Category Archives: Blog

Whether you are purchasing a few pieces of furniture to expand your office, have run out of storage space, or even setting up a brand new office, it pays to plan your purchases carefully. The last thing you will want to do is spend money on furniture that isn’t fit for purpose or doesn’t even fit your available space. Before you start spending, create a plan of your floor space and work out what type of furniture you need. How many desks and cabinets? What type of shelving and storage you need?

A place for everything and everything in its place!

A cluttered desk and office can result in poor productivity. Choose effective storage that’s designed to make the most of your space:

• Use adjustable office shelving to store items that you don’t need to have at hand, such as stationery, stock, files, books and archive boxes.  By adding lockable doors, sensitive files that are for your eyes only can be stored safely and securely.
• Don’t forget about the small items. To keep them from being lost, use stacking plastic picking bins that you can label to store those bits and pieces that can slip down the back of cabinets or roll off the edge.
• For the files and folders you use every day, desk top or wall mounted metal filing racks will keep your lever arch files tidy, but close at hand.
• Don’t forget to utilise all of the available space. Corner storage units will fit neatly into any corner and make the most of your space.

Don’t forget your staff

Staff that work from home or on the road may need to pop into your office a few days each month.  It may not be possible to give them their own dedicated space in your office when they are hardly there to use it, which could mean that they feel like they are in the way when they do visit. Why not provide a hot-desk solution? With a lockable mobile caddy, each member of staff can keep their bits and pieces safe when they are working away from the office, giving them the feeling that they are part of the team.

ShelvingDirect® manufactures a large range of office shelving and storage solutions that make the most office spaces, both large and small. Have a look at our wide range of products by browsing our website.

Be honest, how many wasted minutes – or even hours – have you spent searching for a particular file only to find it is at the bottom of a pile of paperwork that you have been meaning to organise, but can never find the time? You are certainly not alone. Hundreds of hours every week across the UK are wasted searching for paperwork, files etc. that could so easily be found if they were put away in an organised storage system.

Wouldn’t it be better, instead of searching, that you could actually get on with the work in hand straight away? This would reduce time wasted, therefore increasing productivity levels and certainly minimise frustrations! Even if space is at a premium in your office, there are many great office storage solutions that can help improve your productivity. These include:

• Static shelving – shelving is available in a range of widths and heights, with adjustable shelves to house books, files and stationery.
• Mobile shelving – where space is at a premium, mobile shelving uses half the floor space of static shelving.
• Rotary storage units – a mobile storage system for files and box folders, a rotary storage system can be configured to give up to four tiers of storage while taking up very little floor space.
• Corner storage units – these units will fit neatly into any wasted corner space and are perfect for holding ring binders.
• Desktop storage units – if you do not have the floor space for a rotary unit, consider a desk mounted rotary or corner storage unit. These are perfect for storing those files and box folders that you need every day.

Once you have your storage sorted, it will take only moments to lay your hands on that all important file, saving you lots of time so you can concentrate on getting that urgent piece of work completed – or even take a lunch break… or leave on time! ShelvingDirect® manufacture a large range of office shelving and racking solutions that make the most of even the tiniest office space. Have a look at our wide range of products by browsing our website, or call today to speak to an expert by calling 0121 508 5877.

The more organised your warehouse or stockroom, the more productive your business. FACT. Effective inventory management will not only save you time, and increase productivity, but will have a positive effect on your overall profitability.

As a designer and manufacturer of a variety of shelving and racking solutions, effective inventory management and productive working is key to our success. Our ability to offer our products and storage solutions at trade prices is dependent on our effective and successful inventory organisation, so here are just a few of our tips to ensure you have the most effective and organised system possible…

1. Carry out an assessment of your storage area to highlight which areas you need to change. If you find that you don’t have enough shelving to store everything, or loose parts often get lost or roll to the back of shelves, it’s time to invest in some medium or heavy duty shelving (depending on the weight of products you need to store) and a range of storage solutions such as boxes, stackable containers, pick bins etc.

Remember – don’t just look at wall space, ceiling height can unlock even more space which can be utilised. We can offer totally bespoke shelving and racking solutions to ensure that every inch of your space is used to effectively manage your inventory.

2. Create a system where stock is stored by product number or product type. Whatever system you choose, ensure that it allows you to store heavier items on lower shelves so that they are safe to reach.

