Barpro Storage News

Emergent Energy – Solar PV Investment

Barpro Storage News, Energy Savings, Featured, News, Tips, Warehousing /

Electricity prices are hammering every industry in Southern Africa, however over the last 2 years, solar has become a very appealing offering. Howard Lipman of Tems Meat in City Deep, fed up with increasing electricity tariffs was a first mover, opting to use Emergent Energy. Contractually bound by a performance guarantee, the ball is now in the solar providers’ court. If the performance doesn’t match the promises presented, Emergent Energy will have to pay. Solar EPC’s like Emergent Energy is backed by numerous financial institutions, having access to various power purchase agreements, instalment sales agreements and “welcome to solar” bonuses. After multiple electricity tariff hikes, financial managers must consider cost saving projects that can reduce bills up to 40% with payback periods of under 3 years. The 12B tax incentive is the “cherry on the top” for hard-pressed energy consumers and is one Government initiative which really encourages businesses to go green. “The penny has dropped! Cold stores will move in the 1st quarter of 2020. Another 10-15% tariff increase will be too damaging.” -Gregory Lovell (Business Development Manager at Emergent Energy) gregl@emergy.co.za Although roof-based solar PV energy cannot supply all the electricity required in the event of a blackout, it will significantly reduce standby generator sizing and diesel consumption.

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Stellenpak’s Storax Mobiles experience

Stellenpak’s experience with Storax Mobiles

Barpro Storage News, cold store, Featured, Mobile Racking, Uncategorized /

Stellenpak, the stone fruit and citrus packing company situated at Simondium, Paarl, installed it’s first Storax system in an existing chill room in 2013 to store 1053 high cube pallets with a maximum weight of 1400kgs on two levels in the height. The Storax system can be controlled by their MJ IT Services warehouse management system via an RS422 port. The pallets are placed with their 1200mm sides facing the moving aisles. The bay spans for 3 pallets are 4000mms. As the systems were retrofitted, the Storax rails were fixed to the existing floor and an additional reinforced slab, designed and installed by Melt Wahl Concrete Services, was poured around them. The ramps were mainly accommodated in the doorways. Additional protection was added in the form of wooden bumpers to protect the Storax bases in this high volume environment.     Phase two, completed in a smaller room during 2016, has capacity for a further 506 pallets. One of the 11 mobile bases in phase one was reconfigured for use in phase 2 so as to increase the moving aisle width in phase one.   Robert Saunders, Stellenpak’s MD is happy with the decision to install mobile racking. “Although our rooms are relatively low at just over 7 metres, he says, “the Storax mobiles have allowed us to store two pallets high and give immediate access to every pallet.” “There is less product damage and stock rotation is no longer a hassle”.   Having experienced some counterbalance forklift damage to the Storax bases in the second season, Robert decided to increase the aisle width to over 4000mms by removing moving one mobile base which was incorporated into phase 2. He also improved the lux levels by installing three runs of energy saving OrbitX LED light tubes in each aisle. The lights come on automatically when an aisle is opened, which saves electricity and heat ingress. Stellenpak also called in Accredited Training to do regular training. As a result, last season’s damage was minimal. Need racking for your fruit store? Contact Barpro Storage – South Africa’s TRUSTED storage solutions specialist [gravityform id=”10″ title=”true” description=”true”] See what our other clients have to say: Read more: Project Management of the Vision Meats New Cold Store Read more: The Expansion of Aquatic Foods Read more: New Pongola Cold Storage Facility in KZN

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Memories of a Young STORAX Buck

Memories of a Young STORAX Buck

Barpro Storage News, Featured, Letters to the editor, Uncategorized /

When James suggested I write a few words about my experiences working with Barpro Storage SA I felt very honoured to be asked so many years after having left the UK HQ to work in the automotive industry.   So maybe I should start at the beginning. Gert Wolfson and Peter Spears were having great success in bringing the concept and benefits of mobile racking to the cold storage industry in South Africa, the number of installations was increasing fast & Peter needed to spread the load of the admin, costing estimation, quotations and project co-ordination side of things. Luckily for me I was in the right place at the right time!   I was also very fortunate to be given the opportunity to come and visit your beautiful country on a number of occasions.   I worked with Peter, Gert, and later on with James on South African projects from 1994 until the time I left in Autumn 2000 and, as you can imagine, working with such great characters, there were many happy and fun times. Many of these stick in my mind and I often look back on them and smile.   A couple of examples spring to mind:- Hosting many visits to the UK from South African customers with myself acting as chauffeur and tour guide around the UK was really great, I got to meet so many lovely people, the several I&J minibus tours were particularly memorable! Arriving in Jo’burg for a 10 day visit to RSA, feeling not quite 100%, and then awaking the next morning with chicken pox – I was quarantined to my room for 10 days, being released just in time to get my flight back to the UK! A particular favourite of mine this one. Arriving in Joburg to the car rental office to collect the usual Toyota Corolla only to be told that I was being upgraded to a brand new Mercedes E Class Estate. Great you might think? Unfortunately I was due at a customer for a final delicate price discussion where either we could agree and the customer would place the order, or we would not agree and the customer would unfortunately go elsewhere…the customer saw me arrive and with a wry smile on his face asked whether this was the usual choice of STORAX hire car! Oh dear. We didn’t win that business, but hopefully 20 years later James tells me we may be lucky enough to supply that customer, eventually we may have been forgiven! In summary, I have so many great memories of supporting the STORAX South Africa story, but I think above all, it is the warmth & kindness of all the people I met (colleagues, customers, suppliers, and friends) throughout my time that will stay with me, THANK YOU to all of you, I truly mean it.  – Chris Harris                 Hundreds of STORAX installations have been done across Southern Africa since. Let us help you store more. CONTACT US NOW [gravityform id=”10″ title=”true” description=”true”] Read more: From Humble Beginnings Read more: BRM, Grainfield Chickens and County Fair – Our famous clients Read more: What ever the problem – We have the solution

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