Trent Design Group News Blog

Ceilings are often the most overlooked feature of any room. Suspended ceilings, on the other hand provide an opportunity to make a ceiling more noticeable.

Suspended Ceilings can be used to create a great visual impact, they can also house lighting and sound systems, and also allow all your wiring to be hidden above the ceiling in the void which is created.

Suspended Ceilings will also improve acoustics, reduce noise, resist moisture, improve insulation (which can reduce your heating costs). We can also design and install Fire Rated Suspended Ceilings as well.

Please see a recent project below which clearly demonstrate how a Suspended Ceiling can create a strong feature for the interior of your business, whether it be a basic Suspended Ceiling in a Factory, or a High Specification Suspended Ceiling in a Casino.

If you want us to provide a design and quotation for a suspended ceiling in your business premises then please get in touch with one of the team here at Trent Design Group.

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Do you need to create a clean, secure area within your shop floor? Double Skinned Partitions are ideal for office, factory and clean room areas.

The systems we use are very quick to install and are fully demountable. We can also provide these systems in a variety of colours and sizes to suit all applications.

Double Skinned Partitions can also be made Fire Rated if this is necessary and we can even install the required HVAC systems within this area to make it suitable for use as a Cleanroom.

If you have any questions regarding a possible installation then please feel free to get in touch with one of our team.

Double Skinned Partition in a Factory

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Trent Design Group is one of the latest groups of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The Nottinghamshire-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors.

Employing 15 people Trent Design Group is principally involved in the design & installation of storage equipment and interior projects.

Specialising in the Logistics and Retail industries and with a £4m turnover, Trent Design Group’s most recent clients have included major players such as Makro, Norbert Dentressangle, ASDA, Dusk Till Dawn, and more.

The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

SAFEcontractor accreditation is expected to enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

SAFEcontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contract services.

John Kinge, Head of Risk at SAFEcontractor said, “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies”.

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Trent Design Group has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector”.

Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website, www.safecontractor.com

Employer-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These employers agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.

Over one hundred and fifty major nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

SafeContractor Logo

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Pallet Racking

 Pallet Racking is a material handling storage aid system designed to store materials on pallets.  Although there are many varieties of pallet racking, all types allow for the storage of palletized materials in horizontal rows with multiple levels. All types of pallet racking create some level of increase storage density with the least dense being the least expensive and cost increasing with storage density. Pallet Racking is an essential and ubiquitous element in most modern warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail centers, and other storage and distribution facilities.  Adjustable Pallet Racking systems offer accessibility to all palletized products at all times.  Such accessibility is important if the stock is rapidly depleted and restocked (called quick turnover).

Adjustable Pallet Racking Systems (APR)

Adjustable pallet racking (APR) is the most common pallet racking system in use today. Adjustable pallet racking typically comes in one of two configurations: a Welded Framed configuration, and a structural bolt-together configuration. Both systems adopt a clip-in horizontal beam system for installation and adjustment purposes.

Wide Aisle is the use of Adjustable Pallet Racking in a configuration with an aisle width of typically 2800mm.  For use with a Reach type Fork-lift truck this system is very common where speed of pick is essential.   

Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) is the use of Adjustable Pallet Racking in a tighter configuration to provide maximum space utilization within a storage facility. These systems typically operate in conjunction with wire-guided or rail-guided fork lift truck systems. A wire-guided system consists of a wire embedded in the concrete floor that provides tracking for the fork lift truck. A rail-guided system consists of angle iron bolted to the floor down the length of each row. A  Very Narrow Aisle pallet rack system is commonly used in distribution centre applications, as well as in retail store inventory rooms, cold storage applications, wholesale stores, etc.

