When the personal computer first became affordable on the open market in the early 1980s, progammes were stored on tape and had to be loaded up each time the computer was switched on. Rapid advances were made and before long, document storage and file storage onto hard disks and floppy disks became the norm. A hard disk is installed into the computer’s base unit or tower. They are capable of storing massive amounts of data depending upon their size. The first floppy disks were five and a quarter inches square and were inserted into a floppy disk drive in the personal computer’s base unit.  A few years later, their size was reduced to three and a half inches.

Both sizes of disk were useful because of their portability but a limited amount of document storage was possible. The three and a half inch floppy disk, for example, only holds 1.4Mb of data.  For a while zip-drives became popular for document or file storage since they had a higher capacity than their only slightly smaller counterparts, the three and a half inch floppies. Typically they had a capacity of up to 250Mb.

Both are now being replaced by either CD or DVD, more portable and capable of storing a much increased amount of data. Nowadays people are carrying even more data around on their key-rings. The USB pen, which is effectively another hard-drive that simply plugs into the USB port on the computer tower, is a remarkable device and who knows what will be next in the area of digital technology.

No matter what kind of business is being operated, document storage is always important. It is true that records of sales, purchases, wages and other data essential to the smooth running of a firm is almost certainly being stored on data disks and secure computer hard drives. In offices with dedicated server rooms, sound-proof storage cabinets or data cabinets offer the chance to effectively utilise office space. A sound-proof cabinet will contain a large number of network hardware. Typical features of the cabinet, or even some storage racks are lockable or removable doors, side and rear panels, a vented top cover to be used with a roof cooling fan and so on.

However, the day to day operations in a business concern is more than likely to involve the use of daybooks, files and general paperwork. The aforementioned documents and record books can be kept in several ways. There are companies offering their services as document and data storage centres. In this way, important or sensitive papers are stored away from the business premises in case of fire or theft.

Lockable storage cabinets are another solution to the problem of where to keep important files and documents. These will be available in various styles both mobile and static. Their sizes will differ according to the available space in the room they are to occupy.  Storage cabinets with shelves may be used to store stationery as well. Most offices will use photocopiers and some of these have storage space underneath in which to store several reams of copier paper.

The pallet racking system is easy to install, versatile, cost effective and designed specifically for storing pallet with the aid of fork lift trucks. The strong beams are fully height adjustable on the frames to accommodate most pallet sizes. They can be used as a stand-alone for pallet storage or as part of complex engineered systems.

Wide Aisle Adjustable Pallet Racking

Adjustable pallet racking is the most widely used storage system for all pallet and non-pallet loads. Single or double sided runs of racking are separated by wide aisles which can be sized to suit the customer’s existing fork-lift trucks. This type of storage has many features that make it an attractive option for any warehouse, such as:

•    100% accessibility to individual pallets
•    High degree of system adjustability to suit any pallet type and maximise all available space
•    Use of conventional fork-lift trucks
•    Easy to install or reposition
•    Good occupancy rates can be achieved

Mobile racking

Mobile pallet racks give maximum utilisation of the warehouse space whilst allowing 100% access to the pallets. The superstructure is fixed onto electrically powered mobile bases, which move on rails embedded in the floor. This solution allows usage of up to 95% of the warehouse space and is increasingly relevant in the drive for lower warehouse cost. These types of storage racks can be used to store many types of palletized unit loads boxes, drums, sacks etc. Alternatively rack beams can be decked out to form shelving for high density “archive” storage.

Whichever options suit your specific requirements, warehouse storage systems are essential to many processes and therefore need some thought.