Sometimes we are just all so busy that we overlook the simple things in business. Maintenance and servicing of equipment is an area that is often overlooked, yet with a little help from your friends at Action Handling Equipment this can be a scheduled event that you do not have to worry about.

Choosing pallet racking for your business can be a very tricky exercise. There are so many options, styles, sizes and basic considerations that you need to factor into making the correct choice. Most decisions on whether to use pallet racking are based on either the need to use a more economic method of storing pallets at your facility, the need to improve the speed of delivery of pallets to customers or the improved use of the pallet contents within your own business..

The UK's ‘Cash & Carry’ grocery wholesaling trade was first reported as starting in June 1957 with the opening of Vye and Son in Ramsgate, a subsidiary of the Home & Colonial Group. But Lawrence Batley is widely accredited as the originator of the concept in the UK and in April 1958, L. Batley & Co. of Huddersfield opened a large 30,000 sq. ft. modern cash & carry warehouse which was by far the biggest of its kind to date.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) now account for over a third of all work related illness and the loss of more than 10 million days each year. Although often associated with back pain, the term MSD covers a wide range of ailments and can affect joints and tissue in many parts of the body.

PVC strip door curtains are a very cost-effective way to save your business money and improve working conditions. They can be introduced both internally and externally around your buildings with the minimum of ease.

From time to time, like most businesses, we all take a frantic phone call from a customer that urgently needs some new equipment delivered to site - like yesterday!.

The electric platform truck can save operator fatigue, increase speed and efficiency whilst maximising the time taken to complete picking, packing and despatch tasks.

A new year quite often brings with it, new intentions, both personal ones and business objectives. With all the unknowns surrounding 'Brexit' and its possible impact on UK companies, now is the time to examine your business and get prepared for a new era of trading.

In the week that the clocks went back, a logistics giant and Action Handling were making plans to despatch winter packs directly to 22 distribution centres across the UK.

A top British jewellery brand that leads the way in fine contemporary pieces have been making plans for this year’s Black Friday extravaganza event, by ensuring that staff have in place additional workstations to package orders received online from the frenzy anticipated during this year’s promotion. 

Whilst every company is unique in its own way, the work problems it can encounter on a daily basis are often shared throughout industry. Action Handling has a 48 year trading history, during which it has accrued a fountain of knowledge, so when it comes to finding solutions for work problems, we can often pull on previous projects completed for other customers with similar hurdles to jump.

Before buying cylinder handling and storage equipment it is important to understand and assess how different types of cylinders need to be handled and also to establish the actual requirements of individual gases by identifying them in the first place.

Stunning colours! But if you have company premises, then falling leaves can be a big problem to handle. There's no escaping them, even at home the decaying foliage becomes an unwanted headache to have to deal with.

The NHS recently celebrated its 70th Birthday, what a magnificent achievement from the organisation that the whole country holds dear to its heart; over the last seven decades we have seen massive improvements in research and developing medicine which has allowed us to live healthier and longer by an average of ten years. During forty of those seventy years, Action Handling has been on hand to offer the NHS up and down the country advice on storage and handling issues that crop up on site.

Were you prepared when the temperatures soared? Why is it that UK companies never quite seem to get ahead with extreme weather planning? In the latest heat wave, suppliers across the country ran out of fans, air conditioning units, water coolers and even cold drink machines. To avoid this happening again, Action Handling advise their clients to put in place a strategic plan to cover all the seasons and all the possible extreme weather problems that can happen.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) say that a risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you should identify sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace.

When a large company makes contact with you on the back of previous dealings, it’s always comforting to be in the knowledge that the work you have carried out before is appreciated. Being invited back to help with new and exciting projects, is extra special for us!

Whilst farmers are well adept at growing, picking, processing and packing their fruit and vegetables, ready for delivery, when it comes to making a work site safe, they need assistance. Action Handling have lots of experience with this industry and we were glad to be able to help a Kent based grower.

Traditionally we always associate that the work of a fork lift truck or stacker truck is confined to lifting palletised loads on and off from delivery vehicles on to pallet racking or direct to the shop floor. Whilst it is true that this is their primary function, we at Action Handling Equipment encourage customers to view their lifting trucks as a much more versatile tool than just that.

As we celebrate the England football team reaching the knockout stages of the world cup in Russia, we realise it’s a combination of planning, hard work and teamwork that gets results. It’s the same principle we used at our latest project for the iconic JCB, equipment suppliers for construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition equipment. They produce over 300 types of machines, including diggers, excavators, tractors and diesel engines. JCB have 22 factories across Asia, Europe, North America and South America; with products sold in over 150 countries.

