Wincanton’s storage and distribution centre in Middlewich, Cheshire, is a cutting-edge automated warehouse facility dedicated to handling nutritional drinks for GlaxoSmithKline. This facility represents one of Wincanton’s most successful start-up projects, showcasing the company’s expertise in supply chain logistics and its ability to deliver tailored, efficient solutions in partnership with clients. As part of the facility’s planning and design, Wincanton sought to create a flexible and efficient storage and access area to support its operations.

The Challenge

The Middlewich site has three access-bay areas, with two areas designed for the high volume of incoming and outgoing goods (forty to sixty loads in and thirty to fifty loads out per day). The third access-bay was created to store products in a controlled environment while maintaining easy access for all types of vehicles, including articulated lorries. However, the challenge was to ensure that the storage and access areas remained dust-free, provided excellent natural light and ventilation, and were fully protected from the unpredictable weather conditions at the site.

Solution

Wincanton partnered with Galebreaker to implement an effective solution for managing environmental conditions at the Middlewich facility. The Galebreaker system was chosen for its ability to provide reliable weather protection while enhancing natural light and ventilation, creating a flexible storage and access area that met Wincanton’s needs.

The access-bay area was fitted with:

• Galebreaker Maxidoors: Two 15m wide x 7.8m high electrically-driven vertically folding doors, providing a large, efficient entry and exit point for vehicles.
• Galebreaker Spanscreens: Two 15m wide x 7.8m high screens installed at the front of the bay to protect the area from harsh weather conditions and maintain a dust-free environment. These shields were easy to install and provided an added layer of protection from the elements.

The doors and shields were constructed from PVC-coated mesh with built-in UV protection, ensuring durability and strength. The material’s design allows for:

• Light transmission: Allowing excellent natural light to filter into the warehouse.
• Ventilation: Promoting airflow and maintaining a comfortable working environment.
• Weather protection: Shielding the area from all types of weather conditions throughout the year.

Galebreaker acted as a turnkey supplier, handling the design of the steelwork, determining the structural wind loadings, and fully installing the system.

Benefits

The Galebreaker system offered several advantages to Wincanton’s Middlewich facility:

1. Controlled environment: The system helped create a dust-free storage area, crucial for maintaining the integrity of the nutritional drinks handled at the facility.
2. Natural light and ventilation: The PVC-coated mesh allowed for the transmission of light and the flow of fresh air, improving the working conditions for staff while reducing the need for artificial lighting and ventilation systems.
3. Weather protection: The system offered robust protection from the prevailing weather conditions, ensuring that operations could continue without disruption.
4. Efficient access: The large, motorised doors allowed easy access for articulated lorries and other vehicles, increasing operational efficiency.
5. Durability: The UV-protected mesh and PVC material ensured long-lasting performance, providing reliable weather protection 365 days a year.

Paul Ireland, Operations Manager at Wincanton Middlewich, praised the installation: “The service from Galebreaker was very professional, on time, and hassle-free. The equipment itself is of a high standard, it looks impressive and does exactly the job requested.”

Conclusion

The successful installation of Galebreaker’s weather protection system at Wincanton’s Middlewich facility has played a critical role in maintaining an efficient and controlled storage and distribution environment. With the added benefits of natural light, ventilation, and reliable protection against weather conditions, Wincanton has been able to optimise its operations and deliver high-quality services to GlaxoSmithKline. As a leading high bay automated warehouse with 35,000 pallet spaces and total tracking software, Wincanton’s Middlewich facility continues to provide value-enhancing activities such as stock planning, product manipulation, and customer service, solidifying the company’s reputation as a leader in supply chain expertise.