How to Find a Storage Equipment Supplier

How to Find a Pallet Racking Supplier

Are you preparing for a new warehouse or looking to upgrade your racking? Whatever your plans, finding the best pallet racking suppliers is likely to be at the top of your list.

However, in these days of ‘buyer beware', who can you really trust? Yes, you could jump on Google and find a business with a polished website, extensive experience, or glowing testimonials, but is that really enough? The storage equipment market is saturated with suppliers and the highest prices don't automatically guarantee quality standards and operational safety.

What To Expect From Pallet Racking Suppliers

Your adjustable pallet racking is a significant investment and you need to choose a supplier who has broad knowledge of different storage systems alongside design expertise. Get the correct design with the right racking supplier and you'll have a bespoke storage system that delivers ROI, efficient storage space, increases productivity, and most importantly provides a safe work environment that meets industry requirements. However, choose the wrong supplier and it can all go downhill fast, leading to costly mistakes, wasted time, and potential damage to your reputation.

Image courtesy Filstorage Ltd

Ask the following questions to understand whether your pallet racking suppliers are the right company for you: 

1. Design

Has your racking supplier visited your site to fully understand the warehouse space you are working with? Do they understand how goods flow through your warehouse and what picking and packing methods you are using? Do they know what stock you are holding? Have they made recommendations on the different systems available and the benefits they provide?

They should also work with you to understand your current space and requirements and then identify how they can factor in future-proof design methods that will enable your business to expand without paying for new pallet racking systems.

Image shows a warehouse which has followed racking safety regulations
Image courtesy SDE

2. Safety

When storing tonnes of stock above your employees' heads, the operational safety of your racking should be paramount. Your pallet racking supplier must work to the relevant industry design standards. In the UK, these are either SEMA Design Codes or European standards using code EN 15512. Both are acceptable design standards which instruct on the structural analysis on a range of pallet racking solutions, what types of loads to consider, load capacity, how to test components and what factors of safety you require.

3. Industry Regulations

Is your racking supplier working to the most current industry regulations and standards? As the client and owner of the warehouse pallet racking solution, the HSE will expect you to check the installer's competence to ensure you meet legislation. The market evolves quickly, and guidance is constantly being updated.

4. Racking Installations

It is easy to trust your pallet racking suppliers to send installers who have the skills to complete your installation. Yet, in line with HSE requirements as the client you are largely responsible for checking the credentials of any contractors.

When you consider that even the smallest deviation from design intent can affect the integrity of the system and the fact that most installers ‘learn on the job' with no formal training, suddenly the need for a qualified installer can feel important.

SEMA runs the SEIRS training programme for racking installers. It may be advisable to only work with installers who hold a SEIRS card.

Racking Installation

5. Employee Safety

There are several HSE guidance documents which cover your responsibilities towards your employees when using work equipment. Racking and industrial shelving units fall under the category of ‘work equipment' and, under PUWER, you must provide adequate training on how to work safely in areas with storage equipment. To help warehouse owners, SEMA runs a Rack Safety Awareness (RSA) course which will instruct your workforce on working safely around racking and how to identify damage.

The RSA course also provides instructions for a member of your team on how to perform the weekly warehouse racking inspection.

Pallet Racking Inspection

6. Racking Care

Once your racking is in place, the racking supplier's responsibility shouldn't stop there! They should be available to answer any queries you may have and advise you on the best practices to maintain your racking, helping you meet PUWER requirements.

Many suppliers may even offer an annual inspections to meet your expert inspection requirements. Instructed by HSE this must be undertaken by a technically competent person with sufficient training and knowledge.

As a benchmark for the industry, SEMA operates a nationwide network of SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARI).

How to find pallet racking suppliers

The best place to find suppliers of industrial pallet racking is right here on this website! At SEMA, it is our mission is to reassure warehouse owners. For over 50 years, we have been working hard to achieve the highest standards of quality and safety in the storage equipment industry.

Our SEMA members, all of whom have been independently audited for full quality assurance and meet the highest industry standards and codes of practice. The groups interrelate and combine their knowledge to provide the industry with racking solutions that uphold the highest standards. They are in the ideal position to advise business owners on safety risks and other essential requirements. With their knowledge and expertise, our SEMA members can support you through the lifetime of your racking. This ensures comprehensive pallet racking safety.

Our membership groups include:

SEMA Approved Manufacturer - Full Members 

SEMA Approved Manufacturer - Full Members are industry-leading manufacturers of racking and heavy-duty shelving systems. They design bespoke pallet racking systems using their extensive range of products options to deliver the perfect solution that meets your storage requirements and types of loads.

SEMA Associate Members

Our Associate Members provide support systems and services that complement equipment supplied by our manufacturing and approved members.

SEMA Approved Members

Within SEMA there are SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members – Advanced who both design and supply industrial shelving units and pallet racking solutions using the wide range of systems available from our manufacturing members. As suppliers they can advise on the different types of pallet racking available. A company's membership status is awarded depending on the score they receive from the MAS audit and their commitment to SEMA initiatives such as SEIRS and SARI.

Knowledge Hub

Looking for guidance on your storage solution? Head over to our Knowledge Hub where we provide an insight into warehouse systems, pallet racks, industry requirements, best practice measures and how to improve safety features standards.

KNOWLEDGE HUB

Looking for guidance on your storage equipment? Head over to our Knowledge Hub where we provide an insight into warehouse systems, industry requirements, best practice measures and how to improve safety standards.