Why You Should Choose Helmsman Bespoke Lockers

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Who We Are

Helmsman Lockers & Cubicles is a family-run business with a long history in the manufacturing industry and a strong dedication to quality. It is one of the leading manufacturers and installers in the UK.

Strong family values and positive relationships have served as the foundation of the company, as seen by the long-serving employees, dependable suppliers, and repeat clients who come back to us with new projects. We feel that working as a team and benefiting from each person’s unique abilities can result in a company that is more valuable and effective than the sum of its parts.

Choosing bespoke lockers from us can offer several advantages to customers. Here are some reasons why you might prefer Helmsman bespoke lockers.

 

Enhanced Aesthetics

Branding and Design Integration – Bespoke lockers allow the customers to design the lockers to align with their company, such as the colour of the lockers.

Here at Helmsman, with our laminate lockers, we have suppliers where we can offer a range of colours from BioCarbon Laminate and Abet Laminati before we fabricate the lockers.

 

Security and Durability

Security Features – Helmsman bespoke lockers can be equipped with a variety of lock types, from digital to combination to standard Cam locks. The security of the locks is excellent as it assure that the users personal belongings are safe and secure.

 

Optimized Space Utilization

Maximized Storage Integration – Helmsman bespoke lockers can be manufactured to fit into any specific area since they can be customized and maximizing available space and guarantee effective use of space.

At Helmsman, we are specialists in manufacturing lockers to suit the specific needs of the client and the project.

Quality

Attention to Details – Bespoke lockers offer the advantage of an exquisite design. Clients can expect a greater level of attention to detail, guaranteeing that the lockers are not only durable and well-built but also practical.

 

Long-Term Cost Savings

Tailored Solutions – Although customer locks could be higher upfront costs, they can save money over time by meeting the specific demands and preventing the need for replacements or modifications.

 

Customer Support and Service:

Helmsman Service – providing custom lockers, enables us to offer more attentive service, we offer in-house design, where can be with you from the start.

Additionally, we provide an extensive selection of after-sales care and servicing to optimiase optimal performance and the longest life cycle. This can include ad hoc repairs as well as routine maintenance contracts.

 

Need any more convincing? Contact us today or fill in our quote form here.

A Guide to Leisure Lockers

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Introduction

Whether it’s a gym, a swimming centre, a spa, a stadium or a theme park, leisure lockers are essential for enhancing the overall experience for users using the leisure facilities. The lockers enhance the convenience, and organisation of leisure activities, in addition to the lockers offering a safe place for personal belongings.

We will dive into the world of leisure lockers in this in-depth guide, covering their varieties, features, maintenance advice, and ways they may enhance your leisure experience.

Section 1: Understanding Leisure Lockers

1.1 Type of Leisure Lockers

  • Traditional lockers with wrist strap keys
  • Z lockers
  • Smart lockers with digital locks
  • Family-sized lockers for group storage.

1.2 Materials and Durability

  • Solid-grade laminate doors and aluminium carcass.
  • For areas with high moisture and humidity – due to the material there are no risks of peeling, cracking, or delamination
  • At Helmsman we also offer a leisure locker that is manufactured with an aluminium body and the doors are PAR 10mm toughened coloured glass, with a roller coat pant finish inside the locker doors.

 

Section 2: Features That Matter

2..1 Digital Locking System

  • Combination locks, Ojmar OTS locks, Lowe & Fletcher Nimbus locks and many more accessories are available at Helmsman.
  • Enhancing the security and ease of use

2.2 Charging Stations

  • Within a dry area, having a destination with charging lockers to keep personal belongings such as mobile phones to be charged during leisure activities

 

Section 3: Maintenance and Safety

3.1 Cleaning and Hygiene

  • Regular locker maintenance is advised to maintain. Here at Helmsman, we provide O&M Manuals (Operation and Maintenance Manuals) so the customers always have guidance.

