Link 51, the UK’s leading shelving and storage manufacturer, recently completed the installation of wide aisle pallet racking at the Bestway Group’s latest wholesale premises. Located just to the north of Brighton, the former 85,000 sq ft book depository with its 1930s art deco facade, was previously owned by British Bookshops and Stationers.
Bestway, the largest independent wholesaler in the UK, currently trade from 62 warehouses, offering over 5.5 million square feet of selling space, a product line of over 25,000 items and serving 100,000 independent retailers. They provide employment to over 4,500 people.
Link 51’s long established association with Bestway has resulted in over 30 racking installations for the company at various wholesale branches throughout the UK, including their distribution centre at Coventry.
Given time constraints, Bestway’s new premises presented Link 51 with a number of challenges. As the warehouse was originally designed for heavy industrial engineering, rails, girders and associated steelwork still remain in place, although overhead cranes were taken out from the site many years previously. And as space costs money, Link 51 were tasked with utilising the maximum available storage capacity of the warehouse.
The installation was complete in just four weeks, with Link 51 succeeding in providing racking for a total of 2,764 pallets. With each pallet having a load capacity of 1,250 kgs, the racking provides in excess of 1,000 shelf levels, incorporating steel mesh shelf panels for the storage and display of goods. Racking elevation to seven metres was achieved throughout the warehouse, except for directly under the main roof centre steelwork, where elevation was restricted to six metres.
A central secure area for cigarettes and alcohol was also installed, containing 252 pallet locations and protected by a steel roller shutter door. Racking was also supplied for a back-up freezer room and a chilled produce room.
Additional storage solutions provided by Link 51, included equipping the staff rooms with personal lockers and constructing a secure cage outside the warehouse for the safe storage of gas bottles.
Throughout the installation, Link 51 worked alongside contractors involved in preparing the warehouse, including providing support brackets for a fire systems company fitting sprinkler systems at various heights throughout the premises.
Commenting on the installation, Bestway Wholesale Group’s Arshad Chaudhary said, “As the Bestway Group continues sustained growth within the UK, our long association with Link 51 as a racking specialist goes from strength to strength. Their ability to consistently meet our deadlines, whilst being sympathetic to our requirements is the hallmark of a trusted supplier.
“Despite structural complexities at the new store, the installation at Brighton is testament to Link 51’s planning, manufacturing and project management capabilities.”
Link 51 (Storage Products)
David Buller
Tel: 07887 628895
Email: dbuller@whittan-storage.com
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