AJF provides flexible warehousing support from the arrival of a container through to storage, order preparation and onward delivery. We can unload, sort, repack and consolidate goods around the way your business works, whether you need help with a single shipment or an ongoing product range.
Our strength is taking the time to understand the goods we handle. That is particularly valuable when products arrive without barcodes, need to be recognised by their appearance or specification, or require more attention than a standard receive-and-scan process allows.
Container unloading and destuffing
Container destuffing, also called devanning, means unloading the goods from a shipping container. The work often involves more than moving cargo onto a warehouse floor: mixed products may need to be identified, counted, separated and prepared for storage or delivery.
We can agree an unloading plan before the container arrives, including:
- Unloading palletised or loose-loaded goods, with the handling method agreed for the cargo.
- Checking quantities against the packing list and recording visible damage or discrepancies.
- Separating mixed loads by product, customer, order or delivery destination.
- Palletising loose goods and breaking down or rebuilding existing pallets.
- Photographing the load, packaging or individual items where requested.
- Preparing goods for storage, repacking or onward dispatch.
Tell us about package sizes, weights, unusual shapes and any special handling requirements before booking. Photos and packing lists help us plan the labour, equipment and space needed, particularly for long, awkward or easily damaged products.
Once unloaded, a container shipment can be split into smaller deliveries and released as required, rather than sending the whole load to one destination at once. We can also discuss direct onward dispatch where storage is unnecessary.
Experience with products that have no barcodes
Not every product arrives with a barcode that tells a warehouse exactly what it is. Similar-looking items may have different sizes, profiles, finishes or uses, and a picking error can mean the wrong material reaches a customer or a job cannot proceed.
AJF has many years of experience handling non-barcoded material, including roofing products, automotive products and railway products. These ranges require staff to learn the products and understand how to identify, store and prepare them correctly.
We work with customers to establish practical ways of recognising and managing their stock. Depending on the range, this can include:
- Learning product names, references and the differences between similar items.
- Using agreed photographs, samples or written descriptions as identification aids.
- Keeping variants and customer stock clearly separated.
- Agreeing how goods should be counted, picked, packed and checked.
- Referring uncertain identifications or discrepancies back to you before dispatch.
For ongoing work, we can discuss continuity of staff and allocating people who know your product line. This gives them the opportunity to build knowledge over time and understand the details that matter to your customers.
If your products need that familiarity and judgement, a standard high-volume warehousing process may not give them the attention they require. Our approach is to agree a workable handling process with you, including where staff need training and what checks should take place.
Repacking, labelling and pallet preparation
Goods do not always arrive packed in the quantities or format needed for their next destination. We can repack and prepare stock to suit agreed storage, customer or delivery requirements.
Work can include splitting bulk quantities into smaller orders, combining items for a shipment, replacing unsuitable outer packaging, adding labels, and rebuilding pallets for onward transport. We can also separate damaged packaging or goods for your review before deciding what happens next.
Please provide your packing instructions, label details and any customer-specific requirements in advance. We will agree the packaging materials, quantities and checks needed before starting the work. Where an item needs specialist protection, we can discuss the appropriate arrangements rather than assume the original packaging is suitable.
Receiving checks tailored to your products
Our receiving checks can go beyond counting packages. Previous customer requirements have included photographing incoming shipments to record whether container packaging met the agreed supply requirements, and checking fabrics against an agreed sample before delivery.
We can discuss similar checks for your stock, with clear instructions on what to look for, what to record and when to contact you. These are agreed handling and visual checks; specialist testing or certification needs to be arranged separately.
Storage, order preparation and distribution
We can hold goods after unloading and prepare them for release in the quantities you require. Agree with us how stock will be identified, how you will send release instructions, what records or updates you need, and which checks should be completed before dispatch.
Our warehousing work can support:
- Breaking down inbound shipments for multiple customers or destinations.
- Picking and preparing orders from stored stock.
- Consolidating goods from different arrivals into an outgoing shipment.
- Loading containers for export, with packing and loading requirements agreed in advance.
- Arranging collections and onward deliveries, including consignments from a single pallet.
For international movements, we can coordinate warehousing with our container shipping and customs brokerage services. Customs clearance and any special storage arrangements should be confirmed before goods arrive.
Talk to us about your warehousing requirements
Contact AJF with a description of your products, photos where useful, expected shipment volumes, package dimensions and weights, and the work you need us to carry out. Tell us whether the goods are barcoded, how you identify different products, and whether you need one-off support or regular handling.
We can then discuss a practical plan for receiving, storing, preparing and delivering your goods, including the product knowledge your work requires.