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April 2024: An ambitious restructure designed to prioritise the customer while supporting growth and expansion has been announced by Northamptonshire-based Nene Group.

As of April 2024 Warehouse Solutions, part of Nene Group, will focus solely on supplying its products and services to end-user customers.

Its trade customers will now be looked after by Qube Total Solutions (QTS), a company acquired by Nene Group in April 2021 which already specialises exclusively in supplying trade businesses, including the likes of wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers.

Thomas Pearson, CEO of the Nene Group, explained: “As a business, we believe in putting people first. This restructure is designed to ensure that we do not lose sight of this as we continue to grow. Celebrating 50 years of business this year further emphasises the importance of standing by our beliefs whilst continuing to strive for growth.”

The restructure means Nene Group’s newly formed holding (subsidiary) company NWS Group, under which Nene Warehouse Solutions, Nene Electrical, Econform and QTS (UK and Europe) sit, now has two separate and distinct lines of business and customer types: the end user, who will be serviced by Nene Warehouse Solutions, and trade businesses, who will be supported by QTS. Nene Electrical and Econform remain unchanged.

The customer has been prioritised at every stage of this restructure.

The expansion and diversification means NWS Group will now supply multiple services and products to a wide range of customers.

Thierry Schoen, Managing Director for the NWS Group, added: “This restructure is designed to simplify the customer journey and to support ambitious growth. All existing, as well as synergistic future acquisitions will sit under the NWS Group brand.”

Craig De-Lara, Managing Director of QTS, which is based in Pinxton, Nottingham, said:

“QTS’s mission remains the same – ‘to deliver exceptional supply chain solutions with passion, while fostering innovation and integrity’ – and we do this by providing all customers with the very best experience, through quality products, competitive solutions and rapid service delivery.

“QTS will continue to offer the full range of products and services that all trade customers have become accustomed to, providing a combination of engineering expertise, selection, flexibility and efficiencies, delivering real value to all trade customers in return. We have prepared and are ready for this exciting development.”

Introducing the latest addition to our rackGUARDIAN™ range: the 50mm x 100mm anti-collapse mesh panels. Tailored for businesses seeking to fortify their warehouse safety without inflating their budgets, these panels offer a pragmatic solution in the landscape of industrial safety. With a focus on affordability, durability, and ease of integration, we’ve expanded our rackGUARDIAN™ lineup to include these new panels.

The Benefits Unpacked

• Cost-Effective Solution: Leverage the economic advantages of the 50mm x 100mm mesh panels to enhance safety while managing costs.
• The Same Seamless Integration: Easily incorporate these panels into existing rackGUARDIAN™ systems for a unified safety approach.
• Improved Visibility: The 50mm x 100mm mesh design allows for better visibility, facilitating easier inventory management and safety checks.
• Same Durable Construction: Rely on the robust quality and durability that rackGUARDIAN™ is known for, now extended to our new mesh panel options

Why Choose rackGUARDIAN™?

Choosing rackGUARDIAN™ anti-collapse mesh means opting for a solution that has been rigorously tested and proven to deliver. It’s not just about the product; it’s about the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve invested in a solution that protects both your personnel and your inventory effectively.

Building on the momentum from a successful debut at LogiMAT 2023, QTS GmbH is excited to announce its return to this prestigious event in Stuttgart. This year promises an even grander display with a broader spectrum of cutting-edge warehousing solutions.

LogiMAT serves as the premier international stage for intralogistics solutions and process management, making it the perfect venue for QTS GmbH to exhibit its latest advancements. Focusing on enhancing warehouse efficiency and safety, we are poised to introduce a range of innovative products that reflect our deep commitment to technological advancement and top-tier quality.

Based in Germany, QTS GmbH is rapidly gaining recognition as a key supplier in warehouse storage, safety, and security solutions. Our journey is fueled by a mission to revolutionise warehouse operations, anchored in our dedication to innovation, quality, and customer focus.

What to expect:

Our portfolio at LogiMAT 2024 will include a wide variety of products, each designed to bolster reliability, durability, and efficiency in warehouse operations. Here’s a glimpse:

Visit Our Booth – 1GA28:

We invite you to join us at Stand 1GA28 in Hall 1 Gallery. Experience our innovative solutions firsthand through live demonstrations and interactive displays. Our team of experts will be on hand to discuss the efficiency and safety features of our products.

Navigating the world of business-to-business relationships goes beyond transactions; it’s about aligning with partners whose mission, vision, and core values resonate with your business objectives. At QTS, our recently updated mission and vision statements, supported by our core values, are not just internal compasses, but rather a robust framework designed to advance your business success. Let’s explore how these elements of our corporate ethos are specifically tailored to provide tangible benefits to you, our valued customers.

