Is your warehouse robot-ready?

Investment is leading to a move towards automation across the warehouse, fulfilment, production and distribution sectors. But we are not surprised, because we know from our clients that two major trends are underway: businesses installing mezzanines to provide more space without moving premises, and introducing robotics to futureproof their operations.

Which is where we come in. Our new hybrid mezzanine flooring system consists of a robust interlocking 7mm textured PVC floor tile with a high point load to bear the weight of robots and an anti-slip surface. Quick to install, these panels are exceptionally hard wearing to prevent indentations caused by robots running 24/7 along the same routes.

Simon Houghton of Geek Plus robotics says ‘the tile option is a great way to create a perfect floor very, very quickly’.

Hi-Level Mezzanines’ structural engineers created this system by deciding that products already on the market were too expensive and innovating to create a cost-effective alternative. We then tested our solution with a global robot provider in China and a leading supermarket chain in the UK. We then acquired sole rights to sell it for use with robotics on mezzanines in the UK and mainland Europe. Our engineering expertise and agility in doing so has never been more important.

Automation is increasingly being used to assist with managing the movement, storage and sorting of warehouse inventory, with many retail giants leading the way. With the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend generating an estimated £5.7 billion in online sales, this phenomenon is only going to grow. Many of the retailers we have worked with are all ahead of the game in realising that, as industrial premises grow in size and mezzanines are increasingly used to optimise the available space, their floors need to be robot-ready.

What makes our mezzanine flooring robot-ready?

Our robot-ready mezzanine flooring meets industry criteria for minimal slopes, steps and joints; it prevents the indentations that happen when inferior surfaces are used; and it can be half the price of the alternative option of using steel plates on timber board, especially with steel prices escalating.

Further benefits include: excellent durability and slip resistance; electro-static resistance; damaged tiles can be replaced without disrupting the rest of the floor; choice of 11 colours so contrasting colours can be used to highlight particular areas; simple to clean and maintain.

It also aligns with our environmental policy, as the tiles are made out of 100% recyclable PVC with any surplus material converted into more tiles.

Multi-level mezzanines

As robots work seamlessly with each other on multiple levels, moving in and out of goods lifts or passing goods from one floor to another floor down chutes, a multi-layered mezzanine can be a brilliant space-saving and cost-effective investment. Our structural engineers are highly experienced and able to design solutions to withstand any load or usage requirement, including heavy conveyor systems and robotic machinery.

Chris Baxter, sales director, Hi-Level Mezzanines

For more information, visit www.hi-levelmezzanines.co.uk