As you will be aware, the law has changed and we should all be working towards the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into effect on 25th May 2018.

Through the Climate Change Act, the UK government has committed to reducing emissions by 80% of the levels they were in 1990, by the year 2050. In order for this target to be achieved, businesses and industry are being encouraged to replace high-carbon investments with greener alternatives when the opportunity arises. We have compiled some ways in which some factories, warehouses and other industrial workplaces can make positive and greener changes, which not only help with lowering carbon emissions but also help save money long-term.

We were recently invited to offer a proposal for a building project in Harlow, Essex, by a long-standing customer that was experiencing difficulty in finding a professional and reliable building contractor to undertake the work. Although we have always been materials handling equipment specialists, we knew, having worked closely with the Building Industry for many years, that we would have enough knowledge and contacts within our network to provide a suitable and satisfactory completion of works.

We all know that there is more to dealing with inclement weather at work than just whacking the heating on; but did you know that, according to the HSE, occurrences of accidents at work statistically increase in the colder months.

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that an estimated 4.5 million working days were lost in the UK in 2015/16 due to self-reported workplace injuries. Whilst the general trend is that the number of reported injuries occurring at work is reducing over time, the HSE also note that due to the widespread underreporting of incidents, those figures are likely to be considerably higher in reality.

We all know that it doesn’t take much for an organised and tidy stockroom to quickly become a mess. When things get busy, it’s sometimes easier to cut corners and go back later – however, leaving stock, empty cardboard boxes, packaging and numerous other items lying around can seriously impact on the efficiency and safety of your storage area.

Standard office furniture is designed to complement modern office spaces, all clean lines and smooth finishes, easy to clean and maintain. However, have you considered thinking outside the square and bringing a touch of industrial interior design into your commercial business space?

When running a business, productivity is a key part of management, with teams always looking for ways to improve. However, recent studies have shown that an organised workplace can assist productivity – and when you think about it, it makes sense.

We've written a few posts discussing employer obligations when it comes to providing a safe workplace for employees. Sufficient training and supervision, equipment suited to the task at hand and implementation of procedures are all part of the process. In the end, however, it comes down to the individual employee to work responsibly, employ correct equipment and act in a safe manner at work.

We’ve written previously about the positive effects of having an organised workplace and how effective storage can contribute to productivity. Employee well-being is becoming more of a focus for many companies, with fluid employment markets and increased opportunities meaning businesses need to do more to attract and retain the best employees for the job.

As your business grows, chances are your equipment requirements will grow with it, requiring investment in larger items to meet your needs. Sometimes it can seem easier to hire equipment in the short term, but it may be better in the long term, to invest in your ongoing growth by purchasing rather than hiring.

Office space has changed a great deal over the past few decades. Gone are the rows of carbon-copy desks and enclosed offices for a chosen few – now open plan layouts, fresh air, central meeting spaces and clean design are the hallmarks of a modern office. Studies conducted over the past few years have found that environment can play a big part in employee satisfaction and well being, leading to improved productivity.

Eco-friendly, sustainable, recycled - none of these are new terms in the modern business world. For many years now, companies have been looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint, use resources to their best advantage and recycle whenever possible. It makes good sense for the planet and also financially, with savings to be found in streamlining practices, utilities and materials so we only use what we need.

There is an extremely wide selection of office and industrial shelving that contains designs to suit all environments. Whether you are outfitting a home-office, storeroom, warehouse or industrial plant, units nowadays are quoted as being fast delivery items and very easy to install. 

We've written previously about workplace storage, and how an efficient, well-organised system can boost productivity as well as improve your work environment. Now let's delve a little deeper. Providing correct storage for each item is part of safe materials handling, which is where our range of steel handling racks come into play.

Business coaches, entrepreneurs and lifestyle gurus all tout the benefits of organisation when it comes to doing business effectively and achieving your goals. Increased productivity, employee well being and a sense of being able to get things done can all be achieved simply by making sure your workplace is well organised - surprising, isn't it?

Forklift trucks are an indispensible piece of equipment for many in the materials handling industry. Traditionally used for lifting and stacking, they can also be customised by adding attachments, adding to their versatility within your business.

Steel drum barrels have been in use for many years to store and transport various items. They've also been used in less orthodox circumstances, such as musical instruments native to Trinidad and Tobago, urban bonfire pits and even by several daredevils who decided to tackle Niagara Falls inside steel drums of varying shapes and sizes. One bright spark even enclosed his drum in inner tubes (amazingly, he survived).

