Any warehouse that wants to succeed must maximize its use of available space, and making the most of your racking’s storage capacity boosts productivity overall. Weirdly shaped stock can occasionally lead to a number of issues, which includes damaged stock, wasted space, and difficulty for operators when unloading – all of which lower the overall capacity of the warehouse. Using the proper type of racking for different kinds of stock is imperative in achieving this. Learn more about the various types of stock that can lead to storage problems and the various racking options that can be employed to solve these problems.
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Store long bulky items
Large, heavy items can create a variety of issues in a warehouse because standard pallet racking isn’t big enough to store or separate long items horizontally. Pipework, which is lengthy, heavy, and bulky is one such example. You might also need some segregation because of the various sizes that are available.
Solution- Cantilever racking
Long and heavy goods, as well as other things like metal poles, carpet rolls, and other building supplies, are best stored with cantilever racking.
Cantilever racking systems are different from other racking systems in that they don’t have front uprights, which makes the process of transfer simple. These systems are equipped with very high loading capacities and can be used with cranes and forklift trucks.
Long fragile items
Although cantilever racking would seem like the obvious choice for every long stock situation, it isn’t always the best option. A cantilever racking system might not be the best option in some operations where the stock is long but delicate because stacking can lead to damage.
Solution- Vertical racking system
When storing long, fragile items, a vertical racking system works well. The items are separated by movable beams that protect the system from damage due to leaning and facilitate easier picking.
Large movable objects
When it comes to effective storage, moveable stock is a completely different animal. Owing to the higher likelihood of objects falling off, they are typically boxed up, which takes up extra space and slows down the unloading of inventory.
Solution- Dynamic live storage systems
For these types of movable items, a live storage racking system provides a storage solution that is dynamic to enable product segregation, forklift access, simple picker removal, and—most importantly—flow technology, which enables the secure storage of movable objects.
Hazardous items
These items are challenging to store due to their nature as well as their shape. Gas canisters, for instance, have an odd shape and should not be stored too high up as this could be dangerous. But leaving them outside makes them open to theft, and keeping them closer to the floor increases the risk of a car running into them.
Solution- steel mesh cage
There’s really no justification for taking short cuts while storing hazardous materials. These kinds of stock are usually secured with steel mesh cages. If your location is reasonably secure, you can have a cage setup outside to free up space inside the warehouse.
Maximize your space in your warehouse
Even though every warehouse is unique, we hope this blog post helps you identify some common racking systems that can be used to store some of the awkwardly shaped items. For more information on warehousing solutions, contact PD Industrial.