Section 4: Aesthetics and Customisation

4.1 Locker Designs

  • Having customised lockers with colours to match the theme of the place
  • Incorporating branding elements for a cohesive look

 

Section 5: Benefits of Quality Lockers

5.1 Enhanced Customer Satisfaction:

  • Providing a hassle-free experience for visitors
  • Building a positive reputation for leisure facilities

5.2 Improved Facility Management:

  • Streamlining operations with efficient locker systems
  • Reducing staff workload and enhancing overall productivity

 

Conclusion

Leisure lockers are an essential component of the whole leisure experience, rather than just a storage space. Investing in high-quality leisure lockers is a step towards improving patron satisfaction and creating an unforgettable leisure experience.

Here at Helmsman, we have an in-house design where we take pride in helping our customers bring their vision to life. We are here with you from the start.

If you have a project and you’re interested in our leisure lockers call us today at 01284530427 or get your quote.

Why do schools have lockers?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Introduction

For many years, lockers have been widely seen in the educational sector, giving students a dedicated area to keep their belongings. Though they can appear to be straightforward metal or laminate storage spaces, lockers have several uses in schools other than just holding bags and books. We’ll consider the reasons why schools have lockers and how important these seemingly overlooked storage systems are to the educational process in the blog.

Organisation and efficience

Lockers provide the students an individual space to store their personal belongings and books, which helps them to maintain their organisation skills. This improves the efficiency of the learning environment as well as their daily routine. With students having a designated area for their belongings, students can efficiently and rapidly collect what they need for each lesson, reducing interruptions and extending the amount of time they spend learning.

Security for belongings

Students carry a range of personal belongings such as lunch, electronics, and PE (sports) uniforms. Lockers provide them with a safe space to keep their items during class hours, reducing the risk of loss or damage. This maintains the school community with security and trust while safeguarding the belongings of the pupils.

 Alleviating the burden of heavy backpacks

Throughout the day students who carry heavy backpacks full of textbooks, notebooks, and personal items, may cause students to experience back pains and discomfort. A solution for that would be provided by lockers, which give students a space to keep their stuff in between classes.

Preparing for future independence

The students that use lockers are better prepared for future events where organisation skills are essential. The capacity to manage one’s own area and possessions becomes more crucial as one may be heading to university or employment. These are vital life skills that are regularly practiced in lockers.

Conclusion

Lockers are more than just a basic storage space in schools, they are an essential part of establishing a welcoming and encouraging learning atmosphere. The provision of lockers enhances kids’ overall development by encouraging responsibility and organisation as well as a sense of safety and community.

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Unlocking Creativity: Design Ideas for Your Locker Room

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on
Bench Seating and Glass and Laminate Lockers
White Z Lockers
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A plain area may be transformed into a stylish and comfortable location with the right design when it comes to designing a locker room that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. These creative design ideas may serve as inspiration for any project, whether it is remodeling a leisure centre, swimming pool or spa changing room, commercial offices, healthcare or even schools.

Why does locker room design matter?

Locker rooms serve as a personal sanctuary for individuals, making them an essential part of the facility. A well-designed locker room not only enhances users’ experience but also reflects on the overall atmosphere of the space.

Here are some creative design ideas tailored to optimize both functionality and aesthetics.

Colour psychology

Incorporate soothing colours like blues, greens, and wood effect to create a relaxing ambiance, whereas bright colours can add energy, while neutral tones provide enduring surroundings.

Furthermore, there is a variety of types of lockers such as Laminate lockers, metal lockers, staff lockers, and glass lockers. Glass lockers create a warm and luxurious feel with the gloss over the lockers, which is a great idea for spas changing rooms.

Eco-friendly elements

Purchasing lockers and cubicles with sustainable materials. Carbon-neutral lockers and cubicles are a great way to be sustainable as they reduce carbon emissions which helps the environment.

Privacy enhancements

Incorporate cubicles that enhance privacy between the individuals. This would ensure that they feel comfortable in the environment. Furthermore, lockers can keep the users secure and have peace of mind that their belongings are secure and safe.

Accessible Features

It’s ideal to have features such as seat stands, and benches for users who need to sit down rather than balancing when it comes to changing shoes, additionally having hooks in the lockers so they can hang up their personal belongings.

