After a rocky year for the industry, retail businesses have finally started to reopen, many of which have received an overwhelming amount of support from the general public. Now things are starting to return to some kind of normal, it’s more important than ever for those in retail to ensure they are ready for what’s in store and that they can cope with demand.
Storage in retail is a necessity. Employees rely on these areas to keep stock organised and easily accessible, and with a bigger influx of customers as many stores have reopened, it’s crucial that businesses can cope with demand, with quality storage equipment to do its job effectively.
How is storage in retail important?
Keep your processes efficient
Effective storage solutions in retail can have a big impact on the efficiency of your daily processes, keeping stock out of the way in an organised manner, and helping systems remain in place for stock replenishment or reordering. Overcrowded and cluttered areas can make jobs harder and reduce productivity levels in staff.
Create more space
For more storage space, it’s not always feasible or practical to find an additional storage unit and it’s impossible to create a new space from thin air. Having clever storage space can help you to make the most of the space you do have, utilising it to its full potential whilst still keeping organised. Here at Craven, we offer bespoke storage solutions and work closely with businesses to cater for their specific needs. Find out more by getting in touch.
Maintain health and safety
Having the right storage solutions can prevent your storage spaces from becoming dangerous and can instead optimise your health and safety levels. Instead of piling stock on top of stock, the right storage equipment will help to organise your supplies on shelves, helping you to stay on top of things and create safer working and shopping environments.
Find the right equipment for you
The industries we support span far and wide and for decades, we’ve been supplying our innovative, high-quality storage and shelving solutions to many businesses across the country. In fact, the retail sector is one of our key areas of success. Our solutions, as well as POS products, are used in many organisations working in the retail sector, including some well-known brands you will have heard of yourselves, such as Tesco, Prezzo, McDonald’s and Costa Coffee to name but a few!
We know just how important it is to get your storage just right, which is why here at Craven, we put all our skills and experience into creating solutions that work for you.
For storage in retail, choose Craven
Our UK manufacturing facility enables us to create innovative, high-quality point of sale, shelving, storage and display products for the retail sector. We regularly invest in new technologies to ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry and can provide our customers with the very best shelving and storage solutions.
For more information about our retail solutions, or you have a question about a product or our services, get in touch with the team today on 01423 796 200 or email us at info@craven-solutions.com.
Craven & Co are proud to be an approved supplier on the new NHS Healthcare Furniture Framework that launched in May 2021. Our Reference Code is 2020/S 252-638069.
As an established UK manufacturer of medical shelving, racking, trolleys and wirework products, we have a wealth of experience in the medical sector including working directly with the NHS.
We are excited to be continuing and developing our work in this sector as part of the NHS supply chain. We’ll be building on a long-standing relationship that was strengthened during the Covid-19 pandemic when we delivered tens of thousands of trolleys, modular shelving and medical equipment, including a specially-designed IV drip stand, to the NHS Nightingale hospitals.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/meet-yorkshire-manufacturing-firm-providing-front-line-equipment-new-nightingale-hospitals-2539444
https://cravensolution.wpenginepowered.com/craven-featured-in-the-press-over-work-with-nhs/]
The work we carried out for the NHS Nightingale hospitals led us to look at becoming an NHS framework supplier as it showed how our manufacturing capabilities can benefit the medical sector and allow us to be responsive to its specific needs. With a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in North Yorkshire, an in-house design team and mainly British suppliers, we are able to offer high-quality products, including bespoke options, at a competitive price. We are also able to supply any quantity and meet short lead times.
Our medical range features a large variety of shelving, racking, trolleys and wirework products and systems. We also offer bespoke solutions to meet specific storage and handling requirements. You can view our medical product range here.
Find out more about who we are and what we do here, or call us on 01423 796 200 or email info@craven-solutions.com to discuss our medical products in more detail.
At the end of March, we announced that we were expanding into the Mortuary industry. We used our long standing expertise in manufacturing storage and handling products for the medical sector to sidestep into this related niche industry.
