No space to waste as storage capacity at a premium
A property specialist has focused on developing extra storage capacity to help meet demands caused by Brexit related uncertainty and the online shopping boom.
Yorkshire-based Onward Holdings has invested in narrow aisle racking at its warehouses, increasing its pallet capacity by around a quarter. It means there is space for an extra 10,000 pallets at Onward Holdings’ sites for shipping and storing of goods, creating some spare capacity.
Following the launch of Phoenix 66, a new warehouse with yard parking for up to 40 commercial vehicles on the Green Lane Industrial Estate in Featherstone, Onward Holdings can now accommodate over 40,000 pallets at its four main sites: Castleford, Atlas Park near Wakefield, Phoenix 66, and South Kirkby.
In addition, the company now has more than 15 forklifts, comprising narrow aisle trucks, double handlers and reach trucks.
Company director, Neil Storey, said: “With the current demand for storage showing no signs of easing off any time soon we have to try and ensure that no space is wasted.
“Investing in narrow aisle racking maximises the number of pallets our warehouses can take for customers and by using specialised forklifts, narrow aisle racking can make the most of the space available.”
He added there is still not enough quality warehousing close to excellent transport links, due to a proliferation of e-commerce and discount retailers taking up available space.
He said expanding on-site pallet capacity is more crucial than ever, as it not only gives businesses room to stockpile and grow, but also improves operations and distribution processes.
