Spend a little, store a lot
August 1st 2007 Warehouse managers
seeking increased storage
capacity or picking
performance are often
tempted by big budget
solutions that
involve
automation,
computerisation
and complexity.
But keeping it
simple can be just
as productive and
much less
expensive, says
the Live Storage
Company. The
firm says gains can
be made with
modest outlay by replacing
static pick faces with gravity
fed live roller tracking such
as its Span Track system.
Static shelving is replaced
with sloping roller beds so
that items simply roll down
from the high to low end.
This is useful where first-in,
first-out picking is required
because there is a
continuous flow of items
from the rear to the front of
the picking zone.
Live storage also boosts
volume picking operations
because items are always
presented for convenience
and efficiency. Picking rates
are increased and more picks
in the same shift means
lower costs.
Because pickers do not
need to reach into the
storage area no space is
required above and beside
items. Additional racking can
be installed so that more of
the available space or
volume is utilised. Vertical
spacing is dictated only by
the maximum height of the
items being picked. Up to 25
per cent more storage is
possible in the same volume.
Live Storage Company
customer Sortex reduced the
space occupied by lineside
storage in sub-assembly
production areas by around
10 per cent with Span Track. More articles from The Live Storage Company Limited: | 
