The MiTek team will be promoting the company’s mezzanine solutions on stand C60, which forms part of the AMHSA Pavilion at IMHX. “In addition to straightforward mezzanines to increase floor space by utilising the full height of the warehouse,” says Geoff Green, Sales Director, “we design and deliver steel support structures to suit a wide range of warehouse automation technologies. Whether they are installed in a brand-new facility or a brownfield site, our mezzanine solutions enable automated logistics systems to achieve the highest possible efficiency and space utilisation.”
Tailoring its mezzanines to meet the requirements of automation in terms of load-bearing capacity, deflection and vibration, MiTek has delivered projects in partnership with 9 of the world’s top 10 material handling system suppliers. “A key factor in our success in such partnerships,” explains Geoff Green, “is our ability to import integrators’ 3D system models directly into our own software, ensuring accuracy in the mezzanine design from the outset.”
AutoStore specialist
Steel structures form the backbone of many cube storage systems, such as AutoStore. By placing AutoStore modules on platforms and connecting the grids via bin lifts, the full height of the warehouse can be utilised. There is the option to create tunnels below the AutoStore or install intermediate platforms to accommodate workstations, conveyors or maintenance areas. A steel support structure above the AutoStore can also accommodate sprinkler systems, lighting and other essential services, while structures along the perimeter are often used as escape routes and for maintenance.
Since 2023, MiTek has delivered mezzanine systems for 11 AutoStore installations for system integrators, AutoStore partners and end users. Projects have included retail, e-commerce, pharmaceutical and manufacturing applications, and have been delivered across Europe. Notable among them is a project for a multinational fashion retailer. The company’s 120,000-sq-m DC in Czechia features an AutoStore system believed to be Europe’s largest at the time of construction. Comprising some 2,500 robots and 500,000 bins, it is supported by a highly engineered steel structure that includes tunnels to house conveyors, workstations and replenishment areas, as well as vaults for goods lifts. Other steelwork from MiTek at the site includes a mezzanine for hanging garment automation and a two-tier system to support conveyor lines and spiral chutes. MiTek installed a total of 32,000 sq m of mezzanine at various levels, with seismic calculations undertaken to mitigate earthquake risk. Following the success of this project, MiTek is now implementing a similar installation for the same client in Poland.
Bespoke steel structures
Another recent project was for a high-street retailer in the UK. To accommodate its ambitious growth plans, the company worked with a leading integrator to build a huge and highly automated DC. MiTek was appointed to design and install the mezzanine solution, which comprised 30 steel platforms totalling almost 25,000 sq m. Integration of the automation – including a pallet store, pallet and tote conveyors, transfer cars, pallet elevators and pick stations – required bespoke steel support structures. With some 350 staircases required at the site, MiTek also developed a new staircase design that enabled pre-assembly to make installation easier and faster.
Drawing on almost 40 years of experience and over 20,000 projects worldwide, MiTek is committed to providing customers with competitive yet future-proofed solutions. “We place great emphasis on avoiding both over-engineering and under-engineering,” says Geoff Green, “to ensure that every customer benefits from the right balance of strength, affordability and longevity.”
