Maxi Storage Systems - The Interview

AGF (UK) Ltd and MAXI STORAGE SYSTEMS - Providing the UK with the missing link

Established in 1977, racking and shelving experts AGF (UK) Ltd have over 25 years' experience in the planning, supply and installation of storage and material handling solutions, with particular emphasis on the garment industry. AGF (UK) Ltd also supplies mezzanine floors and garment storage equipment to major UK suppliers, either directly or via its ever-growing network of service operators working throughout the UK, Europe and the world. But that's just part of the story! AGF's manufacturing division, Maxi Storage System, is a highly successful business in its own right, with a reputation in engineering for innovation and excellence. In 2008 Maxi Storage System is launching a new shelving system. The new Maxi Long Span shelving is born out of AGF's garment racking, but lends itself to a much wider client base; this system provides the missing link in the product range, presenting a major opportunity for both AGF and Maxi to build their sales. Keith Watson, Sales Manager, Maxi Storage Systems, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.

Warehouse & Logistics News - Can you start by talking us through the new Maxi Long Span shelving?
Maxi Long Span is an innovative new high quality steel long span shelving system, which enables our distributors to offer their customers a world-class product and grow our distributors' share of the fiercely competitive UK and European markets. It's been developed in collaboration with distributors and independently tested by qualified engineers.

WLN - What's new about it?
This system combines several innovative design features, including the beams' double location slots in the single frame upright. Maxi Long Span's new one-piece frame has the added advantage of reducing the number of frames required to support the same amount of shelves. Another key feature is the replacement of the outdated four-inch pitch for beam heights. Maxi Long Span has 50mm increment slots, increasing the racking system's flexibility and adjustability to maximise space utilisation. The beams can be manufactured to suit a variety of industries, such as Tyre Distributors. The beams can also have a hanging rail fitted below the Z section for dual application of hanging and storage.

WLN - How unique is it?
It is the only Z-beam section system manufactured in the UK offering the loads specified, and the easiest system on the market to assemble. There is no other UK manufacturer making a long span system with our beam and frame configuration. The new beam incorporates the tried and tested beam bracket, which has been used for over 20 years without problems, and is easy to position without requiring tools. The new beam design is manufactured from a high yield steel to ensure maximum strength, offering excellent loading capabilities. All the footplates are welded, alleviating the need for fixing on site.

WLN - What sort of projects is it suitable for?
The Maxi Long Span System is a heavy-duty manual storage solution for storing products of medium size and weight and is efficient to meet the needs of retail storage, workshops, Tyre distributors, garages, archives, industrial stores and general warehousing.

WLN - What finishes does it come in? How quickly can you deliver it?
Maxi has an in-house powder coating plant, and we can offer any colour to suit customers' corporate colours. The industrial norm is blue for the frames and orange for the beam: Maxi use RAL 5010 for the frame and RAL2004 for the beam. All end frames come fully welded for maximum strength and ease of assembly. The Maxi Long Span shelving system is totally user-friendly, offering simple handling, and totally environmentally friendly. Initially we will manufacture to order and delivery will be approx 5/10 working days. We will stock the most popular sizes to ensure 24/48 hour despatch to suit customers' requirements.

WLN - Where was Maxi Long Span shelving developed? Where is it manufactured?
Maxi Storage Systems have a long history in traditional manufacturing and fabrication. The Long Span System was developed in-house at our R&D facility in Heckmondwike, where it is produced.

WLN - What are your forecasts for sales of Maxi Long Span shelving in the first year?
We understand the UK market for the Long Span System to be around £25 million, and are confident Maxi Long Span can take a considerable percentage of this.

WLN - Who are your distributors for Maxi Long Span? Are you looking for any more?
Most do not want to be identified: as you will appreciate, being manufacturers of this system many of our customers are very protective of their source of supply. We are still looking for strategic partners, and feel our product fits well into their shelving portfolio.

