THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR FIRST LINE GROUP

Just two years after tripling its warehouse space when it moved into its new corporate head quarters in Banbury, the First Line Group (FLG) has added an additional 42,000 sq.ft. to its already vast facility, to accommodate its need for more storage space for its growing business and expanding product portfolio.

“When we moved into Chalker Way in April 2012, we wondered if we’d ever fill the 130,000 sq.ft. warehouse,” said Managing Director, Dan Joyner. “However, it became very clear halfway through last year that not only would we fill it, but we’d need to make plans to increase it!

“The growth of the business since we moved has been phenomenal as we have expanded both in the UK, where we have long held a prominent market position, particularly in steering & suspension in which we are the UK’s largest aftermarket supplier, but also in our export business with our highly regarded Borg & Beck brand. It is almost as if the move from Bicester, with its limitations on product storage capacity, has taken off the restrictions and allowed us to develop the business to its true capability.

“However, because in the original layout of the new warehouse we had to dedicate a large area to production, the picking lanes were operating below their true capacity as they were restricted by 15-20 meters per aisle.

“Due to the height of the warehouse, the obvious route to follow to create the extra capacity we needed was to add mezzanine flooring and as the components we stock tend to be relatively compact, we were able to fit in an additional two floors, so our 21,000 sq.ft. of mezzanine has yielded 42,000 sq.ft. of storage capacity which has increased our total warehouse space to 172,000 sq.ft.

“The flooring has subsequently released a large area on the ground floor for bulk picking and allowed us to relocate the production benches and stations to the first floor, while the second floor has given us space to store all our packaging, which has in turn released 200-250 pallet spaces on the ground floor.

“In short we are delighted with the outcome and believe that the extra capacity and increased efficiencies will have a positive benefit to our customers as we continue to provide them with the high quality components they need and the availability and customer service they expect from FLG.”

For more information about the quality products available from the First Line Group, please call the sales team on: 01869 248484 or visit: www.firstlineltd.com