Vertical Automated Storage Solutions from The Floor to Rafters: Unlocking Your Warehouse Potential
Looking to maximize your warehouse space and find the right automated vertical storage solutions and systems? The right vertical storage solution could be the key to unlocking optimal utilization from the floor to the rafters. With the right systems in place, you can transform your warehouse into a highly efficient, organized, and space-saving operation.
From high-density automated pallet shuttle with racking to vertical lift modules (VLMs) and carousels, there are a variety of innovative options available to accommodate your specific needs. These solutions not only maximize storage capacity but also enhance your accessibility, productivity, and inventory management. Imagine being able to store more products while reducing picking and retrieval times, ultimately increasing productivity and profitability while reducing inventory.
By incorporating vertical storage solutions, you can significantly improve your warehouse’s overall efficiency, allowing for better utilization of available space and optimized workflow. From small businesses to large-scale operations, these vertical automated systems offer a range of benefits that can revolutionize your warehouse operations.
Don’t let valuable space go to waste. Embrace vertical storage solutions and unlock the full potential of your warehouse, from the floor to the rafters.
Are you looking to make better use of your warehouse storage space? We can help you determine your best path forward.
Maximizing Space Utilization with Vertical Storage Solution
In the world of warehousing, space is a valuable commodity. Maximizing space utilization is crucial to meet the demands of a growing business. Vertical storage solutions provide an effective solution by allowing businesses to optimize the available vertical space within their warehouses.
With vertical storage systems, you can utilize the full height of your warehouse, effectively doubling or even tripling your storage capacity. By stacking products vertically, you can make the most of every inch of available space. This not only allows you to store more products but also reduces the need for expanding your warehouse or investing in additional storage facilities.
Vertical storage systems are designed to accommodate various types of inventories, from small items to large and bulky goods to pallets. By utilizing specialized shelving, racks, and automated systems, you can organize and store products in a way that maximizes both space and accessibility. This makes it easier for warehouse staff to locate and retrieve items, reducing picking times and improving overall productivity while eliminating wasted walk and search time.
The key to maximizing space utilization with vertical storage solutions is careful planning and design. It’s essential to analyze your inventory, understand the dimensions and weight of your products, and consider factors such as rotation frequency and order velocity and picking requirements. By customizing your vertical storage system to meet your specific needs, you can achieve optimal space utilization and efficiency.
Selecting The Right Vertical Storage Solution for Your Warehouse
When it comes to selecting the right vertical storage solution for your warehouse, it’s crucial to consider your unique requirements and constraints. Different types of vertical storage systems offer varying benefits and functionalities, so choosing the right one is essential to optimize your warehouse operations.
One popular option is the vertical carousel. Vertical carousels consist of a series of vertically rotating shelves that automatically bring items to the operator, eliminating the need for manual searching and picking. With their compact design and high storage density, vertical carousels are an excellent choice for warehouses with limited floor space.
Another option to consider is the vertical lift module (VLM). VLMs provide efficient vertical storage and retrieval of products through an automated system. By utilizing the full height of your warehouse, VLMs can store many items in a compact footprint. These systems are particularly beneficial for warehouses with a high number of SKUs and a need for fast and accurate picking.
For warehouses that deal with palletized goods, automated pallet shuttle rack systems are a game-changer. These systems use automated shuttles, AMR robotics and lifts to transport and store pallets deep within the racks, maximizing vertical cube utilization. With the ability to retrieve products quickly and efficiently, automated pallet shuttle rack systems significantly improve warehouse productivity.
Ultimately, the right vertical storage solution for your warehouse will depend on various factors, including your inventory profile, order picking requirements, available space, and budget. Consulting with experts in the field can help you identify the best solution to meet your specific needs and unlock your warehouse’s full potential.
Best Practices for Maximizing Efficiency with A Automated Vertical Storage Solution System
While implementing vertical storage solutions is a great way to optimize your warehouse space, it’s essential to follow best practices to maximize efficiency and achieve the desired results. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your vertical storage solution:
- Plan for growth: Consider your future needs when designing your vertical storage system. Leave room for expansion and ensure that the system can accommodate your business’s growth over time. This can be as simple as placing tape on your facility floor showing future growth and to assure nothing permanent is placed in that space by mistake.