Common components of Adjustable Pallet Racking include the following:

1. Load Beams, commonly box beams formed structural C shapes welded together to form a box with connecting angle at either end.  Beams vary in size and design depending on load requirements. In the UK market Beams or generally 2700mm long to provide storage and clearance for two 1200mm wide pallets or three 800mm wide pallets.
2. Upright Frames vary in size and design depending on load requirements, and styles. The most common upright column is produced by roll forming flat coil stock steel into a modified “C” shape with returns. Holes or slots are punched during manufacturing up and down the upright column at standard intervals so that the load beams can be mounted into the upright columns.
3. Diagonal and Horizontal frame Bracers usually bolted between two upright columns to form upright frames. The Bracers may also be welded to the uprights on some types of system.
4. Pallet Supports are roll formed channels that are placed front to back between the load beams to support pallets.
5. Wire Decking is commonly used as a safety measure on pallet rack to prevent pallets or the products stored on them from falling through the rack structure. Wire mesh decking comes in various thicknesses and mesh dimensions. Wire mesh construction also allows for easy identification of shelf contents and prevents dirt and other debris from accumulating on the shelves because of the holes in the mesh. Most wire mesh decking has U-shaped channel supports, also known as struts, to support the load. With this waterfall decking, the wire mesh extends across the top and down the front of the beam to provide more support, and is more desirable in the marketplace. Reverse waterfall decking can provide containment of a loose product to prevent the product from falling behind the rack system. Lay-in decking rests inside the step of the beam, and wire mesh does not waterfall over the beam. Some types of decking are manufactured with solid metal instead of wire mesh. Even though the solid decking provides a greater distributed weight capacity, it is discouraged by fire inspectors because sprinkler systems cannot spray through the shelves to levels below.
6. Foot plates are at the base of uprights and serve as anchors to give the rack more stability: anchor bolts are inserted through the footplate’s holes to attach the column to the concrete floor. Footplates are made of thicker steel and in some geographic locations; they must be of a certain size and seismic rating. Footpads increase the pallet rack’s overall stability and weight-bearing capacity.
7. Shims are used when the uprights are resting on uneven floors; the shims, equal in size to the base of the uprights, are installed beneath the uprights to level the rack.
8. Row spacers are sometimes used if uprights are arranged in back-to-back rows; the spacers are mounted between adjacent columns to ensure that the rows are kept straight and to give the pallet racks even more strength and steadiness.
9. Column protectors, also known as post protectors, are protective shields that can be installed around the base of an upright to minimize damage where forklifts might hit the upright. Damage to the base of a column can weaken the entire frame and could cause it to collapse. Column protectors are made of various materials such as polyethylene, and other durable materials.
10. Guard rails are installed to increase protection for upright columns and for human safety when platforms or steps are attached to pallet racks.

Other Common Types of Pallet Rack

Many types of pallet storage racks are available with different designs to fulfill specific functions or create specific advantages. When deciding on the type of pallet rack to use, several basic considerations have to be taken into account:

• Desired storage density
• Floor space and building height
• Placement of building doors and columns
• Stock accessibility
• Stock rotation
• Item/load size and weight
• Optimal storage design
• Cost of materials and installation

Some of the most common types of pallet rack systems used include:

1. Drive-in systems are storage rack configurations that allow the forklift to drive directly into the lane of stacked rows. Drive-in racking systems use a common entry and exit. Because a drive-in racking system has only one entrance, it uses what is called a LIFO (last in, first out) storage method. With only one entrance, the last pallet put into a row is the first one to be taken out.
2. Push-back systems are designed around the principle of organizing space by depth rather than width. This depth arrangement greatly reduces aisle space and increases storage density. In this configuration, each bay can be up to six pallets deep; each pallet stored on wheeled carts that fit onto rails. The rails are slightly angled toward the load/unload side of the rack in order to take advantage of gravity, saving enormous amounts of energy for moving heavy pallets. When a forklift sets the pallet onto the cart, it drives forward and causes the pallet to bump the next pallet, causing the entire row of pallets to roll backwards. When removing a pallet from the front position the remaining pallets immediately stage themselves forward so that the next available pallet can be accessed. Push back rack is a LIFO (last in, first out) storage system.
3. Pallet Live systems are high density pallet storage systems that utilize depth to increase capacity. This system uses a slightly inclined rail with rollers that allow pallets to move easily along the sloped plane. These systems are also called gravity flow or dynamic flow systems. The pallet flow system often has complex motion and braking systems to control the speed of the moving pallet. Pallet Flow racking systems are either a FIFO (first in, first out) or a LIFO (last in, first out) storage system. If the system is loaded from the back and unloaded from the front, it’s FIFO; if the system is loaded and unloaded from the front it’s a LIFO system.

