Making the most of shrinking space
The greatest challenge with industrial and commercial warehouses in Africa these days when space has to accommodate more goods is to make the most of what’s available through creative racking and shelving. Contactors with the right wherewithal to realise this are in high demand, Construction Review discovers.
One has to be wary, shelving and racking seems to be viewed as rich pickings for charlatan ‘contractors’. Sadly, tales of hundreds of millions or thousands being spent on expensive contracts are just one too many to be ignored. This is why racking and racking has to be sought from the right service provider with a credible industry track record. One does not have to go to the lengths of reading “An Idiot’s Guide to choosing a cladding and racking service provider”. It’s a no brainer that applying due diligence would save unplanned costs.
What is expected of contractors?
After chatting to some of the leading contractors that work on big commercial and industrial projects in African countries, Construction Review has gone ahead to tick the key procurement boxes.
i. Under-one-roof convenience
Some of the leading organisations that work on big commercial and industrial racking projects in Africa, provide designing, engineering, installation and post-installation with ‘under one roof’ convenience.
Having the designing, engineering and installation done by one service provider gives a client much needed convenience in racking and shelving.
ii. Time and quality are of the essence
A contractor taking eons to finish a project inconveniences the end-user (clients) who wants to stock goods and start trading. There is no exaggeration that time is money. But this has also to meet expectations of quality. The end product does not have to be compromised. This factor was underlined when Universal Storage Systems, one of South Africa’s storage solutions manufacturer, supplier and installer, was working on a project to revamp a warehouse belonging to pharmaceutical distributor, Dischem, into a clad-rack facility in a space of six weeks without compromising on the client’s brief. The warehouse features very narrow aisles, its racking reaches 20m and holds 22,000 pallet positions. It has a wide aisle racking that reaches 12m and holds 10,480 pallets. This is the only-clad rack warehouse in the country.
iii. Service provider credibility
You wouldn’t want a plumber to be your dentist, or would you?
So, there is no alternative to using the best service providers in the game. In fact, the contractor’s calibre is best reflected in the work they produce. In a nutshell, a developer should look for the client with a track record of quality work, good safety record and the right technology. This will ensure that work is delivered on time, within budget and to the expected quality standards.
iv. Innovation, innovation, innovation
What one gathers from service providers is that clients need service providers that would enable them make the best of the space they have, and this can be achieved by utilising cutting edge solutions. This can be illustrated by ‘modular’ solutions which are being introduced over and above conventional shelving and racking.
v. After-sales inspection
Anything can happen, even to the supposedly ‘perfectly’ installed work that has passed stringent tests. For this reason, an assurance that the shelving and racking installation wont be an accident waiting to happen is important. This is achieved by regular safety inspection.
Functionality
Primarily, warehouses are needed for nothing beyond their functionality. And so, clients ensure that they are paying for what they really need to use. Aesthetic considerations are not really a top priority.
State of projects
There are a number of developments taking place in Africa particularly in the commercial and industrial construction sector. This means there will be opportunities to be had into 2016, bar unforeseen economic circumstances.
Side bar
The clad rack innovation: dealing with ever shrinking space
Although not very popular in South Africa, clad rack building, or clad rack warehousing, is popular worldwide, as it offers optimal cubic area storage space, and is relatively fast to erect and cost effective. The Dischem warehouse epitomises this.
The clad rack warehouse comprises racking as the main structure, with cladding sheets added for the walls and roof. The structures are easy to extend and it is this adaptability and flexibility that makes rack cladding appealing.
