Warehousing

Mobile Racking extended

Mobile Racking extended to meet changing needs

Aquatic Foods was established in Cape Town more than 20 years ago to meet the growing demand by top hotels and restaurants for the finest seafood, sustainably and responsibly sourced both locally and internationally. By 2010 personalised and expert service to the hospitality industry had led to business success, and such growth that a new dedicated freezer store was needed for their wide and varied product range.   At planning stage the concept of mobile racking was introduced as a means of making maximum use of the size of freezer being considered. However, the installation of the full mobile system as proposed by Barpro/Storax would be fairly expensive and would needlessly provide far more accommodation for palletised frozen fish and allied products than would be initially required.   Nonetheless, Managing Director Michael Niese was wisely considering the future when he made the decision to install into the new floor only the rails required for the full system of mobile racking, but equipped the store with just the conventional fixed racking as Phase One of the fit-out. This provided storage for somewhat over 700 pallets; but if and when mobile bases were added later this could increase two-fold to more than 1400 pallets, as Phase Two.   Aquatic had reached this growth point by late 2016, and plans were put in place to expand the freezer with the addition of the mobile bases and the extra racking needed. The bases were duly ordered from Barpro and shipped from Europe in time for installation at the end of June this year. The system was duly, and successfully, installed and commissioned during July.   Quotes Michael Niese – “It seemed perhaps a bit of a gamble at the time, but in retrospect I’m very glad we had the foresight to look ahead and invest in the installation of rails at the outset. This has enabled us to cope with the potential growth that has since manifested, and we can now move forward with freezer capacity nearly doubled, ensuring adequate storage space into the foreseeable future. Storax mobile racking has proved itself a sound investment in the future of our operation”.   Contact us for more information on STORAX mobile racking [gravityform id=”10″ title=”true” description=”true”]   Read more: Celebrating 21 years Read more: State-of-the-art Freezer Store in Walvis Bay Read more: Storax Ramada Ranger Shuttle launches in SA

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Mesh grid special

Mesh grid special – buy now before the steel price increase!

With steel prices set to increase up to 10% during September, Barpro has obtained the following commitment from our local supplier on the pricing of mesh grids so long as they are ordered before end September and delivered before end October.   Mesh grids are an alternative to pallet support bars and provide increased support to pallets. They can also provide personnel protection under cantilever racks. Mesh grids work particularly well with most types of plastic pallet which can get brittle in cold temperatures as well as having a tendency to slip off load beams.   The two mesh grid types available are as follows: 1000mm entry by 1100mms deep with 40mm overhangs front and back. 1.  5mm wire mesh both ways with 2mm thick steel stiffening braces: R275 excluding VAT and excluding delivery from Cape Town. To suit up to 1000kg pallets. Grid weight 13kgs 2.  5mm by 6mm wire mesh with 2.6mm thick steel stiffening braces: R300 each excluding VAT and excluding delivery from Cape Town. To suit up to 1200kg pallets plus. Grid weight 15kgs.   Contact us to place your order [gravityform id=”12″ title=”true” description=”true”] Read more: Increasing your pallet load? Read this first Read more: What to do with sub-standard pallets Read more: More on our Mesh Decks (Grids)

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AJ - legends in cold storage

South African Cold Storage Legends

So who wants to marry a cold store manager who lives in the cold continuously?… (with apologies to the song I want to marry a lighthouse keeper) seriously, apart from those in the cold chain Industry, who knows how a cold store manager occupies his days? How many realize that without cold store managers, large conurbations could not exist? As long as their stores function and don’t burn down or let off ammonia gas, cold store managers are of little interest to the general public, when as guardians of our collective food supply, they definitely should be.   To rectify this social injustice, our newsletter intends to publish monthly profiles of such hardy individuals who have quietly managed our food supply for years in sub-zero conditions.   Ajay Kalan After completing a management course, doing rep work for a short period Ajay joined County Fair Chickens in Epping, Cape Town as a cold store receiving clerk back in 1991, and worked up the ranks. First as receiving clerk, invoice clerk, Department Head and then Cold Store Manager. His current position is that of Logistics Efficiencies Manager for the Astral Commercial Division. In this position Ajay has the added responsibilities of the Festive and Goldi facilities in Mpumalanga and Gauteng to ensure best practices are implemented and standardization is applied across warehouses. Ajay has taken part in the Astral Pinnacle studies which was started by Astral CEO MR Chris Schutte and successfully completed Potchefstroom University’s NQF 6 and 7 management qualifications. Ajay believes in setting standards and applying best practices to his operations, and, like all business leaders, is always up for a new challenge.   When he is not busy at work, Ajay enjoys spending quality time with his close knit and hugely supportive family. Ajay enjoys gardening and keeps both koi and marine reef fish.   If you know a cold store manager, who deserves similar recognition, please let Danielle at our Cape Town office know on 021 552 9190 or email her on danielle@barpro.co.za

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