Our new mortuary racking and mortuary trolleys provide versatile, practical and long-lasting solutions for a wide range of requirements, with bespoke options also available. Our first batch of products are ready to go, and we wanted to take a moment to explore these products and just how they can assist professionals in the industry.
Bier Trolley
Our Bier Trolley is available with fixed or collapsible options, and is designed to be robust and versatile. Its steel frame has a durable coating and its 125mm castors are fitted with brakes for added safety. As with all our products, custom sizes are available and we can work to custom specifications if needed. Just have a chat with us and let us know your requirements!
Mortuary Racking
Our mortuary racking fulfils a wide range of requirements with a choice of free-standing, mobile, fixed height, adjustable height and even bespoke options to maximise storage capacity. Our specialist in-house installation team works across the UK to ensure our racking solutions perfectly fit the space for which they are intended.
Our racking is easy to assemble and can withstand -30° temperatures. It’s easy and hygienic to clean and is as sturdy and robust as you would expect from any other of our products.
General Purpose Trolley
Our general purpose trolleys are great for any industry, and are also a part of our mortuary range. Available in 2, 3 or 4 tiers, this trolley is perfect for transporting vital equipment in a safe and secure way, with trays also featuring an upstand on all sides to help keep the items on board secure. These trolleys are delivered fully welded and ready to use and can be designed and manufactured to suit bespoke requirements.
Theatre Dressing Trolley
Our Theatre Dressing Trolleys provide optimal storage for dressing trays, are hygienic, easy to clean and robust. They’re made with 304 grade stainless steel with an anti-glare stainless steel top. These trolleys are supplied with bumpers, top and bottom flat shelves, and high quality castors (2 braked and 2 swivel) as standard.
Depending on the sector you’re in, you might find our range of other medical equipment particularly useful too. Browse our website for more information or get in touch with us if we can be of assistance in any way.
Our Mortuary range is ready to go – get in touch if you need us!
Our mortuary racking is easy to assemble, and offers choice and flexibility to create the perfect fit for any space. Our mortuary trolleys are robust yet lightweight and our range includes both fully-welded and collapsible viewing trolleys, instrument trolleys with optimal storage, and easy-to-manoeuvre transportation trolleys.
From design and manufacture to installation and maintenance, here at Craven we have a long-standing reputation for high-quality, robust products. As a UK manufacturer with our own in-house design team, we can not only deliver on short lead times and at a competitive price point, but are also able to offer bespoke solutions if required.
Get in touch with us for more details by calling 01423 796 200 or emailing us at info@craven-solutions.com.
Now more than ever, the medical sector needs quality equipment that will last, which is why we’re always designing and manufacturing exceptional equipment to meet these demands. In a medical environment, medical trolleys can create smooth flowing processes and flexible working, meaning they’re invaluable tools in a medical workplace.
Here are just some of the qualities you should look out for in a good medical trolley, and just how Craven has got you covered, whatever your needs.
Full flexibility
The best, most efficient medical trolleys will keep flexibility in mind in the design and manufacturing process. Staff members should be able to use their medical trolleys with ease for a wide range of purposes, whether this be for the general transportation of equipment and supplies, or for more specific needs, such as our phlebotomy trolley or drug and medicine dispense trolley.
Here at Craven, we ensure our selection of medical trolleys are available in a range of heights and widths to cater for how each department will use them, as well as place focus on the smaller details to further enhance operational efficiency, such as swivel castors, stop breaks and corner bumpers.
Solid, secure design
We manufacture products which are robust and durable, with a selection of our trolleys being fully welded before being shipped out, eliminating the need for self-assembly. With all our products, the design stage is crucial in order to manufacture a product that lasts, which is why we pour time, care and attention into each process.
As well as our standard product range, we’re able to design and manufacture medical trolleys to suit bespoke requirements. Whether you need bigger or smaller products than those listed on our site or even if you need built in capabilities, speak to us today to see how we can help and what we can achieve for you.
