Meet The Rack Group's Mo Bros

This year men at The Rack Group Ltd have decided to be a part of an Independent global charity- Movember. We want to raise money and spread awareness for prostrate and testicular cancer and mental health. Bighearted men in our company have taken the courage to grow their Moustache for 30 days so they can be a part of this noble cause. 

Since the families, friends and people around these gentlemen are not use to their moustache, they had to go through a tough time. Receiving unfamiliar stares from people in the gym, gawks in pubs, restaurants and shopping centers were just some of the things they had to confront. But nothing stopped them. Our Marketing Coordinator- Peter Ellard went ahead and celebrated his Birthday with his ‘Mo’ on. What else can we ask for?

The Rack Group would like to thank all those who have contributed to this amazing cause.

There is still one day left and we would like to request you to donate as much as you can and support the efforts of these brave men.

Please click on the link below and it will direct you to our donation page. 

http://uk.movember.com/team/1440021

The Rack Group's Movember Team

(From Left to Right: Neil Blackshaw, Pat Mcdonnell, Graeme Waller, Peter Ellard and Tim Smith)

The Rack Group Ltd sponsored Zombie Fun Run for Barnsley Hospital Charity

Barnsley Hospital Charity funds projects that go above and beyond that which the NHS is able to provide.

Every penny raised for Barnsley Charity, makes a difference providing extra comforts on the wards and helps towards the purchase of cutting edge, specialist equipment as well as a supporting specialist training and research. Right across the hospital the charity work with staff and patients to ensure the money raised in support charity is spent exactly where it is needed.

Every bit of support makes a difference in the quality Barnsley Hospital can provide for your loved ones.

Most recently Barnsley Hospital Charity hosted a Zombie Fun Run which took place on the 19th October 2013 which turned out to be a huge success, raising close to £20,000 in funds.

The Rack Group Ltd. sponsored one of the obstacles £200.00 to help towards the £20,000 raised. Vicki Sugden one of the Directors of  The Rack Group Ltd said "It's a great event and one we are very proud to be a part of, Barnsley Charity Hospital does fantastic work and we are happy we could help".

The event was such a huge success the charity have made provisional dates for next year, hopefully even more can be raised in aid of a great cause.

Are you aware of the NVQ in Pallet Racking Inspection?

NVQ/QCF Level 2 Certificate In Inspection Of Industrial Storage Systems Qualification

NVQ/QCF Level 2 Certificate is aimed at individuals carrying out the inspection of industrial storage systems. This qualification is achieved by collating a portfolio of evidence gained from the on-site assessment of work based activities.

DID

YOU

KNOW?

1. This NVQ Level 2 Certificate - IS THE ONLY ACCREDITED QUALIFICATION AVAILABLE FOR THE INDUSTRIAL STORAGE EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY.

2. It’s not just an awareness course - IT’S AN ACCREDITED QUALIFICATION REGULATED BY OFQUAL.

3. This qualification uses on-site assessment - WHICH MINIMISES WORKPLACE DISRUPTION FOR YOU & YOUR STAFF.

4. On successful completion candidates will be - ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR BLUE SKILLED WORKERS CSCS CARD.

5. The qualification conforms to - EUROPEAN STANDARDS EN15635.

 For more information on NVQ in Pallet Racking Inspection please click here or contact us on info@racktraining.com.

Why You Should Maintain/Repair Pallet Racking?

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended) states all work equipment must be inspected on a regular basis and any reported damage made good. Regulation 5 requires the equipment to be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and in good repair.

Racking systems are constantly in contact with forklift trucks and inevitably damage occurs. However 90% of the damage only occurs in the first 600 mm of the upright. In response to this The Rack Group has designed specialist tooling to enable repairs to be carried out in this area with minimal fuss and disruption to the warehouse.

Using Specialist Tooling unique to The Rack Group, racking can be supported whilst the damaged part of the upright is cut out. Once this is completed a sacrificial leg is bolted into the bottom 600 mm of the upright.

