International Timber has completed the first of three phases of development that will see a new state-of-the-art timber processing and distribution facility built in Purfleet in Essex. The new facility has been designed to service major timber and panel operators from across the south-east and provide the opportunity to create a major stock holding facility to service the market.
The development of the facility is defined by three distinct phases. Phase one is already complete, phase two is set to complete by the end of this month, and phase three will complete the scheme in March 2014.
The facility comprises a 25,000ft² panel storage shed designed to hold sheet material products only. There will be additional sheds constructed during phase two of the development, totalling 107,000ft² of new storage.
Phase one has seen the former storage shed re-clad and fitted with new roller shutter doorways incorporated into the west elevation facing down the main yard. The panel storage shed has also been racked out with a bespoke cantilever 10m hi-bay storage system from Stakapal. The racking is anticipated to hold in excess of 1,000 packs when complete, with capacity for additional bulk floor storage.
To gain traffic management access to this building a new 12m concrete apron has also been constructed on two sides to link up with the original site roadways.
The unique storage system incorporates purpose-made guide aisle technology consisting of a manufactured steel rail section, independent of the racking column base. This has been designed, fabricated and installed by Stakapal in conjunction with the 4-way fork lift truck manufacturer Combilift.
The overall width of the truck is designed to enable it, when engaged within the guide rail system, to traverse freely within a set tolerance sideways to the required racking bay location without the driver having to steer, ensuring productivity cycle time is maximised.
International Timber was closely involved in the design of the two guided aisle Combilifts, which are able to lift maximum weight packs of sheet materials to all top arm positions on the 10m racking installation. Both trucks have inching controls when the mast is extended into the racking to allow for lateral positioning of the packs on the rack arms. As well as inching capacity, the fork carriages have tilting backrests and fork side-shift to allow the truck operator to complete each task with minimum effort.
The two trucks, in conjunction with a Combilift 4-way counterbalance truck, operate on LPG which ensures a clean air environment within the warehouse. The Combilifts and side-loaders can operate within the racking to suit specific requirements.
Hi-tech mill equipment
Phase two of the development began in June, with a primary focus on completing the installation of the hi-tech mill equipment within the new warehouse facility. The site’s existing mill warehouse has been refurbished with the same Stakapal continuous racking. This is a non-guided system known as a free path installation, with column heights of 6m.
Operational flexibility in the mill warehouse is key as the business grows. Hardwood and softwood timber sections will be stored in the racking and will include customer-specific profiles and ex-stock general sections, both machined and rough sawn. To ensure efficiency, International Timber has designed an order picking process at Purfleet, whereby each product has a specific location within the racking system. The operator is guided to this pick location from the customer picking document.
The new facility completes International Timber’s national coverage with a comprehensive product range and strengthens the offer. Customers can now get a mixed load of softwoods, constructional softwood and joinery, a full range of sheet materials, hardwoods and clears all from a single source, along with state-of-the-art manufacturing and treatment facilities.
For the merchant customer, for example, this means single multi-product deliveries, less stock holding, the opportunity to hold a broader range, faster stock turn and, therefore, better quality material, reduced working capital and fewer invoices and less admin to deal with.
Add this to the new technical sales departments International Timber has launched in each region, enabling the customer to contact a specialist expert in the product group direct, and it’s clear International Timber is changing the way timber and panel products are offered in the UK.
