16 | Aycliffe Today Business
Advanced Handling
Managing Director
Chris Moody (right) with
Calsonic Section Leader
Steve Ridley.
ADVANCED
HANDLING RACKS UP
FURTHER SUCCESS
By Jonathan Ward
A Shildon business which specialises in designing and installing warehouse equipment has
racked up one of its biggest contracts to date fitting out one of the North East’s Leading supply
chain company for vehicle components.
Advanced Handling and Storage installed
pallet racking at Calsonic Kansei’s brand
new 100,000sq ft facility at Doxford, near
Sunderland, to bring its warehousing
solutions in-house for the first time.
An incredible 3,686 pallet locations were
installed in just five weeks to complete the
contract, which caps a 18-year relationship
between Advanced Handling and CK Europe.
Managing Director Chris Moody said: “We
have worked with Calsonic from when we
first set up business but this is certainly the
biggest job we have done for them to date.
They are a business we know well, so when
we heard about the specifications for this
contract, we knew it was a job we could
deliver well, on time and within budget.
”
Calsonic, which manufactures plastic
components, interiors and dashboard
equipment for vehicles, were keen to bring
its warehousing facility back in-house after
using a third party supplier for many years.
After identifying a suitable facility, Calsonic
set Advanced Handling and Storage the
challenge of designing and installing a
pallet racking system that would maximise
efficiency within the warehouse, which is
approximately the size of 1.5 football pitches.
All of the aisles are fitted with wireless
transmitters so that operators can easily and
quickly locate products by simply scanning
a bar code. The wireless system helps to
eliminate ‘wrong picks’ which is essential
amongst a warren of thousands of pallets
and hundreds of thousands of individual
parts.
Steve Ridley, a section leader in production
and materials control for Calsonic and project
leader at the new facility, said: “We have
worked with Advanced Handling and Storage
for many years so we know what they are all
about. They understand our business, what
we need and were able to provide the ideal
solutions.
“This is a busy warehouse with a 40-foot
articulated lorry leaving the warehouse every
hour. It’s essential that the pallet racking was
designed and installed to maximise efficiency
and Advanced Handling have been able to
deliver.
”
While Calsonic can now control and
manage all of its all inventory itself, Advanced
Handling and Storage has also expanded its
own operation. The business, which was set
up by Chris Moody in 1996, recently invested
£225,000 to extend its warehouse at Shildon
taking the warehouse capacity to 24,000 sq
ft.
From there, Advanced Handling & Storage
provide new and used storage and handling
equipment for industrial units, factories,
warehouses, shops and retail outlets all
over the UK. Customers range from people
simply seeking racking and shelving for
their own garage or home, right up to huge
international businesses such as Calsonic
Kansei which turnover is up to 1 Billion Euros
per annum.
Chris said: “We pride ourselves on being
one of the largest providers of the widest
variety of storage and handling equipment in
the UK.
“It is very encouraging to be working in
partnership with the likes of Calsonic, as well
as other well-known supply chain suppliers
and blue chip companies. By having our own
warehouse, people can pick and choose
to tailor make their requirements which
means we remain flexible, efficient and very
competitive.
”
A further boost for Advanced Handling
in 2014 was the implementation of its
e-commerce website which offers its
customers a quick and easy buying solution.
Chris added: “The demand for our online
catalogue consumable products and shelving
is increasing all the time. Technology is now
a massive part of consumer buying trends
and we want to ensure that we give our
customers the best buying experience every
time.
“It doesn’t matter whether we are
dealing with a one-man band or a massive
organisation, our team has a wealth of
knowledge within this industry and this
allows us to offer our customers the
confidence that they are dealing with a
professional, competitive and efficient
organisation.
”
For more information about Advanced
Handling and Storage, visit www.
advanced-handling.co.uk