Benefits:

Specialist Tooling

1. No need to replace the whole upright.

2. No offloading of materials is required.

3. No need to wait for replacement uprights and materials.

4. A repair can be completed in less than 20 minutes.

5. Repairs can be made to all types of racking – welded or bolted systems.

6. No scissor lift or plant hire is needed.

7. Ease of repair encourages operators to deal with damage as and when it happens, creating a safe working environment.

The Rack Aid Management System- One solution to all your warehouse problems

The Rack Aid® Management System is the collective term used by The Rack Group to describe all the products and services The Rack Group offers . It is designed not only to save customers time, disruption and money, but also ensures compliance with all current Health & Safety legislation relevant to industrial pallet storage equipment.

1. Safety Inspections:

Storage equipment safety inspections carried out by The Rack Group ensures you are conforming to The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended), The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) and the European Standard EN15635.

2. Maintenance and Repairs:

The maintenance and repairs of pallet racks are conducted in accordance with The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended) and industry guidelines.

3. Protection:

Rack Armour pallet racking protection ensures compliance with European Standard EN15635 and SEMA guidelines.

4. Training:

All our pallet racking training courses conform to the codes of practice outlined in the European Standard EN15635.

Racking Repairs – An essential part to any racking maintenance programme

Pallet racking repairs can be costly, but are a pivotal aspect of any racking maintenance program. Racking systems are constantly under attack by Fork Lift Trucks and inevitably damage occurs. However 90% of the time damage only occurs in the first 600mm of the upright. It seems a waste to replace the whole upright when only a small percentage of the upright is damaged. With the help of the sacrificial leg this is no longer the case.

The Rack Group has designed specialist tooling to enable repairs to be carried out with minimal fuss and disruption to the warehouse. Using the Sacrificial Leg Prop, racking can be propped up whilst the damaged part of the upright is cut out. Once this is completed a sacrificial leg is bolted into the bottom 600mm of the upright. A repair can be completed in less than 20 minutes without the need of offloading any materials and without the use of a scissor lift.

Benefits:

• No need to replace the whole upright
• No materials need to be offloaded
• No need to wait for replacement uprights and materials
• No scissor lift or plant hire is needed

Ease of repair encourages operators to deal with damage as and when it happens, creating a safer working environment.

The Rack Group’s Sacrificial Leg Prop is a unique piece of tooling used alongside the sacrificial leg to help reduce costly and timely pallet racking repairs.

So, how does it work?

The SLP is a simple but highly effective tool used to prop up the racking to take the load weight whilst repairs are carried out. This is achieved by bolting the SLP to the upright. The SLP has been tested to carry up to twenty tonnes in weight.

The Rack Group Ltd is working with its customers to establish effective, efficient and low cost proactive racking maintenance systems for their industrial storage systems, which are designed to:

• Ensure health and safety compliance.
• Ensure that the storage equipment remains fit for purpose.
• Ensure that any identified none conforming components are repaired/replaced with minimal disruption to daily activities.
• Above all, ensure that a safe place of work is maintained within the workplace for all.
• Allows the customer to budget for storage equipment repair works, as in most cases nearly all damage is “unplanned” damage and as a result of this racking repair costs come straight off the organisations profit line.

By developing and adopting a proactive maintenance program this can help overcome the problem.

A key element to any proactive racking maintenance program is a good understanding of the types of industrial storage equipment in use by our customers which in turn allows us to react quickly and effectively should the need arise. The Rack Group Ltd addresses this issue through its independent pallet racking inspection program.

Once a detailed breakdown of the storage equipment in use has been established, this then allows The Rack Group Ltd to hold key stock items thereby eliminating the need to store spare materials on site.

By establishing this data The Rack Group Ltd are able to react quickly in the event of an unplanned incident, thereby ensuring minimal disruption to the organisation by helping to reduce lost production and downtime costs.