Easy-clean surfaces and compartments
In current times, it’s even more crucial that we create trolleys which allow effortless cleaning. Easy clean surfaces and compartments in our trolleys can cope with daily/regular cleaning to eliminate germs and prevent the spread of infection. A good medical trolley will always ensure optimum cleanliness is easy to obtain.
All of our trolleys are hygienically designed with practicality in mind. Get in touch with our team if you have any questions or concerns.
Robust, durable materials
Many of our trolleys are manufactured in epoxy or 304 grade stainless steel, and our Medicare Plus range features solid storage trays which are made from shatterproof High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). Creating equipment that will perform at its peak for years to come is our aim.
For specific requirements on any of our medical products, see the product description and specification on each specific product page.
If you’re looking for quality medical trolleys, choose Craven
Trolleys that are easy to manoeuvre and make the lives of medical staff easier is what we pride ourselves on. Our design and manufacturing team create the most efficient trolleys for the medical sector and can even create products to suit specific requirements and dimensions.
If we can help in any way at all, give us a call on 01423 796 200 or email us at info@craven-solutions.com. We’re always happy to help!
When it comes to storage and handling products, equipping your hospital with everything it needs to run smoothly, especially in recent times, can prove to be a challenging process. The easy option is sometimes to cope with what you already have and ‘make it work’, or choose new, cheaper alternatives without the quality needed to last for years into the future.
We know how vital it is to choose equipment that will work for you and your hospital and here at Craven, we make the process of buying the right equipment much easier. We’ve put together a few things every hospital should consider before rushing into those purchasing decisions, and prove just how we can make a positive difference to the day to day running of your hospital.
Your inventory of supplies and equipment
Without knowing exactly what you’re working with, you can’t know how much storage and handling equipment to invest in. Creating an inventory of supplies and equipment, and knowing exactly where your equipment needs to be stored at any one time, can help you to make those important decisions.
Better still, here at Craven, we’re able to create bespoke products to suit a range of dimensions and specifications, ensuring you end up with a product that is nothing short of perfect for your needs. We are continually investing in new technologies to enable us to create and manufacture original, innovative and unique products.
The quality you should expect
Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean better. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s unlikely you’ll opt for products which have gone through extensive design and manufacturing processes to ensure they’re fit for purpose.
Here at Craven, the entire process of our production, from the initial design stages, to the final product, is carefully carried out, using only the finest materials, sourced in the UK for our Yorkshire premises.
The budget you have available
Knowing the funds you have available can help you make better decisions, instead of just going for the cheap and cheerful options for a quick fix. We provide a range of storage and handling equipment for hospitals and the medical sector. Even though you can expect the highest of quality with our range of products, we always aim for competitive prices which makes us stand out from the competition.
After sales service
Knowing you’re looked after should anything go wrong is just an added bonus when buying new equipment for your hospital, and knowing you have this support prior to making any purchasing decisions can give you peace of mind.
We’re very confident that our products are built to stand the test of time (and regular use), but should anything happen to any of your Craven products, or you need further assistance, you’re always just a phone call away from our helpful team.
Allow Craven to take care of all your storage and handling needs
Is it time your hospital took advantage of storage and handling equipment upgrades? Now more than ever, it’s so important to get hospital processes just right to make the day to day work of medical staff flow without any issues. Our products can help with organisation and transportation where you need it the most.
For more information about what we do, take a look around our website or give the Craven team a call today on 01423 796 200 if you have any questions. We’re always happy to help!
We’ve got some very exciting news to announce here at Craven…
We’re expanding into new markets during 2021!
We’re very pleased to announce the launch of our new products aimed at the mortuary industry. We plan to use our long standing expertise in manufacturing storage & handling products for the medical sector to sidestep into this related niche industry.
With 75-80% of our manufacturing output traditionally consisting of catering, hospitality and retail products, we saw many orders drop off during the first national lockdown.