Conclusion: Elevate your locker room design

You can build a locker room that ticks both functional and aesthetic boxes by using these space-specific design concepts. When you embrace sustainability and originality, your locker room will turn into a place of security that benefits everyone who enters.

Z Lockers with Ojmar OCS Pro Locks
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4 tips to design for Leisure sector locker rooms

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

When designing a leisure locker room, it requires careful consideration of functionality, comfort, and aesthetics to create a space that meets and needs of the members.

Here are 4 tips when designing Leisure locker rooms.

  1. Space planning and Layout

  • Efficient Layout: Design a layout that ensures easy movement. Separate areas for changing, and showering which can enhance functionality.
  • Suitable Space: Ensure that there is enough space for each user to move comfortably. Avoid overcrowding by providing sufficient rooms between lockers and seating areas.

  1. Locker and Storage Solutions

  • Individual lockers: Provide individual Lockers for each member to accommodate their personal belongings.
  • Ventilation: Incorporating a ventilation system within the lockers to prevent the smell as well as airflow helps to maintain a fresh environment.
  • Secure Storage: installing lockers to secure valuables is important so the customers and employees can feel ensured that their personal items are safe within the lockers.

  1. Comfort and Hygiene

  • Shower and Toilets: Ensure an adequate number of showers and toilets. Use low-maintenance, durable materials such as laminate, which are easy to clean and sanitize.
  • Seating: Provide seating as it allows customers to sit down and change their shoes rather than having to balance.

  1. Technology Integration

  • Charging stations: Including charging stations for electronic devices, which can be beneficial for customers if the batteries are low and need their phones when they are leaving.
  • Heated lockers: they are ideal for commuters and staff who require their damp clothes to dry before the end of their time in the leisure centres or spas.

Here at Helmsman, we can provide for wet and dry environments, with a variety of products from Lockers, Cubicles, Benches, Vanity Units, and IPS Units. Our products in the Leisure Sectors, they are excellent for environment that has high moisture and chlorine.

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Guidance on Cleaning Your Lockers

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Whether it’s at school, at the gym, or even at work, lockers are a fundamental part of our everyday life. Lockers may gather relentless stains and smudges over time, not only making the environment unpleasant but also making it unsanitary. In this blog, we’ll give you guidance through the locker cleaning procedure and provide you with practical advice for removing all types of stains and smudges.

Guidance for Cleaning your lockers

Step 1. Use a damp cloth or sponge and a little soap or detergent for a general cleaning. After finishing, rinse and dry the panels.

Step 2: For tough strains apply a gentle home cleanser or detergent and a soft-bristled brush.

Step 3: If tough stains remain the same, apply a non-scratch cleanser like Cif or Flash while softly scrubbing the stain for 10 to 20 seconds.

Step 4: If the stain still exists, use household bleach that has not been diluted, let it sit for no more than two minutes, and then thoroughly rinse with warm water. Do not expose laminate to household bleach and it may result in irreversible discoloration.

Step 5: Use a mildly abrasive cream cleanser to gently scrub the surface if it has been discoloured due to prolonged contact with industrial grime.

Do and Do Not

  • Do not use acidic or abrasive cleaners.
  • DO always rinse thoroughly after cleaning (residue from cleaning solutions is
  • the single greatest cause of damage to glass and laminate surfaces).
  • Do wipe up spills immediately and rinse thoroughly.
  • DO NOT use acidic or abrasive cleaners, expose the glass or laminate to household bleach for prolonged periods of time, or apply excessive scrubbing.

Laminate and Glass Locker Doors.

With the Laminate and Glass locker doors always start by trying the gentlest method of cleaning. If a stain persists work through the following steps, repeating each step several times if the stain seems to be disappearing.

Metal Lockers

For metal lockers and lockers with metal bodies, it is essential to lubricate the hinges and locks on occasion. This will mostly rely on the location of the lockers and how often their owners use them. If they are used frequently, it is wise to routinely inspect the hinges and locks, which should be greased or repaired as necessary.