Rack Trader- Your solution for all your pallet racking needs

Rack Trader is part of  The Rack Group Ltd which deals with buying and selling new/used racking. To buy new or used racking it is required to take precautions before you make a purchase. You have to make sure that you don’t end up paying in excess for something which was available at a reasonable price.

Rack Trader with its years of experience and knowledge guarantees to offer competitive prices to its customers. We assure to provide you with high quality products at the best price available. Our unique selling point lies in offering bespoke service to our customers. We sell what our customers want not what we want them to buy.

If you are interested in buying/selling new/used racking log on to www.racktrader.co.uk alternatively drop us an email on scott@therackgroup.com.

Buy The Best Quality Second-Hand Racking

Are you looking to buy/sell new and used racking? Well, your quest is now over because Rack Trader will take care of all your pallet racking needs.

As one of the largest stockist of used pallet racking, supplying throughout the UK we offer extremely competitive prices. We stock large quantities of all major manufacturers racking including, Dexion,Link 51,Redirack, Polypal to name but a few.

We add new racking every week to our stock so that we can provide you with the best quality racking keeping your needs in mind.

If you want to optimise and utilise your warehouse’s storage space along with massive cost saving benefits check out our available stock:

DEXION MKII Racking

Frames:

3350 x 685 – £48.00 each

Beams:

2290 – £8.00 each

Pallet Racking Inspection - A Vital Element

Pallet racking inspection is a vital element of any company’s safety management programme as it encourages best practice and ensures compliance with current legislation.

The industrial storage equipment industry should conform to all current Health and Safety legislation in order to avoid any HSE litigation.

The following are the current HSE legislation:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended)
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended)

Racking Inspections can be a time consuming task and a distraction from day-to-day work for many end-users of industrial storage equipment.  As per current legislation if any work equipment is exposed to conditions causing deterioration and can result into dangerous situations, an employer must ensure that the equipment is inspected on a regular basis.

TheRack Group Ltd with over 35 years of experience within the Industrial storage equipment industry carries out racking inspections on the behalf of end-users while conforming to all Health and Safety legislation. The Rack Group Ltd not only conforms to H&S legislation but also identifies where the customers can save money on the replacement /repair of any identified non-conforming components and reduce life-time costs associated with pallet racking maintenance. 

WHY ARE PALLET RACKING SAFETY INSPECTIONS ESSENTIAL?

Pallet racking safety inspections are essential to the safe day to day running of any warehouse.

The frequency of these inspections is determined by risk assessments and the levels of activity within the warehouse. There are two types of inspections; internal and external. Internal inspections must be carried out by trained and competent personnel who have been appointed by the PRSES (person responsible for storage equipment safety). External inspections must be carried out by an expert in storage equipment safety on an annual basis as specified by the European Standard EN15365.  Our inspectors have many years of experience and a vast array of knowledge within this area.

In addition to the EN standards the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 outlines the duties imposed on employers to provide a safe place of work.  Industrial storage equipment is classed as work equipment and therefore falls under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.  This state’s “Work equipment that is exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in dangerous situations must be inspected to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained, and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in goods time”.

The Rack Group’s inspection process is designed to be easy and very user friendly and assists the PRSES in

their duties. As we use the latest digital pen technology we provide the customer with both a digital and hard copy of the completed inspection report which is written in a straight forward, non complicated manner. It is designed to aid the communication process between all parties thus insuring they can effectively work together to create a safe working environment.

Within the inspection report, the inspector will outline all essential repair work plus any potential hazards. Recommendations are then made in order to resolve any issues identified.  

The Rack Group’s main priority is to develop a proactive safety management process which will result in less damage occurring.  However, should damage occur we can repair the damage in a cost effective manner with as little disruption to the customer as possible using our specialist equipment.

For more information regarding inspections or if you would like a no obligation quote, please call 01226 784488 and speak to our inspections department. Alternatively you can e-mail us on info@therackgroup.com or visit our website at www.therackgroup.com

Tesco Choose Rack Armour

Tesco approached RackArmour Ltd for a solution to their ever increasing racking damage, with over 290 forklifts and lollops operating at one time, damage was an inevitable occurrence, and with the average cost of a racking leg replacement at £400.00 per upright, effective protection couldn't come soon enough.