- Slotting and optimizing product placement: Analyze your inventory and arrange products based on their demand and rotation frequency. Slotting or locating frequently picked items in easily accessible locations to minimize picking times. Locations should have most frequently picked items closest to the operators and within the Golden Ergonomic Zone to eliminate reaching, stretching, and bending. Likewise, SKUs that are ordered very often together, should be next to each other. This will eliminate additional walk and search time and when you are using automation it will eliminate presenting a different carrier or shelf since the SKUs are next to each other.
- Implement proper labeling and tracking: A well-organized labeling system is crucial for efficient inventory management. Ensure that products are clearly labeled and that your inventory tracking system is accurate and up to date.
- Train your staff: Proper training is essential to ensure that your warehouse staff can effectively operate and utilize the vertical storage system. Provide training on equipment operation, safety protocols, and best practices for optimizing efficiency.
- Regular maintenance and inspections: Schedule regular maintenance and inspections to keep your vertical storage system in optimal condition. This includes checking for any damaged components, lubricating moving parts, and addressing any issues promptly.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your vertical storage system operates at its full potential, maximizing efficiency and productivity within your warehouse.
Using Cell Sizes to Optimize Vertical Density for Small Sized Items
By utilizing cell sizes effectively, you can maximize the storage capacity of your vertical storage system and achieve optimal space utilization. This practice works well for standard shelving and automated systems.
Cell size refers to the dimensions of the storage compartments within the shelving, cabinet, or vertical storage system. By standardizing the cell sizes to match the dimensions of your products, you can eliminate wasted space and store more items within the same footprint. By looking at your master inventory list, you want to ideally find 5 to 10 cell sizes that will accommodate your inventory for that zone, area, or device. Then utilize totes, drawers, or carriers with dividers to optimize your new standard cell sizes. Likewise, once you’ve standardized make sure you change the shelf heights of your storage to eliminate wasted space. If you have a cell size with 5″ tall items, you only need a few inches to have a hand reach and pick. You don’t need 12″ or 24″ inch clearance. So, change shelf levels and you will create more shelf levels, increasing your storage density.
It’s important to analyze your inventory and understand the dimensions and weight of your products when determining cell sizes. Consider factors such as the height, width, and depth of your products, as well as any packaging requirements. Additionally, consider the rotation frequency and order picking requirements of your products when designing your cell sizes. Frequently picked items should be stored in easily accessible cells to minimize picking times, while less frequently picked items can be stored in higher or less accessible cells.
Also, make sure the cell sizes can store the proper quantity you need on hand. If you are using a piece of automation, you want a minimum of five to 10 days of items on hand. Otherwise, you will be spending as much time replenishing the system as you will pick. By optimizing cell sizes, you can achieve higher storage density, reduce wasted space, and maximize the efficiency of your vertical storage system.
Types Of Vertical Automated Systems
A vertical storage solution comes in various types, each offering unique benefits and functionalities. Let’s explore some of the most popular types of vertical storage systems:
Vertical Carousels
Vertical carousels consist of a series of vertically rotating carriers, shelves or bins that rotate and deliver inventory to the work counter and the operator. These systems are ideal for warehouses with limited floor space, as they utilize vertical space efficiently. With vertical carousels, items can be accessed quickly and accurately, reducing picking times and improving overall productivity. Vertical carousels are especially efficient for ceiling heights below 14 feet. Inventory which is fixed in size and has little chance of changing over time make the vertical carousel a good fit. Likewise, weight imbalance loading is an issue for vertical carousels. So, during initial loading, you make sure the weight of each carrier on the opposite side is alternatively filled to keep the carousel balanced. Heavy objects are not a great fit for carousels. Carriers can be equipped with rollout shelves, locking doors, reel or tape storage, partition and divers and totes for high density and application specific requirements.
Vertical lift modules, or VLMs, are automated storage systems that utilize the full height of your warehouse. A VLM utilizes storage trays on each side of its column with an inserter/extractor running down the center storing and retrieving trays as required. The storage location for each tray can be fixed and/or dynamic depending on the application. Every tray is automatically scanned to determine its height when stored. If you are using fixed locations, the sensors know the actual height of the trays contents and will either store it in the least amount of available space or kick it back out to the pick window until the proper height is corrected. You can have some trays with dedicated positions and others dynamic within the same unit.
