided using an automatic sprinkler system. Common installation include ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) sprinklers, specifically designed for the protection of storage, or standard ceiling systems with in-rack sprinklers systems.

Experts in Fire Protection Systems

With years of experience in industrial shelving, pallet racks, and fire protection systems, HD Shelving can guide you through the process of obtaining the right fire protection systems Anaheim or any other area you require. Call us today for a quote and join us on our social networks.

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to protect a modular office is to install guard rail protection around the perimeter of the space. When used in high traffic, well-populated work areas, a guard rail can be economical yet valuable safeguard against accidents in the workplace.

In addition to providing the industrial shelving Anaheim warehouses and other areas throughout the country can find useful, Shelf Master is a leading provider of guard rail protection for modular office spaces as well as other applications. Here are some benefits to installing guard rails in your work area.

Why Guard Rail Protection Works

• Employee protection. Employees feel safer in the facilities where they work when guard rails are in places to protect them in potentially dangerous areas, such as walkways and high traffic areas. Guard rail protection prevents unnecessary accidents in the workplace and the high costs associated with on-the-job injuries.
• Facility protection. Facility managers can obtain personal protection simply by providing a guarded path of travel to keep employees safe in high traffic areas. Remember, guard rail protection doesn’t just protect employees it protects the business as well.
• Equipment protection. Installing a guard rail around essential equipment and heavy or dangerous machinery can be a crucial safety feature in a modular office. Guard rail protection can also be valuable in keeping people at a safe distance from dangerous equipment.
• Storage rack protection. You can save the expenses of replacing pallet racks, push backs, drive systems, or shelving by installing a barrier to avoid the ramming of suck racks. A guard rail can help protect storage racks and reduce repair and replacement costs.

Guard Rail Protection

HD Shelving, a leading provider of industrial shelving and other warehouse planning applications, works with several of the most reputable manufacturers of guard rail protection systems in the industry, names such as Lyon, Allied Modular, Hallowell, WireCrafters and AMFI. They use strong and sturdy materials that complement even the most complex modular office installations. Visit our website today for a quote and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Is your company suffering from growing pains? Do you need work space now but don’t have the time for lengthy and messy construction? For many Anaheim area companies with the same problem, setting up prefabricated modular offices in Anaheim locations was the perfect solution to their immediate, short, or long-term work space offices.

No matter the location, you too can reap the benefits of storage and space-saving installations like industrial shelving and modular offices.

Modular Office Benefits

Whether you need warehouse offices or an office space inside your company building, modular offices are much like any other modular wall system– easy to install, less expensive and more versatile Check out some of the benefits of modular offices.

• Quick to Install. Not only are modular offices quick to install but they are incredibly easy to design as well. There is virtually no downtime and you can place the system anywhere.
• No patching or painting. Modular wall systems are prefabricated, so there is no need for patching, painting or messy building materials to get in the way.
• Built to last and easy to move.  UL classified wall systems are durable, efficient, and attractive as well as being 100% re-usable and relocatable.
• Custom designed to fit your needs. Whether a one story partition or a two story mezzanine extension, modular offices are available in a wide variety of colors and facings as well as options and accessories. Capabilities and functions of the systems include integrated electrical, phone, and data options to give you many choices for all your project applications.
• Cost-efficient and a time saver. Modular offices save time and money while creating needed spaces, whether warehouse offices or even protection for complex electrical systems.

Your Modular Offices Anaheim Dealer

Hd Shelving Inc., a leader in industrial shelving and warehouse industry storage and space applications, is your modular offices in Anaheim dealer. Visit our website today for a quote and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Warehouse order picking, one of the most important–and involved–parts of warehouse operations, accounts for as much as 55% of the total warehouse operating expense. Thanks to the high cost involved in this process (also known as order fulfillment), as well as the significant connections between order picking and customer service and satisfaction, a number of improvements to the process have been introduced. These processes can help your company expedite and streamline this critical warehouse function.

Types of Order Picking

There are four main types of warehouse order picking, each with its own streamline procedure, Choosing the correct system for your needs depends on a number of factors including the characteristics of the product, the total number of transactions , picks per order, quantities per pick, and more. When implemented correctly, choosing the type–or the combination of types–that best suits your needs will contribute to a effective order picking process and more cost-effective method of order fulfillment.

1. Piece picking or picker to part method. In one of the most common methods of order picking found in warehouses today, the order picker or pickers moves to collect the products necessary for one order. The storage area can be either forklift-based or built to be more specialized with features like gravity flow racks, which expedite the picking process by holding the most frequently ordered item. There is also a picking area and a material-handling system used to refill the picking locations from the storage area. The storage area contains the items used for order fulfillment. Rather than having to go to the storage area to fill an order. This method expedites the order picking process and helps with overall productivity.
2. Part to Picker method. The part to picker method employs the same physical locations as the picker to part method–storage area, picking area and a material-handling system that moves the item from the storage area to the picking area. However, in this method, the picking area is made up of a series of picking bays, also known as zones, The items are moved from the storage area and delivered to the picking bays, which receive items for one or more orders.
3. Sorting System method. This method uses an automatic material handling system consisting of multiple conveyors and a number or sorting devices. There is no movement from order pickers involved in this method. The items are placed on a conveyor in the storage area and sorted for each particular order. The operator in the picking area collects the items that have been sorted for a customer order and  processes that order,Because operators have no need to physically fill the order, the sorting system method is one of the most efficient.
4. Pick to box method. In the pick to box method, the picking area is organized so that there are number of picking stations connected by a conveyor. The order picker fills the box with the products from his station and the box moves to the other picking stations until the customer order is complete. Once again, there is no need for operators to physically fill the order, which significantly expedites the picking process.

The ability to quickly and accurately process customer orders has become an essential part of doing business. It is critical that you choose the right method of warehouse order picking in order to rise above your completion and succeed.