Pallet storage and pick solution improves efficiency

SEC Storage has designed and installed a highly efficient pick and pallet racking storage solution at Midlands-based Nero Pipeline Connections, ensuring improved pick operations through swift replenishment of stock held in the additional pallet locations.

Nero Pipeline Connections is a market-leading distributor of stainless pipeline products and has been specialising in the supply of high-quality pipe fittings and valves for over 30 years, with a broad portfolio of products suitable for commercial and industrial environments.

Its warehouse facility had some existing racking in place which it had steadily expanded as the company grew. However, this offered Nero mainly pick locations and only limited pallet storage capacity. The racking was also only 4m high and, with the building offering 9m of height capacity, it was only utilising 50% of the available storage space.

Nero needed to increase both its pick areas and pallet locations, which would act as replenishment stock for tote locations. The increase to 630 pallet locations designed and installed by SEC Storage comprising adjustable pallet racking with timber decking and anti-collapse mesh, now allows Nero to hold considerably more bulk stock, ready to replenish the 6000+ tote locations for picking, which are situated directly below the pallet racking, as and when required.

The operation benefits from the use of a reach truck for all pallet movements, and the manual pick process has been improved considerably as all stock is front-facing, providing quicker replenishment as well as 100% selectivity with pick options from either side.

The project further benefited from a finance scheme via Systems Finance, which was able to source a favourable, tax-friendly payment option via CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme), a Government scheme provided as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This offered attractive terms for Nero, with a strong ROI and one that turned a significant CAPEX project into a manageable, fixed monthly payment scheme.

Darryl Spencer-Hicks, Operations Director at Nero, commented: “Due to the significant ongoing growth of the business, we needed a quick solution to ensure the flow of stock remained unhindered. With this in mind, we contacted SEC to design and project manage the re-racking of the warehouse with the minimalist disruption to Nero. As with any large project, things change and it is how they are dealt with. SEC went to great lengths to rectify any delays and this meant our customers saw no impact on their orders.

“SEC worked alongside Toyota Material Handling to design the racking system to maximise the use of the warehouse space and worked with Systems Finance to deliver a cost-effective finance package with us.”