We’re thrilled to announce that we partnered with Toyota Material Handling UK, a renowned expert in the field of logistics, for our racking and material handling requirements at our Port One Logistics Park development, bringing their unparalleled expertise to the table.

The Racking Solution

The selection process was rigorous, with Toyota emerging as the clear choice due to their comprehensive understanding of our project requirements. A prime example of this was their innovative solution for warehouse racking. Opting for a very narrow aisle (VNA) racking configuration, Toyota designed a VNA racking cube that created 1800 additional pallet locations, effectively minimise wasted space and showcasing their unique perspective.

The new racking scheme not only meets the company’s present requirements, but it has been designed to be compatible with any significant changes in the nature of the goods stored at the facility without the need to make potentially costly and time-consuming remedial work.  Each individual bay on every level within the storage scheme is 3.6 metres wide. This allows a variable combination of standard-size, Euro-size, and oversized pallets to be put away within each bay and means costly ‘dead space’ is eliminated throughout the store.

“The design and installation of pallet racking is a significant part of Toyota’s business, but unlike companies whose sole focus is on racking and shelving systems we are not motivated by the need to sell the biggest quantity of metal or make money from the future supply of spare rack parts or racking repairs,” explains Chris Tarrant.

“Our single incentive is to deliver the optimum solution for the client. This means getting the ideal number of aisles, the most appropriate aisle widths for the type of products stored and the materials handling equipment deployed and ensuring transfer aisles are sited in the best place.” he adds.

This forward-thinking approach not only supports our future growth but also equips us to adapt to any significant changes in warehousing requirements. It’s a testament to our commitment to staying ahead of the curve and ensuring the longevity of our operations.

The Handing Machinery 

The VNA racking is served by a fleet of Toyota Vector VCE150A man-up combi trucks. Part of Toyota’s extensive range of very narrow aisle warehouse machines, the Vector VCE150A model is designed specifically for use in high-density warehouses and distribution centres.

The VNA truck fleet is connected to Toyota’s I_Site fleet management tool.

I-Site uses Telematics technology to enable each truck to become a communications device capable of transmitting valuable data regarding a forklift’s performance to Hemisphere Freight Services’ management team. For example, any underutilised vehicles or unused capacity will be flagged up so trucks can be swapped around to improve their usage rate and ensure maximum efficiency. 

Hemisphere Freight Services Director, Craig Perrin comments: “The term ‘one-stop-shop’ is something of a cliché, but in this case, it truly represents the efficiency of our collaboration. Working with a single-source supplier like Toyota has several distinct advantages. For example, having one point of contact allowed us to considerably reduce the amount of management time we had to dedicate to the project, giving us peace of mind and reassurance about the project’s efficiency.” 

Sustainable Solutions

Hemisphere Freight Services takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. The company is committed to reducing carbon in the supply chain and, with all the electricity needed to operate the site generated by PV solar panel roofing, the new warehouse will be one of the first carbon neutral logistics facilities in East Anglia.

 This meant that energy efficiency was a significant influence on the choice of lift trucks for the new store. Powered by lithium-ion batteries Toyota’s VCE150A delivers class-leading energy performance. The trucks can operate at high intensity for up to five hours on a single hour’s recharge. 

This simple recharging regime means there is no need to swap the truck’s battery, so a dedicated charging room is not needed – which is not only environmentally beneficial but also frees up space for additional storage.

Final Thought

With us making good progress in settling into our new facility and implementing the finishing touches, we are looking forward to experiencing the benefits that this partnership and infrastructure will achieve for Hemisphere and its customers. 

Craig Perrin sums up: “Opening this additional warehouse will enable us to store more products, fulfil orders more efficiently and generally take the headache of logistics away from our clients by providing first-class infrastructure and logistics services that are backed up by a brilliant team of logistics experts. We are determined to play an active part in the growth of the warehousing sector and help drive industry standards up for the benefit of existing and future customers.”