According to LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), a lifting operation is defined as 'an operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load'. The load can be any item, including people, and the equipment used to undertake this operation is defined as 'lifting equipment'.

Do you know that there are Egyptian tombs and Mesolithic sites with symbolic representations showing that ladders were being used around the world some 10,000 years ago according to the most recent archaeological evidence! I reckon I might have one of these ladders in my garden shed but then that’s another story altogether!

Action Handling was recently invited to offer a proposal against a tender opportunity for one of the London Borough Councils. The opportunity was to improve the storage possibilities of the stores areas within local parks.

Thankfully, the days of computers the size of a microwave oven and file servers requiring their own ‘computer room’ are long gone. You may not love modern technology but IT is one of those industries that evolves at breathtaking speed as it tries to satisfy our desire for computers to be both smaller and faster.

We were recently involved with a card shop chain that was looking to improve the safety aspect of transferring the helium bottles from the store room to the shop floor. The deliveries are made on a weekly basis directly from the supplier in Kent to the shops based in and around the London M25 area.

Our dedicated design team recently helped an electrical and industrial components distributor through every step from the design to the final product being delivered.

We were recently asked to visit a large distribution centre that processes thousands of on-line orders every day. For the site, the increase of orders meant the current system of picking and packing wasn’t as efficient as it once was. The volume had meant the operatives were having to reload shopping trolleys and walking back and forth to collect the packaging materials to get the items ready for dispatch and this plainly wasn’t ideal because of the time wasted.

When a top aviation and automotive manufacturer needed some expert help and advice, they made the right choice in asking Action Handling to come visit them on site in Newbury, Berkshire.

Our latest bespoke trucks certainly went down a real treat and delighted our customer in helping them overcome the problem of moving long sections of steel tube and steel bar within the factory floor in Harlow, Essex. Struggling to keep up with the constant moving of large and bulky timber pallets lying around taking up precious floor space, onto which the stock was kept. The introduction of the stanchion trucks has totally revamped and revitalised the production area making the site much more time efficient and a safer place to work. 

Sometimes it is really nice to go back and revisit a customer many months after the initial sale is completed and talk over how the piece of equipment we have supplied has improved the working environment for them. It is just one of the many little things that we do here at Action Handling, that we know our customers really appreciate in us going that extra mile to please and serve our customers time and time again.

Let us be very clear first of all, order picking trolleys and ladders are both a sensible and practical option for low risk and for short duration tasks when working at height. The law says ladders can be used for working at height when a risk assessment has shown that using equipment offering a higher level of fall projection is not justified because of a low risk and short duration of use or there are existing workplace features which cannot be altered. As a quick guide, if your task will require staying up a ladder or step ladder for 30 minutes at a time, it is be recommended that you use alternative equipment.

I can still recall the words spoken to me by my driving instructor on my very first driving lesson 26 years ago. “A car in the right hands is a means to get from one place to another, but used incorrectly it becomes a deadly weapon”. He was right, thinking about it logically, if you look how much mass a vehicle has and its ability to accelerate and travel at high speeds, the consequences of even the smallest error can be disastrous, even at very low speed, the damaged caused by impact can be very costly, as I will be indicating in this case study.

When a world-wide stainless steel valve manufacturer needed a bespoke checking workstation for their quality control checks, they called upon Action Handling to design and manufacture a robust unit matching the existing bolt shelving at their Preston, Lancashire, UK site.

Business case studies tend to be about large projects or signed deals with blue chip companies yet most UK businesses are in fact small companies or sole traders that keep the business world thriving, so when we were approached by a talented artist in Brighton who had decided to take the leap and leave behind a secure job and go it alone, we were more than happy to discuss the details of his requirements to help fulfil his dreams.

When you buy industrial steel pallets or stillages (as they are also known), you expect them to last. An Essex manufacturer of purpose-made high performance doors and door sets, bought 18 such stillages from us 15 years ago. I guess even they were surprised that after all the work they have been put through, they are still very much the backbone in helping the business store the materials on site to help them produce the commercial, residential, healthcare, education and hotel buildings doors at the factory.

When a top European paint manufacturer had the need to replace their existing steps on site and couldn’t find anything else in any catalogue or on the web, they contacted us here at Action to visit them on site in Liverpool to measure the old faithful steps that had served them so well in the past and requested us to produce a replica but to ensure it met all current health and safety regulations.

