1The Challenge
A regional 3PL operator with a 120,000 sq ft warehouse was onboarding a new retail client whose contract required dedicated, physically segregated space that could be independently audited and secured. The operator needed a segregation solution that could be installed quickly before the new client's go-live date, and which could be relocated or removed if the client contract was not renewed — investing in permanent walls for a client zone that might change in 3 years was commercially unattractive.
2Our Solution
Mercia Industrial installed a 60-metre RapidSlider retractable wall system creating a dedicated zone for the new retail client, with a single lockable access point controlled by the client's own key holder. The retractable system allows the zone to be expanded during peak seasons by opening additional sections, and the entire system can be dismantled and reinstalled in a different configuration if zone sizes need to change. Installation was completed in 3 days, meeting the client go-live deadline.
3The Outcome
The new retail client passed their independent stock audit within 2 weeks of go-live, with the physical segregation system satisfying their internal control requirements. The 3PL operator has subsequently used the same retractable system approach for two further client zone additions in the same building, demonstrating the adaptability of the system. Overall zone utilisation in the building has improved by 18% compared with the operator's previous approach of leaving wide, unpartitioned buffer areas between client stocks.
“The retractable wall was the right answer for our situation — we needed proper physical segregation without committing to permanent construction. The ability to resize and move zones as our client mix changes is exactly what a flexible 3PL operation needs.”
— Operations Director, Regional 3PL Operator, Northampton
- Client
- Warehouse Logistics Northampton
- Location
- Northampton, Northamptonshire
- Industry
- Warehousing & Logistics
- Product
- RapidSlider