Torque Wakefield Euro Port Case Study

Rack-Master have dealt with Torque Logistics for a number of years, working with them to provide the infrastructure for their rapidly expanding warehousing and logistics operation.

Torque are national and international end-to-end supply chain specialists, providing bespoke solutions at scale to the fashion and retail industry.

From modest beginnings in Bramley, Yorkshire in 1991 Torque now operates in seven locations, with eight warehouses and 1200 employees. They provide their customers a range of services including multichannel fulfilment, storage, handling and distribution including UK transport via Torque’s own fleet; superior freight and customs solutions; and an extensive range of pre-retail services. These are all supported by a dedicated, passionate and experienced team including an in-house technical team.

Built on core values of honesty, transparency and commitment, they understand what their customers want and deliver it, consistently and reliably – helping them to realise their ambitions. Companies such as I Saw It First, Sweaty Betty and Arsenal trust Torque to take care of their supply chain so they can concentrate on running and expanding their business.

In April 2019 Torque secured a new 176,000 sq. ft distribution centre at Wakefield Europort, Castleford. With an ever-expanding customer base, it was essential they add new warehousing capacity to meet the demands of the brands they work in partnership with. With demand continuing to grow, Torque were keen to take full advantage of the space at this new site via the addition of mezzanines and high-bay racking.

In January 2020 we began the next project, a circa 300,000 square feet of Mezzanine Floor over 3 raised levels, with piling to strengthen the floor, fire protection by means of cladding & sprinklers, lighting, emergency lighting, fire alarm, spiral chutes and shelving. The floor is being built between 2 separate chambers with access at all mezzanine levels via fire linked shutters and pedestrian fire doors. The project required in depth discussions with the local fire authority to ensure practicality and compliance.

The project is constructed in 2 halves with each chamber being built to completion, in sequence, to minimize the temporary loss of capacity on site.

With full time, in house site management we kept to budget and to time lines with complete collaboration and support from Torque and their extremely professional management team.

Rack-Master and Torque have partnered on several projects in the past and we jumped at the chance to work with them again on the exciting development of the Castleford site. The initial requirement was for circa 6,000 pallets in a VNA (very narrow aisle) configuration. This was to be designed around an existing wire guidance system and existing building steelwork. This was successfully installed in June 2019.