IN Brief:
- DK Jones has installed four Compact Lift vertical storage modules supplied by Randex.
- The system stores around 90 tonnes of material in about one-tenth of the previous floor space.
- The project shows how vertical storage can release production space without requiring site relocation.
Randex has supplied four Compact Lift automated vertical storage modules to DK Jones, enabling the industrial piping products supplier to store around 90 tonnes of material in approximately one-tenth of the previous floor space.
The installation forms part of a wider refurbishment and expansion programme at DK Jones, where the operations team needed to increase storage capacity for heavy, mixed-size components without expanding the building footprint or moving to a larger site. Conventional floor-based racking had reached its limits, taking up valuable operational space and constraining warehouse workflows.
DK Jones supplies piping and associated products from UK locations in Middlesbrough and Bidford-on-Avon, serving industrial customers with pipe, fittings, flanges, tube, valves, accessories, gaskets, bar products, and fabricated items. That stock profile creates a demanding storage requirement, with heavy components, varied dimensions, certified materials, and the need for reliable access during warehouse and production routines.
Randex delivered the solution using Compact Lift automated storage systems manufactured in Sweden by Weland Solutions. Each vertical lift module occupies a footprint of approximately 9 sq m. The system uses a rack-and-pinion drive concept designed to provide stable tray movement and accurate positioning, including where loads are heavy or unevenly distributed.
The four-unit installation has changed the site’s storage economics. By moving from conventional floor storage to vertical lifts, DK Jones has reduced the footprint used for the relevant materials by around 90%. Heavy components are delivered directly to operators at an ergonomic working height, improving access while freeing production and movement space.
Chris Jones, Managing Director of DK Jones, said: “The machines have been an absolute game changer for us — efficient, reliable, and invaluable in helping us store more materials while freeing up space. We could not recommend them highly enough.”
The project reflects a wider trend in industrial warehousing, where capacity problems are increasingly being solved inside the existing building envelope. Moving site, extending premises, or adding external storage can be expensive and disruptive. Planning delays, labour availability, energy costs, and property constraints are pushing more companies to look at vertical storage, automation, mezzanine systems, and layout redesign before committing to relocation.
Warehouse fit-out has become a more important performance lever as industrial operators attempt to extract more usable capacity from existing sites. The productivity gains are often found inside the shell: storage density, operator access, pick paths, inventory visibility, materials handling routes, and workstation design. DK Jones’ installation fits that pattern by using height to release space at ground level.
Vertical lift modules are particularly suited to operations where SKU variety, heavy components, security, and floor-space pressure intersect. By presenting goods to operators rather than sending operators to goods, the systems can reduce travel time, improve ergonomics, and make better use of height. They can also support cleaner inventory control where stock is difficult to manage in open racking or floor storage.
The operational value depends on more than the machine itself. Successful vertical storage projects require accurate load profiling, tray configuration, picking patterns, stock classification, and integration with existing warehouse routines. Heavy industrial products can be awkward to automate because weight distribution, component geometry, lifting aids, and certification control all affect how materials are stored and retrieved.
For DK Jones, the strongest result is the combination of capacity gain and site continuity. Storing 90 tonnes in a fraction of the previous footprint reduces pressure on production areas while preserving the location and workforce familiarity of the existing facility. That is often the more realistic route for established industrial suppliers, where site knowledge, customer service routines, and proximity to existing operations carry operational value.
The case also shows that warehouse automation does not always need to begin with robotics or fully automated fulfilment. In many industrial environments, the higher-value step is to remove a basic physical constraint: too much stock spread across too much floor. Vertical storage gives manufacturers, stockholders, and engineering suppliers a way to recover space, improve access, and delay or avoid expensive relocation decisions.