WLN - Will you be offering this product outside the UK?
Our main competitor is a Spanish system; my favourite European city is Barcelona; so why not?!

WLN - Now let's talk about the company as a whole. Who founded AGF (UK) Ltd?
Alex Gemmell is the founder of AGF (UK) Ltd. Alex is very much involved with the day-to-day running of both companies and is often found heading up the installation team, and project managing the bigger contracts.

WLN - Where is it based?
AGF's head office is in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, Maxi is in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire and we have another office in Manchester.

WLN - When did Maxi Storage Systems come into being?
The development of automation in the garment industry led to the forming of Maxi Storage Systems Ltd in 1990.

WLN - How do the two parts of the business work together?
After the acquisition of Maxi Storage Systems in 2005, we became AGF's manufacturing division. Designing and manufacturing all bespoke and proprietary products for AGF's client base, it was felt MAXI's manufacturing facilities could be extended to provide mezzanine floors and the new Shelving System to a much wider market. The relationship is now two-way, with Maxi securing projects that AGF's installation expertise can implement and offering total project management on site.

WLN - What products does AGF supply?
We supply garment storage and handling systems: multi-level mezzanine floors: pallet racking: flat pack shelving: conveyors: office partitioning: security fencing: warehouse maintenance: and system design. In addition we have specialised electrical engineers and commercial decorators on hand to ensure projects are complete to the last detail and ready to run without clients having to co-ordinate with several contractors.

WLN - There are a lot of racking and shelving companies out there. How does MAXI fit into the market?
There are many companies promoting racking and shelving, but fewer manufacturers. The MAXI Long Span System is the missing link between UK-manufactured systems: there are a handful of companies manufacturing either lighter products or the heavier Pallet Racking, but our system fits nicely in the middle of these ranges and is made in the UK. We know of no other system manufactured here providing the loads of our system that is as easy to assemble, with our frame and beam configuration.

WLN - Why come to AGF for a complex storage solution?
AGF (UK) Ltd offers a top-class service with a refreshing attention to detail, and full turnkey operations second to none. It has a dedicated and highly experienced team of consultants, designers, and installers who will work round the clock, 364 days a year, to provide the best possible, most cost effective solution. Our experienced staff will help you take a project from planning stage to commissioning, dealing with all Local Authority Approvals and Regulations as the project progresses. We offer a comprehensive site management service covering up to date construction industry health and safety requirements.

WLN - What are the steps in arriving at a solution?
Following a site visit and detailed discussions we design their requirements using the most up-to-date CAD technology with AutoCAD. These designs can then be e-mailed direct to the customer, prior to full-scale copies being supplied for approval.

WLN - How do you sum up AGF's philosophy?
Our business has been built on developing extremely close relationships with our customers and on a partnering philosophy, continually exceeding customers' needs and adding real value at every opportunity. We work with likeminded organisations, helping them develop their businesses by contributing in three key areas: we offer them a flexible and responsive manufacturing platform, supported by an innovative, highly skilled technical team, and deliver new products via our ongoing investment in research and development. We work with real partnerships with our customers, who think of us as an integral part of their team.

WLN - What kinds of companies, in what sectors, have AGF done major projects for?
Our clients include Elite Logistics, Clipper, Arcadia and Next, to name a few, AGF has been responsible for multi-level pallet racking and manufacture and installation of two three-tier mezzanines for garment hanging at the new TNT Fashion Group distribution centre in Leicestershire, where a larger, modern facility was built following a fire. AGF also acted as principal contractor during the completion phase. We've also carried out projects for Velmore Ltd, one of M&S's leading ladies wear manufacturers, where we installed a second mezzanine floor at their Ellesmere Port distribution facility, in conjunction with a first floor mezzanine we installed in 1996. We also provided all the racking, conveyors and electrical systems, including smoke detectors.