Keep like for like products, or those that tend to be picked together, close to each other so personnel don’t have to keep walking up and down between shelving. If you’re really serious about reducing wasted time, look at the principles of Lean Manufacturing. By analysing the flow of how your products reach your customers you may be able to make a number of small changes which could have significant impact on your bottom line.

3. Label your shelving and storage boxes clearly. It’s much easier for those who visit the stock room less often to find what they are looking for quickly.

4. An organised stockroom enables you to take inventory of your stock easily and quickly.  When running low on stock, order immediately rather than waiting until you run out.  Set a minimum stock level by looking at how long the lead time is from ordering to delivery. When you reach that level, re-order straight away.

5. Think safety. A badly lit area or stock left lying about on the floor can be a hazard to those who visit the stockroom.  Ensure that all lights are working and are fit for purpose.  Place bins around the room so that rubbish can be disposed of rather than being strewn over the floor, ready for someone to trip over. Put new stock away as soon as it is delivered – don’t leave boxes around for people to bump into. Lastly, provide steps to reach higher shelves and any other support tools to ensure your staff can access all products safely.

ShelvingDirect® make it easy for companies to organise their warehouses and stockrooms by providing high quality shelving, racking and storage solutions in a range of sizes to fit any facility. Browse our website to see our vast range of stock.

Much like our range of steel shelving and racking, our steel lockers are strong, sturdy and reliable. Made from durable powder coated British steel, our lockers are built to last and will look great in any environment, for any application. If however they are not maintained properly, lockers will eventually show their age due to their high usage. So, if you want your steel lockers to carry on looking great and last for many years to come, we have a few tips to help you achieve this.

The ShelvingDirect® top tips for keeping lockers in pristine condition…

• Keep them clean!

Wipe down any spills and clean off any marks both inside and out with a damp cloth, especially if any liquid has been splashed on them. Vacuum any dirt or grit that could scratch the surface from the bottom of the locker and on shelves. Regular cleaning keeps your lockers free from dust, grime and anything else that could cause damage to the powder coating. When cleaning, remember to use soft cloths only, and nothing with an abrasive nature such as a scouring pad or scrubbing brush – a microfiber cloth and some warm water is perfect.

• A little lubrication goes a long way

Give hinges an occasional spray with a small amount of lubricant oil such as WD40 to keep them in tip top condition and to stop them squeaking. Remember to wipe any excess oil that drips down onto the surface of your lockers so that it doesn’t stain.

• If your lockers get scratched, make sure the damage is dealt with as soon as possible

During daily use, it near impossible to prevent lockers from getting scratched. If scratches appear, sand down the area and apply touch-up paint. If scratches go untreated the bare metal could be subject to corrosion and the lockers will end up looking worn. 

More information can be found on our steel lockers by clicking here.

Imagine the perfect warehouse. Chances are you are picturing rows of shelving with every part and component neatly stacked and clearly labelled, floors are free from obstructions, and everything is easy to locate when you need it.

In truth this is often not the case. Shelving is often over-filled, boxes are piled up on the floor, small parts are easily lost, and it is probably not uncommon for you to spend a long time looking for the smallest thing. Not only does an unorganised warehouse make it extremely hard to keep track of your stock, but it can also have a devastating effect on your productivity.

Get the right type of shelving, racking and storage accessories and you could transform your warehouse into a streamlined system where items are easy to find and kept safe from damage.

• Shelving and Racking

Robust and durable steel shelving and racking can be provided in a range of sizes and levels so that you can design a shelving system to meet the dimensions of your warehouse. Making the most of your available height is also key to creating the perfect storage solution in small or busy warehouses.

• Storage Boxes

Storage boxes and bins in varying sizes are great for housing small parts and loose items. Use them with lids and they can be stacked one on top of another to maximise your space. They are also great to use in a colour coded system for optimum organisation!

• Free standing or wall mounted steel louvre panels

Designed to hold plastic pick bins of varying sizes they are perfect for storing small and loose items. You can choose to have the picking bins all the same size or mix and match sizes to suit the items you wish to store. 

Picking bins can also be stacked and stored on shelving too – ideal if employees are frequently having to ‘pop in’ to find items.

