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ShD Investigates ■
according to the factors affecting each support up to 10 picking cartons on three
individual project. One of these is live stepped levels.
Translift
racking (see separate box, opposite) and The lower and middle levels each hold
Photo:
VNA is another. VNA racking can convert four cartons, the front two of which can be
up to 50% of otherwise wasted aisle space accessed during picking because of the
into additional storage, so it makes a stepped layout. When these are full, the
compelling case. A VNA truck will operator can unlock the middle section of
typically be guided using rails, wires or by the frame and slide it backwards to reveal
an optical system so that it runs dead the two rear cartons at the lower level so
straight along the aisles. that they can be swapped with those at the
front without leaving the picking position.
Up, up and away... The frame is then slid back and locked
But it’s not just the racking companies into place before work continues. In this
offering this type of service. As you’d way, up to eight cartons can be filled
expect, the truck boys are in on the act with and manufactured a special frame which can before the truck has to leave the aisle,
sophisticated solutions to enhance warehouse be mounted on the order picker's forks to reducing the amount of time spent travelling
efficiency. An example is the Swedish
warehouse truck manufacturer Atlet.
CASE STUDY: Alphason Designs
Country Balloons was able to maximise
storage capacity at its new distribution Alphason Designs is a brand leader in the configuration that not only maximises the
warehouse in North London through a manufacture of home entertainment furniture storage capacity of the warehouse but also
combination of VNA racking, high density
selling its inventive designs which are available enables greater efficiency in stock movement.
picking bins and specially adapted man-rising
in over 4,000 outlets, from independent Bulk stock is stored in five high, five deep drive-
order picking trucks from Atlet.
electrical retailers to the major supermarket in racking that runs down the sides of the
With land prices currently running at such
chains. The business has been very successful; warehouse. This robust drive-in system has been
high levels within the M25 in particular,
its rapid expansion has meant that the company designed for fast, efficient and safe handling of
County Balloons could only justify the
outgrew its existing storage facilities located in stock. It features substantial box-section
and around Wigan. uprights, heavy duty entry guides, profiled pallet
premium price and make it cost effective by
Recognising the need to rationalise and rails and angled column protectors.
planning for the maximum possible storage
centralise its storage and distribution, Alphason Bulk product from the drive-in racking is used to
density to accommodate up to 300,000 items.
Designs has recently moved into a 3,700 sq m replenish the stock held in the runs of adjustable
So the design of the warehouse has been (40,000 sq ft) new warehouse and distribution pallet racking that have been installed alongside
geared from the offset towards maximum centre located close to the company’s the drive-in. The two central runs in the
storage density, while still allowing for
headquarters in Atherton. When Alphason first warehouse are the despatch racks which are
complete picking flexibility and selectivity.
moved its stock into this facility, it had to be used for picking. These runs are shorter than the
There are seven very narrow aisles with a
block stacked with a very restrictive limit of two rest to allow space for a marshalling area for
transit aisle and overhead/bridge racking at
pallets high in order to protect the products from picked stock in front of the despatch bays.
one end. All items are stored in plastic bins
possible damage.
Production Director
and the racking supports and beams have been
for Alphason
spaced to ensure that there is no wasted space
Designs, Norman
in either the horizontal or vertical. In this way
Lewis, selected
the full length and height of the warehouse is
Linpac Storage
used with the overall result that 12,000 bins Systems to design,
are arranged on between 13 and 15 levels, manufacture and
depending on the position of the racking
install a racking
beneath the sloping roof.
solution which would
Atlet could then supply a pair of its OPS
double the storage
man-rising order pickers with special frames
capacity of the
to hold eight cartons and allow up to four
warehouse.
The innovative
different orders to be picked at a time with
solution combines
each truck. Country Balloons was keen to
drive-in racking with
ensure the order pickers spent as much time as
adjustable pallet
Linpac Storage Systems
possible on productive tasks. Atlet devised
racking in a
Photo:
www.PressOnShD.com April 2007 ShD 21
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