"The New Daventry Grocery Depot distributes to all UK stores explains Simon Harris, Project Manager at Tesco , “with over 5 million pallet movement's each month at this one site, racking damage does occur , which is detrimental to the warehouse operation”

“To help us to reduce & prevent racking damage within our operation, Tesco trialled a number of racking protection t, the trial identified that the Rack Armour product was robust and easy to install, as well as a cost effective solution to reduce racking damage”. "We have now had the guards installed on over 6500 uprights for more than a week, and we have already seen a dramatic reduction in racking damage, I would whole heartedly recommend this product to other's looking for a solution that not only works, but is clearly the most cost effective product available."

Tesco trialled other racking protection, including the latest products on the market to find the best solution for them, in the end Rack Armour was the obvious choice for quality, cost, and having the most established product in the market.

“There are a number of pretenders to Rack Armour’s crown out there in the market” explains Richard Nelson, Marketing Co-ordinator at Rack Armour, “and they usually have an Achilles Heel in relation to the Rack Armour guard, a serious design flaw to these other products are they can easily be dislodged from the upright by forklifts and lollops, the last thing you want in a busy warehouse is to find your so called protection lying idle on your warehouse floor, these stray units have the capability to cause serious harm as projectiles to both employees and handling equipment”.

Tesco’s is another blue chip company to be added to Rack Armour’s illustrious list, and they are in good company, with the likes of, IKEA, DHL, Mercedes Benz, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Toyota, Superdrug, Pound land, ASDA, Coca Cola, Nestle and B&Q whom have all had the guards installed for years.

“Every customer has different wants and needs from the Rack Armour guard” says Jenny Charlton, Director of Rack Armour “one customer will rave about the guard being able to work in conditions as low as -40 degrees, whilst another’s are impressed that it fits all types of racking and is inter transferable between different racking systems, it has countless benefits!”

If racking damage is becoming a problem on your site, don’t delay, contact us to arrange a free site visit and demonstration of Rack Armour on 01226 784 488 | www.rackarmour.com

RACK ARMOUR DOMINATES THE AMERICAS

 Rack Armour’s network of distributors have excelled themselves.  The newest continent to ride the Rack Armour wave is the Americas.  Rack Armour’s popularity has soared over the past year throughout Central, Southern and Northern America, making Rack Armour their preferred choice when it comes to pallet racking upright protection.

After recent visits and exhibitions in America, sales have risen by a massive 280% with orders from worldwide household names such as Nestle, Ikea, Toyota, Wal-mart plus many more.

Rack Armour Ltd is delighted with the success the product has had in foreign markets over the years, JennyCharlton Director of Rack Armour Ltd stated “We can’t believe the speed at which sales are increasing;  Companies throughout the Americas have really taken to the guard. The easy installation process and cost effective product has revolutionised racking protection in this particular continent, and we look forward to the same rate of acceleration in the coming year”.

The American market is a massive market to conquer, however Rack Armour Ltd feels the door to the market has been firmly wedged open and Rack Armour has proven to the continent that it is the number one preferred pallet racking upright protector and plans to stay that way for many years to come.

Rack Armour is manufactured and sold on every continent, an achievement Rack Armour Ltd is very proud of. The achievements gained so far will only inspire Rack Armour to grow further, expanding its presence further throughout the world’s market.

     

RACK ARMOUR AND PLASTIC GUARDS INTERNATIONAL DOMINANCE

Steel column guards have dominated the racking protection industry for years. However, now there is a new material that’s taking the industry by storm..... High Density Polyethylene. Plastic has been seen as an inferior material to steel in the past, not as strong or durable. This is changing day by day.

