Uses of Mezzanine Floors in the Ecommerce Warehouse Sector
Mezzanine floors are semi-permanent floor systems typically installed within buildings, built between two permanent original stories. These structures are usually free standing and, in most cases, can be dismantled and relocated.
Traditionally the uses of mezzanine floors are to create extra space for storage, office space, areas for production or in traditional face to face retail for extra sales space.
In Ecommerce, apart from the physical selling space all those potential uses are relevant.
Mezzanine Floors for Storage
This can be for storing boxes, garments, packets, pallets and much more.
A common box used in retail is the BDC (Bulk Distribution Carton) and this is available in 3 standard sizes and 4 metric sizes.
To optimise storage of the BDC box Avanta UK offer a Longspan Shelving system where the beam length, depth of the shelf deck and the pitch of the shelf is designed to store as many boxes per shelving bay as possible whilst allowing for what is known as creep (put 3x boxes side by side and you need more space than 3 x the box width!)
Another feature to the BDC Longspan Shelving designed by Avanta is the design of the drop over mesh deck includes an integral divider that acts as a back stop. We can offer a stepped beam with a drop in mesh deck that also has the integral divider.
Drop over mesh decks with integral divider
Drop in mesh decks with integral divider
Shelving systems can be adapted to suit the box size that is to be stored and picked. If your business uses shoe / trainer boxes than a shortspan system maybe suitable.
Carton Live Storage is an option using shelving bays with inclined gravity rollers to store and retrieve boxes, packets and or individual items.
Garment Hanging System
Utilising one of the most economic shelving systems on the market and using tubular rails rather than shelving beams creates a neat garment storage system for hangers to easily slide up and down the rails as required.
Returns Shelving System
Internet Retailers are often faced with how to handle and store returned items. You can dedicate a specific area on a mezzanine floor to store and rework ore re-package returned goods. The Avanta Returns Shelving System is perfect for the storage of returned packets, bags, garments, small boxes etc.
Secure storage area
We can create Secure Areas for High Value Stock utilising solid steel panels and / or mesh with access controls to restrict who can
Concessions
A concept used in traditional retail and franchise systems could happen in the ecommerce warehouse world. Established Internet retailers setting aside dedicated areas of the warehouse to younger agile growing business that need a marketing budget and can utilise the established distribution infrastructure that can be provided by the larger retailer.
Pick & Pack Workbench Areas with Covid screens could be part of the concession space offered.
Specific Caged Robotic Areas can be created on a mezzanine floor. This would include the following features:
Specialist Flooring - heavy duty floor coating with anti-static properties.
Safety Machine Guard - Removable mesh screening for robot containment and access control.
Air Handling System - Sophisticated heating and cooling system to regulate temperature for employees and robots.
Mezzanine Floors for Additional Offices
Incorporate offices into your warehouse or factory without losing valuable storage or production space. An office mezzanine floor enables you to make use of the vertical space you already have in your premises. This means your business can grow without the expenses associated with moving or extending. Whatever you need office space for, from offices for more on-site staff to use as a control room area or similar within a warehouse, a mezzanine level can be a time and cost-effective way to get the space you need.
Multiple Welfare Facilities can be located in different areas of the floor including relocatable, prefabricated Toilet Pods.
This is a selection of potential projects that Avanta UK Ltd can undertake to help the growing Ecommerce business in their warehouse environment to improve storage, productivity and pick rates.