Likewise, the controls and software can track utilization and automatically slot the dynamic trays based on actual usage. On an off-shift, operators can hit its Shuffle button and the vertical lift module will scan every tray and reposition them in the system to meet throughput or density user determined preferences. A VLM height can range from 12 feet to over 50 feet in all seismic zones. VLMs are particularly beneficial for warehouses with a high number of small or medium-sized products.
VLMs are particularly beneficial for warehouses with a high number of SKUs and a need for fast and accurate picking. With their automated retrieval system, VLMs ensure that items are brought to the operator quickly and accurately, reducing picking errors and improving order fulfillment efficiency. By implementing VLMs in your warehouse, you can optimize space utilization, improve picking efficiency, and enhance overall productivity.
Stacker-Bot Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Using AMR robotics provides a level of flexibility and agility not often found in the warehouse. The Stacker-Bot AMR can store, retrieve and carry up to seven totes or cartons. It moves in and out of standard rack storing and retrieving totes or cases and then delivering them to the appropriate workstation or induction point. The Stacker-Bot can operate in one meter aisles helping conserve otherwise wasted floor space. The system can store and retrieve up to 18 feet tall and utilize additional technologies to reclaim even higher ceiling heights.
Automated Pallet Shuttle Rack Systems
For warehouses that deal with palletized goods, automated pallet shuttle rack systems are a popular choice. This vertical storage solution is used with automated shuttles to transport and store pallets deep within the racks, spanning multiple floors to optimize vertical cube utilization. The shuttles can also utilize a combination of AMR robotic devices and vertical lifts to transport the pallets within the system. With their ability to retrieve products quickly and efficiently, automated pallet shuttle rack systems significantly improve warehouse productivity.
Pallet shuttle rack systems come in 1, 2 or 3 dimensional systems. Each combines a great vertical storage solution, selecting the RightFIT solution is based on the density, throughput, pallet, and order profile and of course budget. Often best to all a systems integrator to evaluate your data and understand your facility and business plan to help determine which type of automated pallet shuttle rack system will be best for your operations. These are just a few examples of the types of vertical storage systems available.
Understanding The Benefits of Vertical Storage Solutions
Vertical storage solutions offer numerous benefits that can revolutionize your warehouse operations. Here are some of the key advantages of using Vertical storage solutions:
- Space savings: Vertical storage solutions utilize vertical space efficiently, allowing you to store more products within a smaller footprint. This can help you avoid the need for costly warehouse expansions or additional storage facilities.
- Improved accessibility: With vertical carousels, items are brought directly to the operator, eliminating the need for manual searching and reducing picking times. This improves overall productivity and streamlines order fulfillment processes.
- Enhanced organization: Vertical storage solutions provide a structured and organized storage solution. Products can be categorized and arranged systematically, making it easier for warehouse staff to locate and retrieve items.
- Increased accuracy: Vertical storage solutions can be integrated with inventory management systems, ensuring accurate tracking, and reducing the risk of errors. This helps minimize stockouts, overstocks, and order inaccuracies.
- Improved ergonomics: Vertical storage solutions eliminate the need for manual bending, reaching, and lifting heavy items. This reduces the risk of injuries and improves the overall ergonomics of the workplace.
By incorporating vertical storage solutions into your warehouse operations, you can experience these benefits and optimize your storage and picking processes.
Which Vertical Storage Solutions Option is Best For You?
Implementing a vertical storage solutions in your warehouse can unlock its full potential, from the floor to the rafters. Whether you choose vertical carousels, vertical lift modules, or automated pallet shuttle rack systems, these solutions offer a range of benefits that can revolutionize your warehouse operations. By maximizing vertical space utilization, optimizing workflow, and enhancing productivity, vertical storage solutions can take your warehouse’s efficiency to new heights. Don’t let valuable space go to waste – embrace vertical storage solutions and unlock the true potential of your warehouse.
To answer that question, it’s important to consider a number of factors, including the types of inventory you will be storing and handling; the available space; your deployment timeline; your required throughputs; the level of flexibility you need, and more. A trusted systems integrator can help you select the best possible path forward. Contact us today to speak with a member of the Conveyco Team.