Once you have the right storage for your products, it is time to devise a clear storage system that makes it easy to pick items. Whether you choose an alphabetical or numerical system, it pays to label the shelves to enable personnel to clearly see what is stored on each level. 

ShelvingDirect’s® full range of warehouse shelving, racking and storage accessories can be found by browsing our website further. Alternatively, if you’d like specialist advise on a system to suit you and your requirements, call us on 0121 508 5877. If you’re working on a large project, we’d be delighted to visit your site and advise on the best, most cost-effective storage solutions.

Piles of files sitting on the floor in the corner? Filing tray overflowing? Nowhere to store sensitive documents? If any of this sounds familiar, then your office probably needs some much needed TLC! Having an office shelving and storage solution that has been selected to meet your specific requirements will make a huge difference in the way you work.  Just imagine how much time and energy you could save by no longer hunting through piles of files just to find that one document you have mislaid.  Best of all, it will cost you less than you think.

Office shelving for any shape or sized workspace
Whether you need shelving for an alcove or across a whole wall, we have a range of office shelving options to suit any size or shape of office. Available with or without doors, open or closed back, our office shelving is available in a range of widths, heights, and depths. With smooth front edge profiles and a powder coated finish, they provide a stylish storage solution for any modern office.

A range of accessories to provide a bespoke office storage solution
Where space is at a premium and every inch of the office needs to be utilised, we provide a great range of accessories. These include:

• Rotary storage that provides space saving storage for ring binders and lever arch files.
• Portable metal filing racks that can be kept on your desktop or wall mounted.
• Corner storage units which make use of otherwise wasted corner spaces. These are suitable for storing ring binders and lever arch files.

As your needs change, our office shelving and racking can be added to, or adapted, without having to completely renew your storage solutions. A clean, well-organised workspace has been proven to improve productivity and motivation. Having a place for everything and everything in its place will help you free up your time and help you work more efficiently.

Take a look at the various office storage options we have to offer and see how they can provide your office – and you – that much needed TLC.

Stockrooms are often unloved areas where just about anything that is not in regular use is dumped, often meaning that there is limited space to store your actual stock. However, you don’t need to be an interior designer to create a well-organised stockroom, or have a huge budget to transform this important space. By following our handy tips, improving your stockroom will be a piece of cake.

1. Invest in good quality shelving and racking that will last you for years to come. Steel shelving is available is a range of heights, depths and widths.  Medium duty shelving is perfect for storing items of 300kg per shelf and heavy duty shelving can hold up to an impressive 500kg per shelf. Look for British-made, as the quality will be far superior to cheap imported steel.

2. Make the most of your space.  Odd shaped walls or small recesses don’t have to be an obstacle. ShelvingDirect can provide low-cost bespoke shelving options that are made to fit your available space. Also, think about other storage options, such as rotary storage, lever arch filing racks, and corner storage units. Use plastic picking bins, which are available in various sizes to store small or loose items, and stacking and nesting containers for those larger items.

3. Label.  So you are not hunting around for ages for that one particular item, label all shelves, racks, boxes and picking bins so it’s always clear what is being stored in them.

4. Be ruthless.  If it’s broken or doesn’t work, throw it away. If you don’t use it anymore, sell it or donate it to a charity.

5. Think about the small things to further improve your stockroom experience:

• A table. If you have space, think about adding a small table. You will find this very handy when you are carrying out a stock take.
• Good lighting. Often stockrooms are windowless areas. Good lighting that provides light to all areas of the stockroom – even the back corner – will make it easy for you to find what you are looking for and made it a more productive, organised space.
• Bins. You have spent time and energy tidying and sorting out your stockroom, so don’t forget a small bin so that rubbish doesn’t end up on the floor.
• Step ladder. You may have used all available space efficiently and effectively, but don’t forget you will need to be able to reach the top shelf safely and standing on a chair isn’t the best option for your employees.

After following these tips, your stockroom will be an ordered and welcoming space where everything is easy to find. If you’d like further advise and support from the experts at ShelvingDirect, please call 0121 508 5877.

You get what you pay for!  And in the world of shelving and racking, this is often very true.

There are many companies that offer steel shelving at discounted prices. It may seem like a great deal at the time, but once you get them in situ, you will find that they will soon start to twist or buckle, and could even collapse, especially if you intend to store anything remotely heavy.

