Expansion as shelving specialist racks up growth
A YORKSHIRE company that repairs and inspects the giant shelving used by companies including Asda, DHL and B&Q is expanding into a new £600,000 building.
The Rack Group, based in Barnsley, is taking over a nearby building on the Carlton Industrial Estate to house its research and development department and for two new ventures.
The purchase of the 20,000 sq ft site has been part-funded by a grant from the Business Growth Programme, secured with help from Enterprising Barnsley and managed by Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
As well as repairing and inspecting giant shelving, or racking, in its clients’ warehouses, the Rack Group supplies a product called Rack Armour – a guard that protects rack legs from damage caused by fork lift trucks. Expanding into the new building means the company can add a new product to its range – the Rack End Barrier, which acts as a type of shock absorber.
The company also plans to set up Rack Trader in the new premises, a new venture to recycle pallet racking, by stripping it down to its constituent parts.
Jenny Charlton, Rack Group director, said: “These are really exciting times for us. We have seen our exports of Rack Armour more than double in the last three years, with export now counting for 90% of sales.
“We are exporting into Europe and the Americas, with an eye on India and Brazil. Rack End Barriers should be as popular as Rack Armour as they too will save money for warehouse operators by reducing the number of repairs and replacement of racking.”
The Rack Group, whose clients also include Sainsburys, Premier Foods, Marks & Spencer and Heinz, has taken on four more staff, taking the total to 37, with a view to taking on more. The company also offers training in racking through its subsidiary Rack Training.
Angela Pedley, of Enterprising Barnsley, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to help the expansion of this company, which is growing all the time.
“Their innovation and drive is typical of successful businesses in Barnsley and just shows what can be achieved with a bit of support.”