A leading UK car parts supplier engaged the services of Action Handling during 2012, to further a growing list of successful projects together. The objective of this meeting was to improve the operation of their warehouse. Action Handling’s Sales Director, Stephen Phillips, met with our site contact to perform a complete analysis of the supply chain and production line. 

No manufacturing or service industry can be efficient without a sound production line. When one of the largest global construction machinery manufacturers engaged Action Handling to remedy an issue in their factory, we were excited to gather more details and discuss the solution. 

Action Handling were recently engaged to supply a large quantity of our wooden pallet collars for delivery to Nigeria as part of a large transformation project. 

Early in 2013, a globally renowned aid and development charity were looking to update the facilities of all fashion outlets across the UK. It was at this point that they contacted Action Handling to provide some bespoke equipment. 

No chance of a lie in or watching the golf with a croissant and OJ for the Phillips boys on Sunday morning. Not when there’s work to be done! 

When the world’s largest supplier of car roof systems benefitted from exceptional growth in sales, Action handling were called in to implement a new storage solution that would cope with the massively increased demand for stock.

When a global electronic and industrial component giant needed a quality sack truck, Action Handling was ready to heed the call! Our site contact requested that we call in to observe the operation in full flow and make a recommendation accordingly. The requirement was for a large quantity of sack trucks which were robust, built to last and designed to handle euro boxes into their main distribution centre. 

Action Handling is very proud to have been able to assist with the massive improvement in efficiency and safety on-site for one of their most valued customers.

The health and leisure industry has seen a massive influx of boot-camps and group training classes over the past year. It has shown to be a more effective way of exercising than independent gym sessions i.e. more fun, more varied and more sociable. Surveys show that people have generally had enough of the big box shiny gyms. More and more personal training studios, crossfit centres and boot-camps are cropping up all the time and this is expected to continue in 2013/14 and beyond.

During the summer of 2012, the UK car industry enjoyed a 22% rise in production in comparison to the same period of 2011. Therefore, it was no surprise that a gargantuan amount of materials were being transported and used to keep up with demand. Action Handling has worked extensively with clients in the automotive sector for over 40 years, offering expert advice and solutions to satisfy requirements for any application.

Action Handling was recently engaged by the procurement team at an executive agency of Her Majesty's Government, to supply a bespoke platform truck for use in their main UK office. The requirement originally discussed was for an electric platform trolley to transport certain items around the building.

Following the launch of some revolutionary products, a global leader in orthopaedic implants engaged Action Handling to consult and supply some specific equipment at their UK head-quarters. Action Handling’s Sales Director, Steve Phillips, was invited on-site to assess the client’s exact requirements and to discuss the best strategy to achieve their objectives

Towards the tail-end of the 2011 summer holidays, a major university in the South West contacted Action Handling to assist in their refurbishment project. In order to get the Design and Technology Department ready for the new academic year, a large quantity of workshop benches were required to furnish the ‘Pupil Teaching Workshop’.

Action Handling were recently contacted by the NHS supply chain to solve a problem encountered by their warehouse operatives. On a daily basis, the warehouse team continually loads and unloads plastic containers onto and off of a high-level conveyor system. The main issue resulting from this task is a question of how the managers can maintain productivity whilst complying with H&S legislation and current lifting and handling regulations.

During a large-scale update of their security measures, an MOD army barracks based in the East Midlands appointed Action Handling to supply customised versions of their standard mesh security cages.

Having decided to implement safe and secure storage facilities at their UK headquarters, a leading camera lighting hire and repair company employed the expertise of Action Handling.

When an Essex-based fire station encountered a recurring issue with maintenance and cleaning of fire engines, they contacted Action Handling Equipment Ltd to visit the site and advise of a solution to improve the process.

Transportation of delicate, fragile goods is a key issue faced by many UK businesses. One of the most common materials associated with accidents or injuries at work is glass. These two facts combined make the glass industry a minefield when complying with health and safety regulations.

Following a portfolio of successfully completed projects, an Essex-based power station brought in Action Handling to design and manufacture a bespoke, heavy-duty industrial trailer for use with the movement of equipment around site. 

In an on-going account with one of the UK’s major convenience store groups, Action Handling were engaged to design and fabricate a range of security cages for use across multiple sites with varying requirements.

When a top ten university in London completed the installation of their mezzanine floor, they contacted Action Handling to design, manufacture and install a bespoke lift to transport goods safely and efficiently between the two levels.