Conclusion

Cleaning lockers may be difficult, especially when dealing with stains and smudges that won’t go away. However, by the instructions provided you can successfully get rid of those undesirable markings and keep your lockers clean and sanitary. To keep your Locker looking good for a long time, keep in mind to use the appropriate cleaning solutions, be patient with difficult stains, and take preventative actions. With these suggestions, you can make your locker maintain a neat environment that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

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Why should you invest in carbon-neutral lockers?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on

Here at Helmsman, we are passionate about manufacturing our clients with bespoke carbon-neutral laminate lockers. We provide our clients with the best quality products by building strong partnerships with our suppliers that have the thought of the environment in mind. Due to the environmental issues and global events, we would like to agree that it has made us aware of our decision and increased our protection of the environment.

We have a new partnership with Abet Laminate. Abet Laminate has the thought of environment in mind with the laminate products they provide for clients. As the laminate consists of 70% cellulose and 30% thermosetting resins which can state that the material isn’t classified as a dangerous material for the environment.

We additionally have a partnership with BioCarbon Laminates, which provides sustainable laminate solutions including carbon-neutral laminates. The products are produced in a carbon-neutral manufacturing facility that monitors, controls, and balances carbon emissions reducing them to zero.

Investing in carbon-neutral laminates is a way to reduce carbon emissions which takes part in harming the environment. By investing in purchasing carbon-neutral laminates, it is a way to help the environment such as letting trees absorb carbon.

At Helmsman we provide materials such as Solid Grade Laminate, Glass, Timber, and Metal, which can be recyclable. The material we use to make our products has a long-lasting shelf life which is beneficial for the earth.

We want to make a difference and protect the environment by providing carbon-neutral and other materials that is recyclable for our lockers. To find out more about bespoke lockers that are carbon neutral contact us or call us 01284 530421.

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Why buy school lockers instead of renting?

Posted by Jess Fry on

With the modern schooling world providing students with more, and often heavier items to carry around during the school day, the benefits of school lockers are clear. Of course, with many locker providers around the UK, and both purchase and rental options, it can be overwhelming to think about where to get your school lockers from.

Of course, whilst renting lockers can have its positives, there are also lots of benefits to purchasing lockers instead of renting.

Access

Firstly, should you purchase your own lockers, you can also buy a master key for the locks. This can be kept on-site, perhaps in the reception or office area of the school, and allows easy, immediate access to the lockers. This is particularly handy if a student misplaces their school locker key, or if access is needed to the lockers for security purposes by the school.

Security

On the subject of keys, many rental locker companies can require students to return their keys at the end of the school year, so that the lockers can be reallocated to students the following year. This can pose a security risk if keys are not returned or could mean that the rental company requires access to the lockers during the school holidays to replace locks. This could pose an inconvenience as staff members would be required to come in during the summer break.

Repair

A common problem with school lockers is that they can be broken by students, whether this be with graffiti, dents, marks, or other damage. Should you rent your lockers, you’ll need to arrange for an engineer or service member from the rental company to come in to fix them. This can mean lockers are out of action for extended periods of time. Your own lockers can be maintained by yourselves, most damage caused by students could be fixed by your own caretakers and the lockers be useable much quicker.

Cost

Rental lockers might seem like a financial benefit for schools, particularly with budgets being cut and pennies being saved. However, rental lockers aren’t free. The parents of school children pay a yearly fee for the lockers, and in the current cost of living crisis, this may well be another thing parents just cannot afford. This can mean some students end up carrying around heavy bags all day simply because their families cannot afford to pay for a locker.

Of course, if you do decide to go down the route of purchasing lockers for your school, this can be costly. Whether you’re planning on purchasing metal lockers, laminate lockers, or something else entirely, it’s important to make sure you are buying lockers of high quality and from the right supplier. There are a lot of locker companies in the UK, many of which claim to be the UK’s leading suppliers. We at Helmsman are one of the UK’s largest manufacturers, meaning many of these suppliers will purchase their lockers from us to sell on. By coming directly to the manufacturers, you can avoid the extra margin charged by the suppliers and get the best price for your lockers.

Want to know more, or are thinking about replacing your school lockers? Contact our helpful Sales Team today on 01284 727626 or fill in our contact form here.