As an increasing number of bridges require rehabilitation, strengthening or replacement, interest has grown in reinforced plastic polymers as a solution to the problem of an aging infrastructure. The range of composite materials manufactured for bridge construction and repair is expanding as more installations are undertaken. Soon, a bridge made of plastic may be coming to a highway near you!

Rack Armour column guard protection was one of the first to utilise plastic. Employing plastic rather than steel has massive advantages:

·         Very high strength to wait ratio

·         Will not corrode and can be designed to accommodate most climate conditions

·         Impact and dent resistant – retains properties

·         Cheaper to manufacture and lighter weight for better transport costs

·         Aesthetically pleasing – all colourings can be added to the mould

·         Impervious to many chemical compounds – can be used in a wide range of warehouses

·         Easier packaging

After recent shows in the US, popularity with plastic guards has increased dramatically and the number of plastic guards on the market has sawn. In particular, Rack Armour has seen a tremendous increase in growth due to the mind set of potential customers switching from metal guards to plastic.

Racking uprights are constantly under attack by fork lift trucks but with the aid of Rack Armour this is no longer a problem. Rack Armour is a cost effective, proven method of protecting racking uprights.

Don’t delay, try Rack Armour today.

For more information regarding Rack Armour visit www.rackarmour.com

THE RACK GROUP WORKING ALONGSIDE IRON MOUNTAIN

The Rack Group Ltd is delighted to announce they have just renewed another year’s contract with Iron Mountain, one of the world’s leading document storage giants.  After a rigorous tender process The Rack Group won the privilege once again of becoming Iron Mountain’s preferred pallet racking maintenance and inspections company. Phil Maxwell-Smith The Rack Group’s Managing Director commented “we are very pleased that Iron Mountain have decided to choose the Rack Aid® Management System. Over the years The Rack Group have developed a very strong working relationship with Iron Mountain and look forward to working with them for another year.”

Iron Mountain first approached The Rack Group Ltd with the sole purpose to find a solution to help reduce and eliminate where possible pallet racking damage across their distribution network. Iron Mountain identified their warehouse and distribution division as an area where savings associated with pallet racking maintenance and repair could be made and The Rack Group were only too happy to assist.

The working relationship between The Rack Group and Iron Mountain started six years ago when John Headford of Iron Mountain formerly known as Hays Distribution, approached The Rack Group with the sole purpose to reduce pallet racking maintenance and repair costs throughout Iron Mountain’s entire network. After seeing the huge success The Rack Group’s Rack Aid® Management System had been when implemented throughout ASDA stores and distribution centres, Iron Mountain took the decision to adopt The Rack Aid Management System for themselves throughout their entire network.    

Regular safety inspections were employed throughout the network which gathered crucial information in regards to stocking materials and the types of damage being incurred. After analysing each safety inspection, The Rack Group identified fitting Rack Armour (upright protection) to stop the damage happening, and replacing damaged uprights with sacrificial legs would save Iron Mountain time, money and disruption around the warehouse.

Users of Industrial Storage Equipment have a legal duty to carry out regular inspection audits in order to identify damaged components (as stated in the Provision and safe Use of Work Equipment Regulation section 6), these inspections are key to the whole management system.

More recently the training aspect of The Rack Aid® Management System has been incorporated throughout Iron Mountain. The Rack Group and Iron Mountain identified training as a vital element within the management system as a means to ensure Iron Mountain colleagues were given the correct information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely in and around storage equipment.  Iron Mountain wanted competent operatives and seniors managers throughout the network to be aware of the dangers associated with working with pallet racking. The Rack Group developed bespoke training enabling Iron Mountain’s workforce to work safely around the warehouse and to conduct their own pallet racking safety inspections. Further developments are in place to offer an accredited qualification NVQ (QCF) to Iron Mountain’s employees regarding inspections to qualify their workforce, once developed this will then be available for others.  

Over the past six years the Rack Aid Management System has saved the Iron Mountain network thousands of pounds in repair costs and strives to increase this figure year after year. This will be achievable through constant developments and innovative thinking. The Rack Group embraces this challenge and looks forward to another successful year working alongside Iron Mountain.