When an Essex-based Power Station was in need of a safe storage facility for steel drums which contained hazardous substances, they contacted Action Handling to discuss and design a bespoke solution for their requirements. The Drum Storage unit was manufactured with a custom finish and specialised paint to comply with health & safety regulations. It was designed to help compliance with environmental pollution regulations.

During a large transformation project of their Loughton manufacturing site, the UK and Europe’s leading supplier of mailing equipment contracted Action Handling Equipment Ltd to offer their expert advice and to provide a solution for their warehouse.

A major high street convenience store group approached Action Handling and requested the design for a bespoke shelf trolley which will serve as multi-functional equipment around the store. Given the variation of sizes, textures and quantities of goods which needed to be transported, a standard model was not suitable and a bespoke solution was manufactured. 

Action Handling was engaged by a leading high street retailer to design and manufacture a set of bespoke nesting basket trolleys. Due to the unique shape and size of items which needed to be moved through the store, a standard model was not suitable. Having met with store managers, fully confirming their requirements with head office, Action Handling then designed a solution. 

Action Handling was contracted by a leading convenience store group to design and manufacture a set of bespoke nesting trolleys for use in stores throughout the UK. Having visited the head office and consulting with various store managers to confirm why the standard model was not suitable, it was clear that a bespoke solution was required.

Action Handling Equipment Ltd was engaged by a leading construction group to design and manufacture a bespoke materials/goods cage for use on-site at Kings Cross Railway Station, London.

The storage of gas cylinder bottles is an issue regardless of location. They are used on building sites, business premises, garage forecourts, farms and industrial processing plants. It is therefore imperative to ensure all cylinders are stored safely and securely, to meet strict H&S regulations.

When a leading car roof box manufacturer had a health and safety issue onsite, concerning the loading and unloading of vehicles at its warehouse in Suffolk, they contacted Action Handling Equipment Ltd to visit the site and advise of a solution to resolve the issues.

Historically, motorcycles have been delivered in disposable wooden crates or on wooden pallets. Although it is a standard process throughout the industry, it is time consuming and generally unsafe. Also, the cost of disposing the packaging must be borne by the customer and it generally prohibits more than one unit being transported per pallet.

The Air Cadets had a health and safety problem that was causing issues with damage to aircraft wings and difficulty in boarding aircraft and then also leaving the cockpit.

Safety of personnel in environments where there are slippery surfaces is absolutely vital. When a sub-contractor of British Waterways noticed an increase in injuries and sick-leave at one particular site, they decided to investigate.

A customer contacted us requiring a new piece of equipment to assist on site with loading a new large steel press roller on site. The company was manufacturing plastic film packaging for the food industry and needed a piece of equipment to lift up a large steel roller at the start of the process. The steel roller was to be lifted 870mm from the floor and would need changing several times per shift.

Following some issues regarding safe and secure transport of goods on-site, the procurement initiative of a British car manufacturer sat down with key members of its engineering team to discuss the best course of action. Shortly after this, Action Handling were engaged for their expertise regarding handling equipment.

All our buildings are designed to BS5950, BS6399 and are supplied with a complete set of structural calculations. Anti-condensation lining on all single skin roof panels.

The research done at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy is rightly recognised as world class and it has driven UK leadership in fusion R&D for many years. We were thrilled to help manufacture an industrial trailer with box body and towing eye recently for the management team at UKAEA.

Gravity roller conveyor is often referred to as gravity conveyor, roller conveyor or just plain old conveyor. Conveyor in its most basic form is made up of an outer framework and a series of rollers fitted within that frame over which goods can be rolled from point A to B.

When you need a bespoke product it is hard to know where to begin, Firstly is it going to be expensive, also who can you trust to understand your needs and criteria? What if it goes wrong and the project starts to unravel and cost spiral out of control? Well breathe and relax, Action Handling have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help ease the worries and stresses that brings.

It might be a common theme for jokes, but really, how many workers does it take to change a light bulb? Let’s make no mistake about it, having substandard lighting in your factory or warehouse is a potential danger for your employees.

We were recently approached by the facilities management team for an automotive manufacturer in Northamptonshire who were experiencing difficulties in sourcing the exact needs for their requirements. Increase demand had meant ordering of material for production on site was at an all-time high, which had a knock-on effect as they had insufficient compliant storage capacity for their production team.

Whether in the home or at the office, storage space is always at a premium. Even in this digital age, a mountain of paperwork can still develop very quickly, much of which you’ll want to keep and some, such as company accounts you must keep by law. How long you retain your books and records for, varies depending on exactly what they are and what type of business you run.