Various Pallet Racking - Logistics Company

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Trent Design Group have been working on an ongoing project for a leading Corporatewear Company in the East Midlands, for the past year.

We were responsible for various aspects of the project which included, Shelving, Mezzanine Floors, Multi Tier Shelving, Pallet Racking, & Mobile Shelving.

The completed works have made huge improvements to the company’s storage capacity which has enabled them to improve pick rates and take on new accounts.

Underside Of New Mezzanine

Longspan Shelving

Garment Hanging on Multi Tier Shelving

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Neil Hughes joined Trent Design Group back in mid 2010, and covers the Northern Regions of the UK.

Neil has worked in our industry for many years, and is an expert in all materials handling and storage equipment such as, Pallet Racking, Shelving, Mezzanine Floors, and so on.

Neil has also got extensive experience in other projects such as office fit outs, interior refurbishment, partitioning, and general turnkey projects for business premises.

Below is a list of some of the areas that Neil covers. If you wish to get in touch with him then please feel free to contact our office so that we can put you in touch with him.

Neil Hughes - Northern Sales Manager

Warrington, Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Carlisle, Barrow In Furness, Liverpool, Merseyside, Speke, Widnes, Runcorn, Wigan, Leigh, Bolton, Bacup, Blackburn, Todmorden, Elland, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, St Helens, Halifax, Rochdale, Milnrow, Oldham, Altrincham, Manchester Freight Terminal, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle under Lyme, Burnley, Nelson, Morecambe, Preston, Leyland, Garstang, Heysham, Workington, Pendle, Accrington, Ostwaldtwistle, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Long Eaton, Castle Donnington, North East, North West, Northern Region, Chorley, Huyton, Kirkby, Knowsley, Skelmersdale, Hyde, Stalybridge, Whaley Bridge, Ashton under Lyne, Ashton in Makerfield, Haydock

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Trent Design Group have been awarded their second large job from a major UK Retailer.

We have won the contract to strip out one of their Distribution Centre’s entirely of its existing Pallet Racking and to leave the site completely empty and clear, ready for the new occupants.

We will have large labour team on site, and will dismantle all of the Pallet Racking and In-Line sprinklers in a short time frame of 5 weeks.

If you have a property that you need clear of Pallet Racking then feel free to get in touch so that we can help you out.

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January has seen a busy start to the year for all of us here at Trent Design Group.

We have been awarded some very good contracts, ranging from supplying shelving and pallet racking, through to stripping out an entire distribution centre and selling off all of the storage equipment and pallet racking.

Our interiors division has also been busy, with projects running in offices and casinos with products such as partitioning, both solid and glazed, suspended ceilings and so on.

We hope that this is the sign of a good year to come in 2012.

As always, if there is anything that we can help you with then please do not hesitate to contact one of the team.

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We regularly see companies who have made an investment and installed shelving of various types, but continue to struggle with storage as their shelves are poorly organised.

More often than not, shelving is bought without any kind of divider which means you still have to find an effective way of separating your products from one another, and you also have to make it easy to locate all of your products too.

We can design and manufacture shelving dividers of any shape and size to suit your current shelving. Why not give us a try – Call any one of our team and we’ll help you get more from your current storage equipment.

Part Height Metal Shelving Dividers

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Steel anti collapse mesh is an ideal way of creating a secured working environment, the mesh panel’s form a barrier which prevents falling objects from injuring people in the warehouse.

Steel mesh is typically installed where pedestrians or aisles run along the rear face of a rack. These areas can be notorious for falling objects. Also if a racking beam is accidently broken, the pallets and its load will fall against the anti collapse mesh or in to the loading aisle. This could save a very serious accident and therefore it’s crucial that Anti Collapse mesh is installed wherever it is needed.

We can design and manufacture Steel Anti Collapse mesh for any size or shape of Pallet Racking or shelving.

If you require a design or quotation for any Anti Collapse Mesh or any other mesh products such as Aerosol cages then please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our team.

Anti Collapse Mesh on a Dexion Pallet Racking Installation

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