Director of Craven, Wez Dance, said: “We can’t see them returning to anything like the level they were for the foreseeable future. We realised early in the pandemic that it would be essential for us to break into new markets.
We first looked into it as a potential market in 2015 as it isn’t a far cry from our medical range, which we have been producing for many years, but we found there were some subtle nuances in product design and use. With no real knowledge of the market and, as an SME, without the people and resources to progress it further, our plans were put on the back burner, particularly as demand for our catering, retail and medical products began to grow.”
A respite from the effects of the coronavirus restrictions came in April, when Craven was fast-tracked into the NHS supply chain to manufacture vital frontline medical equipment for the Nightingale hospitals including 12,500 IV stands and several miles of medical racking.
This initial work also led to further NHS work to support storage facilities for blood plasmas, vaccines and blood tests, keeping us busy throughout the year.
All the while, Craven’s directors were reassessing the business and revisiting their previous plans to move into the mortuary industry. Crucially, this time they found the right person to help.
Newly-appointed sales manager, Trevor Russ, will be leading the expansion into this niche market. With a 30-year background in the sector, he possesses the insight and specialised knowledge that Craven had been missing the first time around.
Mr Russ began his sales career with the British Vacuum Company (BVC) before moving to medical equipment manufacturer Medezine. He later worked for auxiliary instrument manufacturer Medica and LEEC, a supplier of mortuary products, funeral supplies and laboratory equipment.
Trevor said: “A lot of the racking and trolley products from Craven’s medical range can be adapted for use in mortuaries, schools of anatomy, pathology, research centres, funeral directors and crematoria. In addition, our manufacturing capabilities, in-house design team, and largely UK-based supply chain will allow us to offer complete packages and bespoke solutions.”
Wez Dance added: “We are delighted to welcome Trevor at such an exciting time in Craven & Co’s story. Over 60 years, we’ve become known for our high-quality British-made products, quick turnaround, competitive pricing and great customer service, not to mention our bespoke solutions. We’re hoping these elements, combined with Trevor’s knowledge and expertise, will help us break into a niche market.”
Click here to see our range of products.
Over the past few months, many industries have seen a rise in shipping costs and major import delays due to the effects of Brexit and COVID-19 combined, which is making it harder for businesses to get the stock and supplies needed to keep their business running.
Many businesses rely on global imports, and where it used to be relatively simple to get deliveries, businesses are now having to prepare for incredibly long delays.
With Craven, you don’t need to worry about global shipping delays
When you’re a British manufacturer like Craven, global delays aren’t a problem. We bypass this problem by creating the majority of our products in our Yorkshire factory.
Because our products are manufactured here in the UK, our processes become much smoother and we can fulfil our customer orders in a more organised and efficient way.
Why we’re a thoroughly British manufacturer
Being a British manufacturer is important to us, and there are many reasons why we choose to design and manufacture over 90% of our products at our Knaresborough premises.
- We can ship and deliver our products across the UK in a timely manner, meaning our customers aren’t waiting for long periods of time for a finished product.
- Our team are knowledgeable, professional and incredibly skilled at their craft, ensuring high quality, robust products are being manufactured at all times.
- We can easily communicate with our customers about bespoke needs and chat about progress and requirements in real time without delay.
- Craven support Made In Britain to promote quality manufacturing.
The future of manufacturing and shipping
Whilst we don’t know what the future holds for global manufacturing and shipping, there will continue to be delays and a potential rise in costs for the foreseeable future, but what is clear is that British manufacturing will continue to be the lifeline that UK businesses need in recent times.
With the development of vaccines for COVID-19 and new, more organised processes for shipping out products, this will hopefully create more positive change for global manufacturers in the long run.
Worried about global shipping and container delays? Speak to Craven for British delivery and peace of mind
By choosing Craven, you don’t need to worry about delays. We manufacture storage and handling products to many industries including catering, medical, retail and education to name but a few. We also manufacture products to bespoke specifications and dimensions. If we can be of assistance, give the Craven team a call today: 01423 796 200.