If reducing your pallet racking maintenance and repair costs whilst still maintaining a strong health and safety culture is important to you, please call 01226 784488, or visit our website www.therackgroup.com and ask about what The Rack Group can do for you.  

   

THE RACK GROUP LTD INSTALLERS RECEIVE CSCS GOLD CARD

The CSCS Card, which is issued by Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), is increasingly being demanded as proof of competence by major organisations and employers in almost all industries.

CSCS was set up in the mid-90’s with the aim of improving site worker’s competence to reduce accidents and drive up on site skills and abilities.

The scheme keeps a database of those working in construction that achieve, or can demonstrate they have attained an agreed level of occupational competence. Successful applicants are issued with a card giving them a means of identification and proof of their achievements. Cards are increasingly demanded as evidence of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients and others; today there are over 1.7 million cards in circulation.

The Rack Group Ltd installers started by acquiring the white and grey Construction Related Occupations (CRO) card or the Green, Construction Site Operative Card; The Rack Group then upgraded these cards when the CSCS scheme recognised the new accredited qualification “Specialist Installations Occupations – Industrial Storage Equipment” aimed at the installation of pallet racking. The Red trainee card and the Blue Craft Card were then introduced to the industry in recognition of the newly approved NVQ qualification. The Director of Operations at CSCS is currently looking at ways of recognising the Level 3 NVQ for Occupational Work Supervision and methods of integrating the Gold Card into the Industrial Storage Equipment sector of CSCS.

One of the reasons The Rack Group looked at obtaining the Gold Card was due to one of their major blue chip clients ASDA adopting the CSCS scheme. All contractors working for Asda are required to work to the standards specified by ASDA’s Way of Working Document. This was prepared in partnership with the Partnering Contractors Health and Safety CIG (Contractors Improvement Group), providing contractors with a health and safety guide and standards required while working on ASDA’s sites.

Mike Abel ASDA’s General Manager has been quoted as saying “we stipulate that all people carrying out construction related activities on our sites can show that they have the requisite skills. With tradesman and operatives we insist that they have a CSCS card at the appropriate level for the activities they are undertaking”.  Mike Abel. (2012). ASDA Focuses on CSCS to Support Health and Safety Targets. Available: http://www.cscs.uk.com/about-us/case-studies/. Last accessed 2.09.2012.

Another of The Rack Group’s blue chip clients Sainsbury’s has also stated that having the CSCS card is crucial for all contractors working on their sites, Arthur Carruthers Project Manager at Sainsbury’s has been quoted as saying “CSCS enables us to ensure that anyone who comes onto a Sainbury’s site has a level of competence, which can be improved upon as contractors invest in their staff. CSCS cards started off as something that was desirable to have, but is now a compulsory requirement and is checked by our main contractors as part of the site induction process”.  Arthur Carruthers. (2012). Sainsbury’s checkout value of CSCS.Available: http://www.cscs.uk.com/about-us/case-studies/. Last accessed 2.09.2012.

Having the card is beneficial for both the employee and the employer. As an employer you are confident your supervisory employees are competent in the jobs they are doing, it also proves to potential customers that your employees are qualified to the highest level. The card benefits the employee because as an employee you are confident in your own abilities and workmanship.

The Rack Group is always looking at ways in which they can up skill their staff and the industry as a whole and therefore, all Supervisors have acquired their CSCS Gold card.     

The Rack Group strives to have its supervisors and installers trained to the highest level possible. This ensures all work completed on site is to the highest standard possible.   

An awards ceremony was held at Barnsley Football club on the 7^th September 2012 to celebrate the achievement and to handout the Gold Card to The Rack Group supervisors along with other certificates of achievement from various other training organisations.

The Rack Group is always looking at ways in which they can up skill their staff and the industry as a whole.

