Manual handling is simply an act whereby somebody lifts, moves or transports a load by hand or by use of another part of the body. This act can be applicable to goods, tools or materials between points A to B.

Order picking has become a huge process in UK industry over the last 10 years. Distribution hubs and logistics warehouses have sprung up all over the country and we are now very reliant on the immediacy of deliveries, to all corners of Britain. Most of these hubs and warehouses use highly sophisticated order picking equipment with automated systems being affordable through the economy of scales that mass storage has provided.

In the fast paced, frenetic world that we live in, time is usually of the essence. Some of our customers look to sourcing appropriate equipment for their needs, with the minimum of time or fuss.

Sometimes, businesses tend to opt for second best when investing in new equipment, which isn't necessary. Decisions are frequently based on browsing for standard products without discussing the best cost-effective alternatives with the supplier or thinking slightly 'outside the box'.

The aim of this project was to design and manufacture an aesthetically pleasing method of storing plastic container bins. The idea needed to be something that was both highly mobile and able to move around in very tight spaces, often with corners of the rooms being a normal resting place.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington opened in 1852 and is home to one of the world’s largest collections of art and design. It houses a permanent collection of over 2.2 million individual artefacts.

Sometimes it's not so much about 'how cheap' but more about 'how good' an item of safety equipment is! We were recently contacted by a regular customer who told us that they had two irritating and not to mention expensive problems occurring around their business premises in North London. The first being random thefts from site and the second being damage to expensive plant on the premises.

One of the UK's leading racing car manufacturers turned to Action Handling when they needed a safe method of storing carbon fibre sheets. Carbon fibre is used extensively in the construction of modern 21st century racing cars.

When awkward becomes easy, you know that you are using the best equipment for the job! This was part of the remit from one of our favourite customers up in the Midlands. They have a very efficient logistics operation handling tens of thousands of packages, parcels and products a week.

One of our local council offices contacted us about coming up with a solution to provide a safe and dry rest room environment for their outdoor workers who often have to deal with adverse weather conditions.

Whether a forced relocation or by choice, moving business premises can be a fraught enough task in itself, so why not take advantage of the upheaval with floor layout improvements and equipment upgrades.

If you thought that planning boards just hung above your desk or on the back of a door, then think again!

One of our regular pharmaceutical customers had recently launched their newest range of products online, thus allowing consumers to place orders 24/7 and all backed up with the benefit of express delivery.

One of our long-standing customers wanted to revamp their export department. They asked us to put forward some ideas on how they could speed up the packing and despatch process which seemed to be taking longer than was preferable. We sent along our man Jon Ball, with a stop clock, tape measure and 25 years plus of knowledge in the materials handling industry to have a look.

Sports stadiums and event venues are big business in the UK and indeed across the world. Gone are the days of the stadium managers using manual labour to lug equipment around. Instead of which we now have fully mechanised systems in place to handle everything, even right up to hydraulically controlled roll out football pitches!

It is always gratifying to hear that some of your products are being used at very important places around the country. The HM Passport Office Headquarters is at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, but has seven other regional offices and over 50 other interview offices dotted around the UK.

When your customers demand the very highest quality, then you can leave absolutely nothing to chance. As you can no doubt imagine, the aircraft industry have some of the highest standards of any industry and there’s perhaps no more exacting than those in the military and executive sectors.

Based in Haverhill, Suffolk are a European company that provides top quality products for conveying varying types of sports equipment on vehicles, camping vehicle accessories, backpacks and luggage plus all types of strollers and bike trailers to enable family holidays and days out.

There are many things in life that are both annoying and frustrating and perhaps one of the most common are those issues that arise from parking. It appears that while there’s an ever increasing number of vehicles, there’s an ever decreasing number of parking places available in which to put them.

When Clarity Pharma opened their new centre in 2018, they quickly identified the need for a new labelling system. By positioning the labels on the racking beams, it meant that identifying pallets within their warehouse became an easy task.

England’s longest zip line runs for 720m and is based at Bluewater Shopping and Leisure Centre in Kent. Safety is of prime importance on this 60mph high rise adrenalin thrill activity!

A water company in the south of England has been having some security issues for several years which has resulted in the theft of expensive plant and equipment. Apparently this problem is a reasonably common issue faced by big land owning companies, who find it difficult to secure their equipment when stored on large sites covering sizeable areas.

Information and notice boards have seemingly been around forever but we are now finding that companies are using them in a far more interactive way. Businesses want to engage in detail with customers, visitors and employees, about how their company operates, what it's core values are plus clearly present product info.

It is not unusual for a company with specific needs to find themselves looking for a bespoke solution when ordering equipment. Off-the-shelf products in ready supply may have once satisfied work tasks but the more specialist an undertaking becomes, often the more bespoke the requirement demands.

I have a vague recollection of turning up at school with my plimsols, running shorts and my oh so bright and tight obligatory sports shirt. I remember where we stored them all whilst we were having lessons, only to have to swap them over with our school uniforms when Mr. Skinner insisted we jog miles around the school playing grounds during PE. Yes, we stored them in the wire mesh lockers next to the absolutely freezing cold changing rooms!

One of our regular customers recently conducted a survey poll of their own staff and found out that their workforce reported a difficulty in contacting the company’s supervisors throughout their national depots. It was felt that supervisors were not visible enough and often seemed to have no designated point of contact.