With the end of the current UK lockdown in sight, you may be thinking about reopening your commercial kitchen if you’re in the catering industry. From the new measures you’ll have to put into place to comply with the government regulations for COVID-19, to ensuring you have the right up to date equipment and storage and handling solutions, there’s a lot to think about to ensure business returns as smoothly as possible for your staff and customers.
Get ready to reopen
If you’re putting plans in place to reopen your kitchen/restaurant/cafe, etc, here are just some of the things you’ll need to think about:
Risk assessments
Not only should you complete a thorough general risk assessment of your kitchen and surrounding areas, but we now must ensure COVID-19 risks are considered too. This may mean creating more space for diners, one way systems, extra sanitising stations and even rejigging staff rotas. Everyone’s safety is of paramount importance, and if you feel like you haven’t covered every base, you aren’t ready to reopen your kitchen.
Up to date equipment
It’s important to get your kitchen up to date before you think about opening your doors, not only to ensure your equipment works and is maintained, but also to make sure that each kitchen process is efficient and works for your staff each day.
Organisation is often a big issue in the kitchen and even front of house, and having adequate storage space for ingredients, supplies and stock can make a big difference. Here at Craven, we manufacture storage and handling solutions for the catering industry and even create bespoke products for those with more precise needs. From transport trolleys to shelving, we cater for a range of needs, and the majority of our products are made here in Britain. Find out more about how we’re proud to be a British manufacturer!
Food, staff and equipment hygiene
It’s important to make sure that staff are well enough to return to work each day. Any signs of illness should be reported and regular temperature taking should be carried out. Food and equipment hygiene is also essential. Surfaces should be regularly cleaned and disinfected after use, which includes storage and handling equipment.
At Craven, our products are manufactured using only the very best materials, making them quick and easy to clean regularly. As our products are so robust, they won’t show wear and tear, making them perfect for a catering environment.
Cleaning schedules are also important to put into place to ensure nothing is missed. This can be given to certain members of staff to take charge of, or can be distributed between all staff as a joint effort.
Checking appliances
For storage equipment, regular visual inspections will usually suffice, but if you haven’t used your main catering appliances for a while, it’s likely they’ll need servicing. Check all the appliances and equipment in your kitchen in good time to make sure they are fit for use and to give yourself some extra time for repairs if necessary.
Looking for new storage and handling products for your kitchen reopening?
Craven offers high quality British-made storage and handling solutions at competitive prices. Our robust, flexible products and systems offer original and unique solutions to the storage and handling needs of a wide range of industries.
Alongside our standard product range, we also offer OEM and bespoke solutions to match specific storage and handling requirements. Whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call today on 01423 796 200 or email us at info@craven-solutions.com and see how we can help!
Over the past year, those in the medical sector have worked tirelessly to keep the world safe in a way we could never have imagined. With more people being admitted every day and more supplies and equipment desperately needed for each shift, staff have struggled more than they ever have.
As the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of shelving, racking, trolleys and wirework products, we’ve continued to work with the NHS through these challenging times, not only by providing intravenous (IV) drip stands and Nylon shelving to help with the peak of COVID-19 cases, but also by continuing to supply storage solutions and racking to the medical sector for more general needs.
Hospitals and other medical professionals rely on storage solutions for organisation purposes and to keep their working environments safe. Here at Craven, we have a wide range of solutions perfectly tailored to the medical industry and NHS. We’ve put together some of our most popular medical products to bring you the organisation you need.
Drug and Medicine Dispense Trolley
This particular trolley in our medical range is hygienically designed with practicality in mind. It has 100mm swivel castors, 2 with total stop breaks and corner bumpers to protect when transporting supplies. It’s lightweight and easy for staff to manoeuvre with a clean design and materials.
Find out more about the Drug and Medicine Dispense Trolley.
