Case Studies
Blackheath Products – Halesowen
About the Customer
Blackheath Products is a long-established UK trade supplier of kitchen worktops, laminates and associated surface materials, serving builders’ merchants, fabricators, installers and construction sector businesses across the UK.
Operating within the Builders Merchants and trade distribution sector, the company manages high volumes of long, heavy and often flexible materials that require careful storage and handling.
Nene Warehouse Solutions has extensive experience supporting Builders Merchants and trade distributors, where efficient space utilisation, safe manual handling and clear stock segregation are critical to maintaining productivity and protecting product integrity.
This sector knowledge informed the consultative approach taken throughout the project.
The Challenge
As a trade distributor of kitchen surface materials, Blackheath Products required additional storage capacity for kitchen upstands, long, flexible components installed behind kitchen worktops.
Due to their design, these upstands must be stored horizontally to prevent bending and product damage. In a busy builders’ merchant environment, safe access, efficient picking and maximised storage density are essential. The existing storage arrangement was no longer fit for purpose.
Key operational challenges included:
- Limited available space
- Difficulty retrieving 3-metre lengths that had been pushed too far back into the rack
- The need to safely pick and handle products by a single operator
- Storage of both 3-metre and 4-metre lengths within the same system
- The requirement to maintain access to building services, including air conditioning units
The customer required a storage system that would maximise space utilisation, improve handling safety and protect product integrity, while supporting efficient day-to-day operations.
The Solution
Through its Warehouse Design Services and Storage Solutions expertise, Nene Warehouse Solutions designed and delivered a static adjustable pallet racking system, fully compliant with EN15512:2020. Following a detailed site assessment and operational review, the system was engineered to meet the specific handling, storage and spatial requirements associated with the customer’s kitchen upstands.
Delivered under Nene’s turnkey project framework, the solution encompassed full design, specification, supply and installation, ensuring minimal operational disruption and complete compliance throughout.
The system incorporated the following purpose-designed features:
Timber Deck Support System
Smooth-sawn timber decking boards were installed across each level to provide continuous horizontal support, protecting product integrity and eliminating the risk of deflection.
MDF Stock Divider System
Vertical MDF segregation boards created clearly defined storage locations for organised stock control.
MDF Backstop System
MDF stopper boards were fitted between frames in the 3-metre bays to prevent shorter lengths from being pushed too far back, ensuring safe and efficient retrieval.
The layout was designed with built-in flexibility, allowing segregation boards to be removed so additional bays can be converted for 4-metre storage if required.
Maintained Service Access
Central bay frames were extended to maintain safe maintenance access to the site’s air conditioning units.
All materials supplied form part of Nene’s standard stocked range. This ensures that, in the unlikely event of damage, replacement components can be provided promptly, minimising operational disruption and maintaining ongoing compliance.
The Finished Project
The completed installation transformed a constrained and inefficient storage area into a structured, compliant and operationally efficient system tailored to the demands of a busy builders’ merchant environment.
The new system now provides:
- Safe horizontal storage that protects flexible upstands from damage
- Improved accessibility for single-person picking
- Clear segregation between 3m and 4m stock
- Elimination of retrieval issues caused by over-pushed materials
- A flexible design that can adapt to changing storage requirements
- Continued access to critical building services
- Reduced risk of operational downtime
Client Testimonial
“We recently worked with Nene on a racking installation project at our Blackheath Products premises, and we were extremely impressed with the level of professionalism and commitment shown throughout. From the initial planning stages through to completion, Nene carried out multiple site visits to ensure every detail was carefully considered.
The complexity of the project required thorough coordination, and their structured approach to planning made a significant difference in achieving a smooth installation process. Collaboration between our two companies was paramount due to the scale and complexity of the works. Nene demonstrated excellent communication, flexibility, and a genuine willingness to work closely with our team to overcome challenges as they arose.
The end result is a high-quality installation delivered safely, efficiently, and to a very high standard. We would not hesitate to recommend Nene for similar large-scale or complex racking projects.”
Adrian Wild, Logistics Manager at Blackheath Products
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