Last week was a monumental one for QTS as we hosted our first-ever Open Week from Monday, 23rd October to Friday, 27th October, at our facilities in Nottinghamshire. This event was curated with the aim of providing unparalleled insights into our operations and product offerings. And judging by the glowing feedback, it seems we achieved just that. If you missed out, here’s a detailed summary of what you missed.

As the event came to a close, guests were treated to a variety of food and beverages, offering a casual setting for networking and in-depth conversations. It was amazing for us to get some face-to-face time with the people whom we work so closely with week in and week out

In summary, the Open Week was a platform for learning, sharing, and growing. We are grateful to everyone who participated and made it a resounding success. If you couldn’t make it last week but would like to book a visit, contact your account manager and we would be more than happy to welcome you to the QTS facilities.

According to the estate agents Savills, warehouse storage now accounts for 566 million square feet of the UK. The last 5 years have seen the most rapid increase in unit takeup in history. The UK’s warehouse space shortage can be attributed to two main factors: the explosive growth of online shopping and the combined impact of the EU Exit and the COVID-19 pandemic. These forces have accelerated the need for transport and storage solutions, challenging businesses to find new ways to meet demand.

Why Optimising Warehouse Space is Important

Saving Money:

Effective use of warehouse space translates into savings. By optimising layout and storage methods, companies can minimize wasted space and reduce operational costs.

Increasing Productivity:

Improved storage solutions lead to a more streamlined workflow. This boosts employee productivity by enabling quicker access to items and more efficient use of space.

Strategies to Increase Warehouse Storage Capacity

Utilizing Central Ridge Decks

Central Ridge Decks provide a highly practical solution for those looking to maximize the efficiency of their storage space. By enabling loading from both sides of the pallet racking without pushing items off, it provides a stable platform to keep items separated and organized. This approach allows warehouse staff to access products easily from either side of the bay and helps in reducing product mix-ups, contributing to a smoother operational flow.

Storing Long Items Upright with Vertical Pallet Racking Dividers

Long items can be a challenge to store efficiently. Utilizing vertical pallet racking dividers provides a simple yet effective solution. By storing long items upright, more bays become available for other storage needs. This approach not only maximizes space but also makes inventory management more streamlined, ensuring that long items are easily accessible and properly protected.

The Future of the Warehousing Sector

The growth of the UK warehousing sector stands as a nationwide success story, supporting online retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies. Research from Forrester and Savills indicates that by 2025, an additional 64 million sq ft of warehouse space will be needed for the online retail sector alone. Whilst this looks great for businesses in those industries, it is not always easy for SMEs to make large investments like renting an additional warehouse. So, making use of some of the tactics above may help to give them some breathing space to continue flourishing.

The way we approach warehouse storage is evolving. With the challenges presented by the current market landscape, innovative solutions like easySHELF™ and easyDIVIDER™ become vital in increasing storage capacity, saving costs, and enhancing efficiency.

Ready to optimise your warehouse storage? Contact QTS today and discover how our tailored solutions can transform your storage strategy.

World Environment Day is an annual event celebrated on the 5th of June to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect the planet. At QTS, we are committed to all of the three key areas of sustainability; economic, social and environmental. As it is World Environment Day, in this blog, we will focus on the measures we are taking towards reducing our impact on the environment.

Installation of Energy Usage Monitors on Machines by Pro-enviro:

We have partnered with Pro-enviro to install energy usage monitors on our machines. This will help us map our carbon emissions and identify areas that can be targeted for process optimization to reduce carbon emissions. This will then lead to the development of strategic documents such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Taking Action, and Decarbonization plans. By monitoring our energy usage, we can reduce our carbon footprint and work towards a sustainable future.

Recycling of Steel

We are committed to reducing our waste and have implemented a recycling program for steel. This ensures that our steel waste is recycled and does not end up in landfills. Steel is one of the most commonly used materials in the world, and its production has a significant environmental impact. By recycling our steel waste, we are reducing the demand for new steel production and minimizing our environmental impact. This aligns with our commitment to sustainability and our goal of reducing waste.

Recycling of Paper in the Office

We are actively working towards reducing paper waste in our office. We have implemented a paper recycling program, which ensures that our paper waste is recycled and does not end up in landfills. We have also encouraged our employees to use digital documents instead of printing, which has significantly reduced our paper usage.

Investment in Our Leadership Team

We have invested in our leadership team to set our sustainability goals and develop clear KPIs. Our leadership team is committed to sustainability and is working towards reducing our environmental impact. By setting clear goals and KPIs, we can measure our progress and work towards a sustainable future.

As one of the largest international trade fairs for intralogistics and supply chain management, LogiMAT 2023 was a fantastic event to mark the formal launch of QTS GmbH. This event provided an excellent platform to showcase our latest products and solutions to the European market.

At our booth, we demonstrated our innovative solutions designed to optimize warehouse management, enhancing the productivity, efficiency, and flexibility of your space. Our team of experts were on hand to answer questions and provide demonstrations of our products, and we were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from visitors.