Whiteboards provide a highly visual method of detailing information. Offices have been using them for years to help plan and record all manner of business activity and scheduled tasks. Whiteboards are often referred to as notice boards, planning boards or schedulers and they come in a large variety of standard designs and sizes.

The Disney Magic cruise ship has been anchored in the UK since May 2020 because of the Covid 19 pandemic. It is the first vessel of a fleet of four, operated by Disney Cruise Line. The owners had confirmed that the ship will be used for UK only sailings during the 2021 summer period. This meant that the boatyard needed to ready her for her voyage from Liverpool.

Abellio Bus are part of the Abellio Group who run bus services across London on behalf of Transport for London. Recent developments have seen the introduction of their new electric bus fleet with the Caetano e.City Gold Bus operating on certain routes. The company recognised that they needed some steel shelving to store replacement components for their maintenance teams who work at various depots around South London. Their engineers need easy access to replacement batteries for the electric buses along with general replacement parts for the essential maintenance and repair of those buses as and when required.

We all love a good whodunnit gripping tale in which we guess and second guess the identity of the murderer. By playing detective and piecing together the snippets of information, we can try to figure out the motive and reason as to who is the culprit. The board game Cluedo immortalised the very principle as far back as 1943 when it was devised in Birmingham by Anthony E. Pratt.

Technological advancements in electrical hand tools have revolutionised industry and enable us to enjoy increased productivity and quality performance. However, we are often hearing from customers that one of their problems involves the 'storage security' and 'down time' of equipment when they need to be electrically charged for future continued use.

The Great Fire of London scarred the landscape of our wonderful capital city way back in 1666 and ever since the UK has been respectful of the damage and devastation that fires can cause to both businesses and homes. Ensuring that safety measures are in place is paramount, especially where construction work or manually intensive labour is used.

When the Government announced the easing of lockdown restrictions in December, Action Handling were already busily working behind the scenes with a major UK parcel distributor. Our task was to supply acrylic barrier screens to ensure their office staff could return to work safely and in full accordance with all guidelines.

Trinity College Cambridge was founded by Henry VIII in 1546 when he combined existing colleges and seven hostels to form what has now become this world famous British educational institution. It was an absolute privilege and pleasure to be able to visit this majestic place back in early September of this year.

With the UK clocks going back recently, the dark evenings and cold mornings give fair warning that winter is well and truly on the way. It makes great sense to prepare now, well in advance for the frost and snow conditions that will inevitably follow over the coming months.

With the advent of people being asked to work from home due to the Coronavirus outbreak, suppliers of office furniture saw an exponential increase in the need for work chairs, desks, printer stands and cupboards, in a very short space of time.

When relocating to new premises, the thought of moving large pallet racking or shelving systems could be a daunting task. Not least the actual dismantling and re-erecting on site but the multitude of other considerations that have to be taken into account, like what to do with the stored stock and how to achieve the safe transit of goods and equipment? Our 50 years of experience came in very handy when we were asked to help with this project.

Some bespoke projects really get you excited and this one was no exception. The London bus fleet has been operating since 1829, albeit they were initially horse drawn and of course things have moved on slightly since then.

We have enjoyed a 50 year association with the aerospace industry in the UK, providing materials handling equipment to support the manufacture, service and repair of all types of aircraft. This wealth of experience means we have an understanding of the standards of excellence expected in the supply chain for this line of business.

When approached by a national water authority to quote for an unusual job, we found it beneficial to attend the site to assess the risks and to discuss with on the ground operatives about their expectations surrounding the requirement. This particular job spanned separate sites and several different areas within each site.

The lunchtime rest period or tea break is normally seen as a social time for employees in the UK. Businesses are having to adapt in light of the Coronavirus epidemic, whilst still managing to provide that vital time for workers to take a well earned break from daily work duties and to recuperate in time for the tasks ahead.

We were very happy to recently supply a quantity of our freestanding office partition screens to a local pharmaceutical company near Stansted Airport, Essex. Having acquired new offices for a growing sales team and a new quality controlled warehouse area, our client was considering ways to help with the expansion of their offices and warehouse.

The US Military in Germany were looking to site some specialist welded cabinets that they use to store 'in-house military equipment'. Very hush hush, we can’t tell you what’s in them buddy! 

Our friends at Fully Charged London were looking for a set of mobile safety steps for stock picking at their new service centre. This would enable service technicians to carry out repairs direct from the racking area, so we were pleased to assist them in selecting the right steps to suit their exact requirements.

A County Durham based company recently approached us to manufacture three bespoke roll forward tipping skips. Having seen our standard range of skips online, they talked to our sales manager, Jon Ball about having their specific needs and requirements met.

The red London bus is an iconic image recognised all over the world. There are 8,600 buses in the whole fleet, operating on 700 routes, serving 19,000 stops, carrying a jaw-dropping 6.5 million passengers each day. So that means that when the buses return to the workshops, there is an immense behind-the-scenes maintenance schedule to uphold daily, to keep the fleet operational.

Once again, we were delighted to be approached by one of the UK’s big name retail brands to assist in an exciting new project to help improve picking and packing processes at their large training facility in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

If I was to say to you Southend On Sea, your first thoughts might be ones of a typical British seaside resort, famous pier, amusement arcades and Punch and Judy shows on the beach. You would be forgiven for not thinking of a major airport or a world leader in aircraft seating manufacture. But it is true that both are tucked away in the south east of England along the Essex coast.

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!.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.