Easier stock control and selfselection by customers are two key advantages of the first ‘A’ frame supported storage shed installed by Hi-Store for Alsford Timber. Having outgrown itís existing leased premises, Alsford Timber Eastbourne searched for, found and purchased a new site on the nearby Birch Road industrial complex.
The next task was to plan the premises to incorporate all the customer benefits that the company felt were missing from the old location. Alsford decided that it needed a complete, flexible and adjustable timber storage system to enable the company to provide its growing building trade business with the best possible service.
Alsford Timber called upon the services of Hi-Store, to assist with the design and planning of new timber storage systems to be used throughout the site. An existing office building was dismantled and a custom designed timber shed was erected on the concrete base that was left. This uses Hi-Store's ‘A’ frame storage in a unique configuration with narrow bays for maximum flexibility. The bays can be end labelled to assist stock control and also to help customers to self select materials.
The central structure of this storage system also forms the basis for the cladding and roofing of the shed, making it cost effective and fast to construct. Working and security lighting have been incorporated into the structure of the building, and the outside faces have been used to display Alsford's company name and logo to good effect.
Hi-Store also provided pigeonhole racking for cut timber and mouldings, and a galvanised rack system for outside storage of fence panels and finished garden products. In addition, the new site now houses a bandsaw to provide a flexible cutting service and a fully stocked building materials showroom.
Roy Stevens, branch sales manager at Alsford Eastbourne, says the new storage systems have enabled the company to reduce stockholding because of better planning and faster, easier turnaround. Stock control is also now much easier. Customers like the new systems because they can drive into the yard, selfselect the timber they need, load their vehicles quickly and be on their way with a minimum of wasted time and, of course, customer self selection reduces staffing costs.
The innovative application of the ‘A’ frame building at Alsford Eastbourne is another example of how Hi-Store helps its timber trade customers to expand and grow.