AT EUROPE'S LEADING MALTED INGREDIENT MANUFACTURER

A Link 51 pallet racking layout which centres on a very narrow aisle design and the comprehensive use of pick and drop stations is helping Europe's largest manufacturer of malted ingredients to maximise its storage efficiency and make the most of available warehouse space. The 1,200 pallet position layout at Muntons plc in Stowmarket provides a highly active link between the manufacturing and despatch processes from where a range of products such as malt extract, malt flour and malt flakes are forwarded to the company's customers both in the UK and worldwide.

"Our manufacturing centre is operational 24 hours per day whereas the warehouse is only active for 16 hours per day," comments Nicki Milner, Warehouse Manager. "Link 51's inclusion of the pick and drop stations in the design plays a crucial role in this regard as they allow material manufactured overnight to be located at the end of the appropriate aisle for location into the racking the following day. This helps with the smooth operation of the facility and enhances the overall tidiness of the warehouse floor."

A total of seven pallet levels are available across a facility that is designed to accommodate two standard 1200 x 1000 mm pallets per bay, each weighing up to one tonne. The products are packaged and stretch wrapped ahead of despatch with full access throughout the facility achieved via a man-up forklift truck unit.

"Muntons approached us with specific parameters which they needed to be fulfilled by the racking design," comments Link 51's Regional Sales Manager, Andy Millward. "These centred on maximising the capacity of the available area – including using the full height of the building – as well as ensuring the throughput of pallets was as efficient as possible. We are confident that the design we have produced meets all these requirements and, indeed, the indications to date are that the racking facility in the warehouse is now playing a full and vital role in the ongoing efficiency of this major manufacturer in its field.

Link 51 is the UK's leading storage equipment manufacturer and is part of Whittan Storage Systems – the UK based, pan-European, storage-focused manufacturing group. Other group companies include Link Lockers, Moresecure,

N C Brown, Polypal and Permar.

Whittan Storage Systems group supplies products and services across the Continent and indeed, further afield, with sales of some £130 million and a workforce of over 1000. Through manufacturing facilities in four countries and sales operations in six, all Whittan Storage Systems' customers benefit from its commitment to its core business