Elevate wins GBP £800,000 racking deal for Newry site

Elevate Storage Solutions has won an £800,000 contract to install pallet racking at S&W Wholesale's new distribution centre in Newry.

The Mallusk-based storage company will supply and fit the storage infrastructure at S&W's 180,000 sq ft facility on Chancellors Road, near the Belfast-Dublin corridor. It has worked on the design since 2021 and secured the installation contract through a competitive tender process.

The project will include the first major installation in Northern Ireland of Whittan's SKMX pallet racking system. Elevate will install about 17,000 pallet locations across the warehouse, using more than 400 tonnes of racking over an estimated 10-week period with a team of eight.

The new warehouse forms part of S&W's wider expansion across the island of Ireland. The Newry site is intended to increase storage capacity and support customer service in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Located close to the border and the A1/M1 route between Belfast and Dublin, the facility sits on one of the island's main logistics links. That is expected to make it a key site in S&W's regional distribution network.

Elevate has been expanding its work across both jurisdictions in Ireland, and the Newry contract adds to a growing pipeline of larger projects. The company was recently appointed Whittan's first Approved Partner in Northern Ireland, giving it access to the manufacturer's storage systems for local customers.

Ross Davison, Director at Elevate Storage Solutions, said: "This is a significant project for Elevate and one we're very proud to be delivering. We first became involved in the design several years ago, so to now see the installation taking shape on site is a real milestone for everyone involved.

"The scale of the new S&W facility makes it an excellent example of what can be achieved when the customer, designer, manufacturer and installation team work closely together from an early stage.

"It is also particularly exciting to be delivering the first major Northern Ireland installation of Whittan's new SKMX system. Innovation in warehouse design is ultimately about helping businesses make better use of their space, operate more efficiently and create the capacity they need to grow.

"For Elevate, this project also reflects our own ambitions. We are increasingly working on substantial projects across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and Newry is an ideal location to demonstrate the capability we can bring to customers operating across the region."

Growth plans

The distribution centre forms part of a broader investment in S&W's operating infrastructure. The wholesaler said the development would provide a platform for further growth as it expands its reach across the island.

Anthony McVeigh, Chief Executive Officer of S&W Wholesale, said: "Our new facility represents an important new chapter for S&W and will give us the platform we need to support the continued growth of the business and better serve our customers across the island of Ireland.

"The warehouse and storage infrastructure are fundamental to how the facility will operate, so it has been important to work with partners who understand both the scale of the project and what we need from the building over the longer term.

"Elevate has been involved in the development of the storage solution from an early stage and we are pleased to now see that work becoming a reality on site. The new racking system will help us make effective use of the available space and create the capacity and flexibility needed for the next phase of the business."

Elevate describes itself as the largest stockist of storage equipment in the Greater Belfast area and works with customers across Northern Ireland and other markets. The S&W contract gives the business a prominent role in one of the larger warehousing developments now under way in the region.

At full scale, the facility will provide around 180,000 sq ft of warehouse space and support a larger distribution footprint for the wholesaler across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.