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A Guide to School Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on

With many people’s memories of school featuring lines of lockers filled with books, bags and stationery, have times really changed that much? Are lockers still as important in the modern schooling world?

The short answer would be yes. The number of books and stationery the average student needs on a day to day basis hasn’t changed all that much, especially if you consider adding a laptop or tablet to that load too. Medical experts specify that children should not carry more than 10% of their body weight, particularly on their backs. A recent study found that some children are carrying up to 20%, exceeding this recommendation. Lockers are a perfect solution to this problem.

There are many other benefits to providing your primary school or secondary school with long lasting lockers too:

  • They can provide space for staff to keep their belongings secure during the school day, away from reach of children.
  • Pupils have a safe place to store items, rather than the commonly used classroom drawers. This can be particularly useful for items such as phones and tablets, or other items that you don’t want distracting in classrooms.
  • Students can also gain a sense of responsibility for their own belongings and encourage them to keep a tidy workspace.

There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing school lockers. Our simple guide will help you decide what’s right for your school.

Size

Many other lockers suppliers only offer a full-size locker and a Low-Level Locker. However, with over 40 years of experience working with the education industry, Helmsman has determined the ideal height of our school lockers for different age groups. Due to this, we manufacture three standard heights of school lockers.

  • Key Stage 1 Lockers at 1200mm
  • Key Stage 2 Lockers 1600mm
  • Full Sized Lockers at 1800mm

Of course, as we manufacture all our products to order in our Bury St Edmunds factory, we can also provide bespoke sizes and solutions for your school lockers. Whether this is to fit in a specific sized area, or to allow for additional compartments, we can discuss a fully bespoke option for your project.

 Compartments

Important things to consider when choosing your compartment options are how many students you are needing to cater for? What items will they be keeping in their lockers? And do you expect either of these answers to change in the future?

Our Key Stage 1 and 2 lockers can be supplied with 1 to 3 compartments, and our full-sized lockers can be manufactured with 1 to 6 compartments.

Material

Before deciding what material you want your lockers to be manufactured from, you’ll need to decide on a few other factors first.

Where will the lockers be situated?

If they are going to be in a potentially wet area like a changing room, you’re going to need wet specification lockers with the body manufactured from stainless steel and aluminium. If they’re going in a corridor, you’ll just need a dry specification locker produced from mild steel.

What are they being used for?

The standard choice for school lockers is usually metal. Our metal locker door frames have added strength and security and can be manufactured from mild steel or zinc-plated metal. If your lockers are in high-traffic areas and likely to be bumped, scratched or caught, a laminate door provides a more heavy-duty option.

What’s the budget?

If you’re looking to keep costs down, a metal locker door will be the cheapest option, and our Helmsman lockers will stand the test of time. However, for a long lasting, heavy duty and more stylish looking locker, you could consider laminate doors. Whilst they are a more expensive option, the material will do much better at withstanding scratches, dents and scuffs, and perhaps save you money on repairs in the long run.

Colour

Helmsman’s school lockers come in a variety of colours and finishes. Our metal lockers can be powder coated in a range of colours, from the classic Royale blue to Pumpkin orange or Blush pink. We also have a selection of brilliant laminate suppliers, meaning we can offer bright pops of colour, wood effect laminates, and even carbon neutral options. We can match your school colour scheme, or even provide different coloured lockers for different sections of the building to help split up the allocation process, it’s entirely up to you.

Locks

As standard, our School Lockers come complete with either Cam locks or Hasp locks included in the price. These are both great options for primary and secondary school lockers, with the students simply needing either a key or a padlock. Master keys can also be provided for cam locks should students lose their keys.

Other options include combination locks, digital locks and more.

Extras

We offer a variety of extras with our lockers at Helmsman. A particularly popular option with school lockers are sloping tops. These are designed to stop any items from being placed on top of the lockers, keeping the area tidy and clutter free. Stands can be provided to lift the lockers from the ground, and seat stands can be a helpful addition to lockers within changing rooms.

For more information on our primary and secondary school lockers, or to talk to a member of our experienced team, call us on 01284727626 or click here and fill out our contact form.