Craig De-Lara, Managing Director for QTS, had this to say:

“LogiMAT is an extremely impressive exhibition for our target market and this year was no different; however, I’m pleased the QTS team and I got to experience the show first-hand!!

As we extend our products and services into Europe with the birth of QTS GmbH and new team members, I look back and I would describe our experience as an extremely welcoming, positive and exciting one.

Our focus is now shifted to looking ahead and building on those newfound relationships.

We certainly look forward to attending LogiMAT 2024 and seeing how our European arm grows.”

Having grown our presence in the United Kingdom & Ireland, QTS are excited to announce that we are formally expanding our operations into Europe!

QTS has a 20+ year history of manufacturing and delivering a diverse range of design-focused, wire mesh and fabricated manufactured solutions. Our flexibility, creativity, and service-centric business model are something we take great pride in.

Proudly supporting manufacturers, integrators, distributors, and installers, QTS products can be found in warehouse and storage facilities of some of the largest global companies. These products include wire mesh decks and dividers, fabricated dividers, anti-collapse mesh, freestanding mesh partitions and cages, pallet support bars and much more.

The launch of Qube Total Solutions (QTS) GmbH will facilitate the supply of wire mesh and fabricated solutions primarily in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium and will aid new and existing partnerships, including trade in local currency, greater transactional efficiencies, quick deployment of stock items, a design approach to bespoke solutions and a flexible, competitive offering to large project requirements.

As part of this expansion, it is with great excitement that QTS GmbH can announce the appointment of Emina Tatarevic as our new Account Manager for Germany.

Emina joins QTS GmbH with seven years of experience providing wire mesh solutions to the warehouse and logistics sectors. Emina can speak an impressive four languages, so will not only be a great asset to the team but will act as the service conduit within her Region, where she will be based locally to provide first-class service to customers.

Following nearly three successful years with Qube Total Solutions (QTS) Ltd, Adam Carr is promoted to the role of Head of Business Development for the Benelux Region, where he will utilise six years of mesh manufacturing experience to help support trade customers from the continent and build on the impressive growth from the UK.

“Our move into Europe represents a fresh new chapter in our history book and a real indicator of our overall ambitions as a growing, forward-thinking and diverse company.

It’s an exciting time for everyone involved. I am delighted to have both Emina and Adam on board as we venture into this next stage of our business plans.

As a key milestone for QTS, Emina will be our first European in-country team member, but I am sure that will grow in no time.

I know that both Adam and Emina will be great in their new roles, helping QTS deliver the great levels of customer service and flexibility that our customers have become accustomed to in the UK & Ireland as we extend our ever-growing presence into Germany and Benelux.

The process, to this point, has been challenging at times, but our teams are reared up and ready to go, so I can’t wait to see what we do in these territories.”

Craig De-Lara, Managing Director QTS Ltd & QTS GmbH.

For enquiries, please contact: enquiries@qtseurope.com 

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a specific member of our team, it’s:

Benelux – Adam.Carr@qtseurope.com

Germany – Emina.Tatarevic@qtseurope.com

The Made in UK Day campaign has been created by Make it British to celebrate the UK manufacturing industry. As one of the leading manufacturers of wire mesh products in the UK, we felt it is important to celebrate Made in UK day 2023!

It started as a blog by ex-retail buyer Kate Hills to champion the diverse range of products made in the UK. UK manufacturing is worth £192 billion to the UK economy and employs 2.7 million people. Statistics like the aforementioned demonstrate how vital the manufacturing industry is to this country.

At QTS, we have a manufacturing facility based in Nottinghamshire. It is here that we design and manufacture your wire mesh solutions. By purchasing from UK-made businesses like us, there are many benefits:

Lower your carbon footprint:

Buying products made closer to home means you can significantly reduce the number of miles something has travelled. In turn, this reduces its carbon footprint. Your end consumers know this, and it’s one of the reasons that ‘Made in UK’ has become a badge of honour for brands with an eye on sustainability. That’s why 93% of consumers are willing to pay extra for British-made products.

Additionally, QTS can create bespoke solutions with no minimum order quantity, discouraging waste within the supply chain.

Support the UK economy:

When UK businesses help each other, they help themselves. Working together helps boost the economy and creates employment within the local community. 2.7 million people work in manufacturing in the United Kingdom. When you buy a product made in the UK, you are directly contributing to keeping someone in employment.

Reduce risk in your supply chain:

It is not a secret that the world has been particularly turbulent in the last three years. We have seen more than ever the importance of a strong supply chain. External factors, like Covid and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, have caused a lot of headaches for business owners across the UK. No business is immune, but those that work with manufacturers in the UK have fewer risks associated with their supply chain as they don’t need to import their finished products.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to support British manufacturing and we are proud to be a part of it all. For more information visit madeinukday.co.uk.

If you like the sound of working with a British manufacturer for your wire mesh solutions, get in touch by filling in the form below.