There are still some industrial and commercial businesses that use time clocks and time cards. Depending upon the size of the business, different time and clock cards are available to suit most applications.

There is the time recorder ideal for the smaller business. Typically they will be robust and will have such features as:
• A clear, easily readable analogue display
• They will print as many as six columns on a time card which would then be stored in wall mounted storage racks
• The time card will be automatically fed through the clock
• They will be able to automatically adjust forward and backwards for the British Summer Time (BST) and Greenwich Meantime (GMT) changes
• It will be possible to either mount them on the wall or on a table. This is especially useful as wall mounting will be preferred where space is limited

A more expensive model might suit larger businesses and would usually have all the standard features of the cheaper model, including a storage rack for the time cards, as well as:
• A time signal to be used when bells are required
• Multi-coloured printing is available
• The time clock can be programmed to record and print in/out movements of employees

If job costing will be needed, the perfect solution for this is a date and time stamp. This model will typically have features such as:
• A precise record of time and date
• There will be several options for the print format
• A memory backup for five years

Narrow boats, although used mostly for leisure and occasionally as homes these days, were first developed as commercial transport vehicles from the 18th century onwards. Their design enabled them to be used on the extensive canal network in Britain and they were used for the storage and carriage of goods and raw materials around the country. For instance, clay from Derbyshire was taken by narrow boat to the nearby Potteries area of Stoke-on-Trent to be used in the manufacturing of their world famous pottery.

Narrow boats, on occasion, were constructed along similar lines to the much wider river barges. In spite of the similarities, it is erroneous to call a narrow boat a barge.

Until the early 20th century narrow boats were horse drawn, but with the advent of diesel or steam engines, this practice became a thing of the past. The other advantage of powered narrow boats was that they could be used to tow an unpowered boat behind them. This meant that twice the amount of goods or produce could be transported without having to double the number of crew. However the use of narrow boats for the storage and transport of cargo was already dying out.

Narrow boats, nowadays, are utilised to take holidays in and sometimes as permanent homes. Some narrow boat owners use them as a way of making money by offering trips along a canal in them or renting them out. When the weather is favourable, this can be a novel and pleasant day out.

A German company, over 50 years ago, invented the steel racking systems, also known as the boltless shelving system.  They decided to use slotted steel sections for warehouse technology.  In doing so, this company set new standards in flexibility, importantly when responding to their customers’ needs. Whether it is a multi-national organisation with massive warehouses or a corner shop grocer with a small stock room, boltless shelving is an ideal answer to their problems.

Although the patent remains with this particular company, other organisations were quick to recognise the potential of this system and have developed their own versions, still basing the idea on the concept of simplicity, strength and speed of assembly. They have also realised that tailor making a boltless shelving system for individual retailers helps not only their profit margin but their reputation as well.

The German inventors of the boltless shelving system are still developing the product in Germany.  Due to their years of experience in warehouse logistics technology and the interaction with their various customers, they are still refining and developing their manufacture of the system. The boltless shelving system has a modular design; this means that the warehouse’s changing demands can be catered for with ease.

The available space in a warehouse or stock room is utilised to the maximum using this system. A simple one storey or a multi-level racking system can be used. If unusually long depths or widths are required, the same system can still be used, so using a different system is not necessary.

In warehouses, the storing of packaged goods and bulky items is often necessary. To this end, industrial metal shelving is ideal for the job. Typically, shelf load bearing capacities may range from 300 to 1000 pounds in weight.

There are two basic types of shelving. Open shelving with cross strut bracing on the sides and back. Closed shelving has solid sides and back. Open shelving is well suited to store the larger or bulkier items while closed shelving is best for the storage of smaller items.

There are a good many different sizes of shelves available as well. The depths vary from 12 to 36 inches, typically there are three widths of shelf, from 36 to 48 inches, and their heights range from 39 to 123 inches.  Some shelves are installed with clips and are adjustable. As an alternative to the metal cross back brace, some shelving units have gussets and this makes them easy to access from both sides.

Dividers may be available to separate different categories of stock from each other on the same shelf. Many metal shelving systems may be mounted on tracks to make best possible use of what may sometimes be a limited amount of floor space.

Some industries require a clean, dust-free environment – industries such as food, medical supplies, electronics and retail for example. In these cases, wire metal shelving units are perfect for the job. Typically, a wire shelving unit will be quick and easy to fit together and disassembly is equally simple.