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Replacing School Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on

Do they need replacing?

There are many reasons why you might think the lockers in your school need replacing. Perhaps they’re looking old and worn out, maintenance bills are piling up or you simply just need to cater for more students than before. Whatever the reasons, it is worth thinking about replacing your school lockers with plenty of time to prepare.

Unsure about whether your lockers need replacing or just some TLC? If your lockers are getting old, have creaky doors, or have keys missing, it’s possible that Helmsman can help with the maintenance and service of the lockers rather than having to purchase new ones. Our service team consists of highly skilled engineers to keep your lockers as good as new.

However, there will be occasions where your lockers are approaching the end of their life and need replacing. If your metal lockers have started to rust, from exposure to moisture, or the wrong cleaning products, they will likely need replacing before the rust spreads and affects the appearance and usage of the lockers.

Maybe your lockers have been repaired a few too many times and the maintenance is becoming too costly. At this point, it can be helpful to weigh up the cost of repeat repairs versus the cost of new lockers which don’t require expensive upkeep. If the parts you require are no longer available due to the age of your existing lockers, this may also be a reason to upgrade the lockers to avoid having to pay out for more difficult to source items.

If the use of your lockers has changed, and they are now too small or too large for the intended users, an upgrade could be helpful to save space or provide a more user-friendly option. As lockers can have a relatively long lifespan, it might be that the school has changed its layout since they were installed. If you’re wanting to move the lockers to a different area of the school, and the area won’t fit as many lockers, it could be a great time to upgrade them, or if the area has more space perhaps, you’ll want to purchase more.

If priorities have changed, for example, you require lockers that are intended for use by more than one individual, the locks you have might not be providing what you need. Plus, with new technology available you may have a need for extras such as heated or charging lockers.

 

What are the next steps in replacing your school lockers?

So you’ve decided you do need to upgrade your school lockers; now there are a lot of things to consider before you place an order.

Material and finish

Firstly, you’ll need to think about what material or type of locker you want for the school. Whilst the traditional school locker is made from metal, it may be that you want to upgrade to a more long lasting material such as a laminate locker. These are made with a mild steel carcass and have solid grade laminate doors, providing a more heavy duty product which is less likely to dent or scratch. Whilst a laminate locker is more expensive, the upgrade in material could pay for itself in the long run by being easier to keep clean and damage free, resulting in less maintenance costs.

Sizing

Lockers can come in all sorts of sizes and designs, so make sure to think about which is going to be the best option for your school lockers. Within Helmsman’s School Locker range we cater for KS1 students, KS2 students, and our standard locker range is suitable for secondary schools and above. These range from a height of 1200mm, up to 1800mm, however as we manufacture our lockers in house, to order, we can cater to any specific needs you may have.

Design

Next, you’ll need to think about what will be going into the lockers and how much space you’ll need in each compartment. Our KS1 and KS2 lockers are available in 1-3 compartments, whilst our standard range is available in up to 6 compartments. The more compartments you choose, the more students you can provide lockers for, however, this does mean each individual compartment will be smaller. So it’s important to think about what your lockers will be used for.

Accessories

Don’t forget, it’s not just about the internal area of the locker. Both laminate and metal lockers can come with many additional extras, locking options, finishes, and numbering choices. Sloping tops mean that clutter can’t be stored on top of the lockers and potentially cause damage and locker stands can be provided with cladding to stop things being lost underneath.

Timing

Whilst the summer holidays might seem a long way away, it’s never too early to contact us and get the ball rolling. With the short window of time in the summer holidays to get repairs and replacements sorted you don’t want to miss the boat. It might be that the laminate colour you’re wanting is on a longer lead time than expected, or you’re wanting the lockers installed by our professional team in the peak period of the summer break. Plus, with all of our lockers manufactured to order, it’s better to be prepared sooner rather than later.

Take a read of our Education Brochure here to find out more about our range of school lockers, cubicles and other products.

Contact us today on 01284727626 for more information about our school lockers and talk to our team about the different options available to you. Alternatively, send us a quote request here.

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