Space efficiency – even for large metal stillages
As large, two-man delivery items such as such as white goods, TVs and furniture become more prevalent in the e-commerce sector the logistics challenge is to store a sufficient number of items within the space available, and in a way that makes order picking quick and easy, asserts Edward Hutchison, managing director at BITO Storage Systems.
Bulky, two-man lift items are often stored in large metal stillages, which can have a foot print of up to 2 square metres and a height of approximately 1800mm. You will often see them block stacked on a warehouse floor because, despite the inherent disadvantages of this practice, it is seen as the ‘least worst’ option.
Despite the density that block stacking can provide, racking will lead to a greater space saving – perhaps by up to 30% – because it optimises the warehouse cube more effectively.
Using BITO’s PRO Racking, the company has found that it is possible to make full use of available space using a concept similar to a single-deep, drive-In system. A rail fitted on each side of the uprights that runs from front to back will allow a forklift truck driver to place a stillage in the racking in a fashion similar to a drive-In rack.
This is a more space efficient solution than resting stillages on beams, as in the traditional pallet-style rack, because it helps to reduce the height of the location, thus giving the possibility of gaining an extra level within the height of the building.
