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Having adaptive solutions in place is crucial to ensure the continued smooth running of your operations. Efficient employee shift planning and keeping a steady flow of products are both equally important when it comes to the smooth running of any manufacturing establishment.
Manufacturers’ challenges
Many businesses have one or more periods every year when production must increase considerably due to fluctuating demands, which creates challenges for managers in more ways than one: they may need to take on temporary or agency staff to keep pace with production; extra costs will be incurred and a need to train new employees to the required capability and safety standards; more storage space might be required to accommodate additional products and materials.
The market share of seasonal businesses in the UK is growing, according to data published in 2023 by Novuna Business Finance, which revealed the number of SMEs with a seasonal business model increased by 25% in 2023, with further growth forecasts predicted. This figure represented a two-year high for the percentage of seasonal enterprises compared with non-seasonal.
Whatever the reason behind any increase, manufacturing storage space must accommodate trade to ensure the sector’s continued buoyancy, which means seamlessly increasing storage solutions quickly, as and when needed.
How to improve efficiency
In the manufacturing sector, companies are taking raw materials to turn them into finished products. Managing their inventory is paramount to profitability, including navigating the ups and downs of demand.
Recognising the all-year-round needs and the impact of seasonal trends can improve efficiency and lead to potential profit growth. Uncertainty, timing, potential booms in sales and the economy are all sound reasons to have additional inventory to hand.
Accurate projections and precise operational management are vital, but even with the best plan in place, it’s impossible to cover every eventuality, so maximising your storage space is paramount: no supply chain is infallible and delivery delays at any time can cause production issues that might lead to a loss of income.
Stacking storage containers and folding pallet boxes are two convenient solutions that can increase or reduce space quickly at little extra cost. Solent Plastics provides a number of high-quality solutions that can be used to boost manufacturing efficiency.
800 Litre Folding Pallet Box
Solent Plastics’ 800 litre folding pallet box is a new addition to our large range. Available at an incredible price, these top-quality folding pallet boxes can be folded or unfolded within seconds.
Despite its large size, each box will fold down to a compact 335mm, providing great space-saving when in transit, or when not in use.
Featuring two opening flaps, one on the long side and one on the short side, for easy loading and unloading, and efficient order picking in the warehouse; the boxes have four feet on the base, so they are ideal for forklift or pallet truck entry.
Made from durable food-grade scratch-resistant industrial quality HDPE, they are suitable for use in any work or commercial environment where long-term rigorous use is required.
Next day delivery is available, so if you have urgent needs, we can meet them.
55kg Heavy Duty 5 Tier Solid Plastic Shelving Unit
Our market leading 55kg heavy-duty five-tier solid plastic shelving unit can provide extra flexible storage space just about anywhere.
This modular shelving unit has a heavy 55kg per shelf load capacity, totalling 275kg total weight. With five shelf tiers, it can be assembled into one tall unit measuring 1,820mm high, or two lower sections measuring 970mm high and 1,800mm wide, which makes it an extremely versatile choice for fluctuating storage needs in any manufacturing business.
Supplied flat-packed for easy transport and fast assembly, you won’t need any tools to put it together. We can also supply durable storage boxes separately to go with the shelving.
Flat-packed, our solid plastic shelving unit measures 900mm long x 400mm wide x 280mm high, so when not in use, it will store away without taking up a lot of space.
200 Litre HOGBOX Forkliftable Half Pallet Box
Solent Plastics’ 200 litre HOGBOX forkliftable half pallet box is a unique attached-lid stack-nest plastic container that’s ideal for bulk storage. Combining the handling ease of an attached-lid container with the large volume of a pallet box, it is designed as an end-to-end integrated transport system.
Six Hogboxes can be stacked and secured with the purpose-made Loadhog Lid and moved together as one pallet-sized unit. This eliminates the need for packaging materials or other pallets. The lids can be fastened with security seals to prevent unauthorised opening.
Its large capacity makes it suitable for almost any handling, storage or distribution use, and six feet on the base allow for pallet or forklift truck entry. It can also be used with a specific patented lifter that is designed solely for moving and lifting Hogboxes.
Manufactured from industrial quality, high-impact polypropylene, the Hogbox will last for years in even the toughest manufacturing environment.
77 Litre Super-Strong Recycled Attached Lid Container
Our latest 77 litre super-strong recycled attached lid container is perfect for all applications across all industries.
Sold at our lowest price; an innovative tessellated lid allows you to add more boxes per pallet, reducing the potential for damage and providing greater space-saving benefits when the boxes are empty- compatible with other like-for-like containers.
Exceptionally economical, in the unlikely event of a lid becoming damaged, it can be replaced on its own, saving you the cost of having to replace an entire box.
This container also follows the eco-friendly ethos many businesses support, as it is made from recycled materials.
To streamline your manufacturing processes, contact Solent Plastics: we can help improve your operational efficiency!