WLN - Let's talk now about Maxi Storage Systems. What sets MAXI apart?
One of MAXI's unique qualities is its ability to provide much higher levels of technical collaboration than normally expected from a typical manufacturer. This ability has driven our development and consequently, many of our customers are well known brand names. These organisations constantly need to differentiate their products and know working with MAXI to develop solutions will ensure they continue to excel. Ongoing partnerships mean we can also provide our customers with added value through strategic, technical and marketing services, in addition to the quality manufacturing and on-time deliveries they have come to expect.

WLN - How do you define the Maxi Storage Business?
Maxi Storage Systems are a leading manufacturer of mezzanine flooring, conveyor systems and storage solutions for the trade and end-user. We can provide the total solution for a customer's storage needs, from a small storage bay to a 200,000 sq. ft automated conveyor system.


WLN - What specific products do you supply?
We supply garment storage, shelving, mezzanine floors, slick rail, pallet racking, speed rail, live storage and conveyors.

WLN - What are your biggest selling items?
Obviously the Garment Racking has been our biggest seller over the years along with the Slick and Speed Rail systems; however we are confident that the New MAXI Long Span Shelving System will overtake these in time.

WLN - What specific garment storage solutions do you offer?
Our garment storage racking has been developed to meet the needs of modern garment retailers and distributors. Robust welded end frames are punched with a unique slot pattern for the location of hanging beams. Designed to store back-to-back garments, the frames can be arranged to give picking access to the garment shoulder from clear aisle ways, allowing maximum storage density and space utilisation. Hanging beams are fitted between the frames without needing tools, and can be easily adjusted in height increments of 100mm to cater for seasonal stock changes. Standard sizes will create 1.5m, 1.2m and 1.0m clear entry bays. With the introduction of simple drop-over metal or timber shelves, the racking can be instantly converted to hold flat pack products. Maximum utilisation of the building height can be achieved by creating two and three tier racking systems with timber or metal catwalk levels for access to the picking faces. These systems offer a flexible alternative to full structural mezzanines, with future re-location costs kept to a minimum.

WLN - What other structures do you supply?
For speedy access to storage locations, we offer both overhead speed rail and slick rail systems. Each system has inherent benefits, suiting a variety of different storage and handling operations. Inter floor conveyors carry trolleys or single garments through the storage floors quickly and safely. Powered conveyors can be introduced to all parts of the system for excessive travel distances and labour intensive operations. Our engineers are happy to meet and discuss your requirements before offering cost-effective solutions to each individual enquiry. We pride ourselves on our ability to react quickly, essential in today's fast moving commercial world.

WLN - Who are Maxi Storage Systems' typical customers?
We supply the racking and shelving industry, along with warehousing and storage DSC's.

WLN - How are Maxi geared to service customers?
At MAXI, our competitive advantage has been consistently achieved through working smarter and thinking harder. Our Customer Service Team acts as our customers' representatives, dedicated to improving delivery performance, defect levels, packing specifications, health and safety issues and sales order processing. They provide a clear, customer-orientated perspective and the power to drive through necessary changes via our production and development teams.

WLN - What do you see as the biggest opportunities for your business?
The biggest opportunity is to achieve recognition of the MAXI Long Span System as a genuine British-made product equal to, if not better than, any other available systems, and see it being used throughout supermarkets, retail parks and third party warehousing and storage distribution centers.

WLN - Finally, where do you see AGF and Maxi Storage going from here?
We expect demand for garment handling systems to remain relatively constant, but the Mezzanine and the New MAXI Long Span Shelving System will grow and become MAXI Storage Systems' core business. Overseas, there are opportunities to develop further: we have installed mezzanine floors in Morocco and as far afield as Vietnam: we know there are further opportunities, and there's always Spain for the Long Span!

Maxi Storage Systems
Tel: 01924 411 706
www.maxistorage.co.uk

AGF (UK) Ltd
Tel: 01438 718 290
www.a-g-f.co.uk