What makes ShelvingDirect different is that we supply a variety of steel shelving options – including a budget range that doesn’t compromise on quality – all of which are built to last, using 100% British steel.

We manufacture all of our shelving and racking ourselves. We don’t import. This means that we can guarantee that all of our products are robust, safe, reliable, long-lasting and extremely well-made following strict quality standards.  With no middle-man, you can get great quality shelving and racking at factory prices.

Whatever you need to store, we have a shelving solution that will meet your needs. We can provide shelving and racking in a variety of heights, depths and widths and in a powder coated, galvanised or chrome finish. We have the ideal solution for your home or business. Office, garage, shed, greenhouse, warehouse, industrial, retail, medical, there’s something for every application.

If you are not sure what type or size shelving you require, our team is on hand to give you expert advice. We can even make site visits to help you maximise your storage potential if you have a large upcoming project that requires storage. Once your chosen units have been delivered, the boltless design makes it extremely easy to assemble. Just add one helpful person and a rubber mallet and it is as simple as that!

If you can’t find anything suitable in our extensive range, we can custom-make shelving to fit even the most awkward spaces.

Take a look around our website to see for yourself our large range of shelving, racking and other storage products. If you need any assistance or advice, please contact us and we will be glad to help.

Whatever the restrictions of your available space – whether you have sloping ceilings, differing ceiling heights, odd-shaped walls or small recesses – there is a custom shelving solution that can work for you. ShelvingDirect’s custom shelving solutions can be tailored to suit the needs of any available space, however complex or awkward. From the largest to the smallest space, we can design bespoke shelving that meets any requirement.

High quality custom shelving solutions made with high quality steel

We are able to tailor our existing range of standard shelving to make a truly bespoke shelving solution to fit your space. If you are working on a large project, such as a site expansion or complete renovation, our experienced team can visit your site to provide help and advice on the best custom shelving options to suit your particular application. Our team can help with every part of the process, from space planning through to fitting and aftercare.

Our custom shelving is manufactured by us using only British Steel following strict quality control practices, so you can guarantee that it will not only be made to meet your specifications exactly, it will be strong, sturdy and built to last.

Don’t just take our word for it

We have provided custom metal shelving to customers throughout the UK.  This includes Rax 1 heavy duty galvanised shelving engineered to bespoke sizes for Adam Ross Fabrics®, and a tailored mobile shelving system for Dr Martens. You can read about these and other projects on our case studies page.

Making the most of available space for over 60 years using custom shelving

ShelvingDirect® and its parent company Rotadex has been helping customers make the most of their space for over 60 years. To find out more about our custom shelving units and the many other storage solutions we provide, browse our website, or contact us on 0121 508 5877 or email [email protected].

For companies who are looking to relocate their business, move to larger premises, or even those who are starting up from scratch, it is worth considering your future storage needs and not just the needs of today.

It can be a costly mistake if you put in shelving, racking or even lockers that only fit your immediate requirements – it is important to consider your growth forecasts.

You need to look ahead as to how you will store your new stock, file all of the ever-increasing paperwork, or how you will store your employees’ (or even your customers’) personal belongings as and when your business grows.

When you have a large new project, ShelvingDirect® can provide a free site visit to help you make the most of your available space. Our experienced team can help and advice you on the best storage solutions to suit the needs of your business, and how to make use of every inch of your available space.

Regardless of the type of business use, whether it is an office, warehouse, retail store room, commercial garage or manufacturing facility, we can provide bespoke storage solutions to fit your space, whatever the size or shape. Because we manufacture all of our shelving and racking ourselves, we can create purpose designed solutions that can fit even the most awkward spaces.

Shelving Direct® will provide you with the best and most cost-effective, future-proof storage solutions that are guaranteed to stand the test of time. All of our shelving and racking systems are made from 100% British steel which gives you assured quality.

Why not take a look at our website and see for yourself the many different types of storage options we provide. Whether you require shelving, racking, office storage and filing solutions, work benches, picking bins, storage boxes, or lockers in a standard or bespoke size, we have it covered.

Give us a call today on 0121 508 5877 to discuss your requirements and get the ball rolling – if you have a large upcoming project the ShelvingDirect team would be happy to arrange a site visit to discuss bespoke, cost-effective storage solutions that will serve you for years to come.