Medicare Trolley
The Medicare trolley is available in three different height configurations as well as three different widths. It comes fully assembled with a stainless steel recessed top as standard. There is also an alternative flat top available. Basket configurations are available to suit individual needs and there is also a five tier option – please enquire for further details.
Find out more about the Medicare Trolley.
Aluminium Shelving
Our Aluminium Shelving is popular across many sectors and is perfect for cold rooms and sterile storage areas in the medical industry. This shelving is available in 3 and 4 tier as standard, with single shelves and angle connectors available. It includes removable and washable infill panels, a lightweight anodised frame, modular construction and the ability to be used in a variety of environments.
Find out more about our Aluminium Shelving.
Medical Records Trolley
The Medical Records Trolley offers the ideal storage and transportation solution for patient notes and X-Rays. They’re supplied with multi-section dividers and available with a lockable lid for extra security. This trolley is manufactured in epoxy or 304 grade stainless steel.
Find out more about the Medical Records Trolley.
Catheter Racks
Catheter Racks by Craven are designed with 4 or 8 compartments depending on your needs and can be wall mounted or free standing. They can even be attached to our Medicare Trolleys if required. Additional sizes can be manufactured to fit specific requirements and the racks are also manufactured in epoxy coated mild steel.
Find out more about our Catheter Racks.
Speak to Craven for all your storage and handling needs
If you’re in need of medical storage and handling solutions, you’ve come to the right place. At Craven, we can fulfill orders with bespoke requirements to best suit your specific needs. Give us a call today on 01423 796 200 or email us at info@craven-solutions.com.
It’s been a difficult year for everyone, but there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel! After what feels like a lifetime of uncertainty, we’re all beginning to get back to some normality. We wanted to take a quick look back at the year we’re leaving behind and look forward to a brighter 2021! Here are some of our finest moments of the year.
Supporting the NHS
This is something we do every year with our selection of products, but this year, we’ve helped when our NHS has needed it the most. We have manufactured and supplied their intravenous (IV) drip stands, delivering the IV stands to the ExCeL in London, and we’ve manufactured many more for the Nightingale hospitals in Harrogate, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. We have also supplied our Nylon shelving to be used in numerous large freezers to store the blood plasma of COVID-19 patients across the country.
Craven in the press
Several media outlets acknowledged Craven’s big manufacturing project: making and distributing medical equipment for the five new Nightingale hospitals across England. From the Yorkshire Post and Harrogate Times, to even getting our own slot on StrayFM online radio, we want to thank all the individual press outlets for publishing our latest venture this year.
Partnering with Cambro
We received our first shipment of Cambro products back in June! The partnership has enabled Craven to supply a wider range of products to the medical and foodservice industries, and we have plans to add to this range in the future. We currently stock the Cambro Elements series shelving.
Supporting Prostate Cancer UK and the Royal British Legion
We love to support charities close to our hearts, and each year, we support these charities through fundraisers and events. In September, we supported Prostate Cancer UK once again, raising money for their admirable work for men across the UK who are suffering from prostate cancer, and who need life saving treatments.
We also did our part to promote and support the Royal British Legion. To give the charity even more support, we provided them with some free office space and storage facilities, including a number of our Shelving Bays which made storing equipment and stock much more efficient for them.
New staff
Despite the hardships of this year, 2020 has been a year of growth for Craven. James Ward has become our National Account Manager, and we recently welcomed Trevor Russell into the Craven team as Sales Manager. Jack Bradford also joins us as our Maintenance & Facilities Engineer. Our aim is to get the team stronger than ever as we begin 2021, bringing the right people on board to take us further and to bring Craven the support we need in various sectors.
Craven Christmas Opening Times:
Last day for dispatch – Thursday 17th December.
Office closes – Friday 18th December.
Office reopens – Monday 4th January.
We want to thank everyone for their support in the difficult year 2020 has been for us all, and ask you to join us in the new year as we continue to grow and do what we do best.
From all the team at Craven, we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2021!