For more information regarding inspections, maintenance and repair work to pallet racking give us a call on 01226 784488, alternatively you can e-mail us on info@therackgroup.com or visit our website at www.therackgroup.com 

THE RACK GROUP CHOSEN BY ASDA AGAIN

The Rack Group Ltd is delighted to announce they have just renewed another year’s contract with ASDA, one of the UK’s leading supermarkets. 

After a rigorous tender process The Rack Group won the privilege once again of becoming ASDA’s preferred pallet racking maintenance and inspections company.   Phil Maxwell-Smith The Rack Group’s Managing Director commented “we are very pleased that ASDA have decided to choose the Rack Aid Management System.  Over the years The Rack Group have developed a very strong working relationship with ASDA and look forward to working with them for another year."

ASDA first approached The Rack Group Ltd with the sole purpose to find a solution to help reduce and eliminate where possible pallet racking damage that was occurring across their distribution network. With hundreds of forklift trucks in operation and thousands of pallet movements each day, pallet racking damage is inevitable.  ASDA identified their warehouse and distribution division as an area where savings associated with pallet racking maintenance and repair could be made and The Rack Group were only too happy to assist.

The Rack Group has built a strong working relationship with ASDA over the years and has worked closely with their maintenance team to develop innovative solutions to these problems. The working relationship with ASDA started twenty years ago when The Rack Group carried out safety inspections on some of ASDA’s first distribution centres.

 “Due to the changes in Health and Safety legislation, ASDA were keen to unite all stores and distribution centres under one management system to help reduce repair and maintenance costs throughout the network, with this in mind, The Rack Group and ASDA started to develop The Rack Aid Management System” states Simon Lee, Installations Director at The Rack Group Ltd.  

The Rack AidManagement System is made up of five key elements, 1) scheduled racking Inspections, 2) repair and maintenance, 3) specialist materials, 4) racking protection and 5) accredited training sessions.  The first element The Rack Group looked at was protecting the racking from costly damage, preventing the damage or severely limiting it was a priority.  After months of development and rigorous testing Rack Armour was created, Rack Armour is now sold globally and reduces forklift truck damage where ever it is installed.

Users of Industrial Storage Equipment have a legal duty to carry out regular inspection audits in order to identify damaged components (as stated in the Provision and safe Use of Work Equipment Regulation section 6), these inspections are key to the whole management system, ensuring vital information such as the type of damage, how frequent the damage is occurring and details of materials for stocking purposes. This information enables efficient lead times, which is crucial for a distribution network as large as ASDA’s. 

The next element within the management system where costs can be saved was maintenance and repair work. By using specialist materials created purposely to save ASDA time, money and disruption around the warehouse. When maintaining their pallet racking ASDA was able to make significant savings.  Instead of replacing entire uprights The Rack Group developed specialist materials and their own unique leg prop along with specialist bracings which enables the installation team to replace the damaged section of upright without having to off load any materials and without having to replace the whole upright, making this element of The Rack Aid Management System extremely cost effective.

The last element of the Rack Aid Management System is training.  ASDA and The Rack Group identified training as a vital element within the management system as a means to ensure ASDA colleagues were given the correct information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely in and around storage equipment. ASDA wanted competent operatives and seniors managers throughout the network to be aware of the dangers associated with working with pallet racking. The Rack Group developed bespoke training enabling ASDA’s workforce to work safely around the warehouse and to conduct their own pallet racking safety inspections.  Further developments are in place to offer an accredited qualification NVQ (QCF) to ASDA’s employees regarding inspections to qualify their workforce, once developed this will then be available for others.

Over the past seven years the Rack Aid Management System has saved the ASDA network over £1,000,000 in repair costs and strives to increase this figure year after year. This will be achievable through constant developments and innovative thinking. The Rack Group embraces this challenge and looks forward to another successful year working alongside ASDA.

If reducing your pallet racking maintenance and repair costs whilst still maintaining a strong health and safety culture is important to you, please call 01226 784488, or visit our website www.therackgroup.com and ask about what The Rack Group can do for you.