20_SHD_April 2/4/07 09:43 Page 22
■ ShD Investigates
between picking and order assembly areas.
The design of the frame also allows each
truck to pick orders for up to four stores at a
Space Invasion!
time, enabling the trucks to work in tandem
to pick orders for all outlets simultaneously by Jim Hammond system suitable for indoor sideloaders:
and provide complete flexibility in the There are many ways to save space when a Rail – a rail is placed in front of the racking and
warehouse. The top shelf of the frame can company needs to store standard sized pallets the fork truck has guide rollers fitted which
hold up to two empty picking bins so that which could include a narrow aisle racking simply roll along the front of the rail. It is
they can be returned to goods inwards for system but also double deep, push back, drive important for long term performance of the rail
refilling. Empty picking bins are identified in and even mobile racking. The cost of all these to ensure that the truck’s steering is
with a simple card marker so that they can be options varies but generally, the more expensive automatically disengaged when it is in the aisle.
retrieved for refilling. the system, the more benefit it will be to the This ensures that virtually no pressure is put on
customer. For example, mobile racking is the the rail itself by the truck.
Thin end of the wedge most expensive but in a cold store, this system Wire – sensors on the truck detect a wire fitted
Articulated forklift trucks are designed to is the most cost effective as the cost per cubic centrally about 25mm below the concrete
operate in very constrained areas, where metre of space to keep cold (down to minus surface and the truck moves along it without any
space is at a premium. One manufacturer, 23°C). On all these options, there is a deviation.
Translift says its Bendi range of warehouse cost/saving equation to consider in depth. Optical – like wire guidance but the truck reads a
vehicles can work in aisles as small as 1.6m However, when it comes to handling long loads, line in the aisle and follows it. Although the
in width and are capable of lifting to heights enormous savings in space and therefore cost painted line is cheaper initially to install, it can
of over 12.5m. These figures take on greater can be made when handling the goods sideways wear off and must be kept clean for the truck to
significance when the optimisation of space is rather than on the forks of a counterbalance be able to follow it.
calculated (comparisons provided by truck and this is easily attained using a The cost of each system depends on the size of
Translift). sideloader. Timber yards generally use this kind the installation but generally speaking, it is
Taking the space utilisation of a Bendi in a of equipment for the indoor/outdoor storage of cheaper for rail on the smaller installations and
VNA warehouse arrangement as a benchmark their long products which can be up to 6m long there is a definitive point where wire or optical
100%, a man up/man down VNA truck’s but for an indoor only application where the cost guidance becomes more cost effective.
space utilisation rates at 85% in comparison. of space and heating a building has to be Saving space with the truck design is also
While these types of trucks are efficient when considered, the cost savings overall can be possible. If the driver’s position is standing up or
running up and down narrow aisles, their huge. Whereas a sideloader for handling timber sitting facing down the truck, as much as
design means they require largish areas to is predominately two way, the best indoor truck 300mm can be saved per aisle. In such a tight
transfer between aisles, and are also less is widely considered to be an electric sideloader environment, features on the truck to help the
efficiently manoeuvred. which can have 4 way or multidirectional driver could include a mast reach damper and
A typical reach truck would require aisle steering. perhaps a CCTV monitor if he is required to
widths of 2.5 - 3m between racking, which Other benefits of such trucks are zero emissions; retrieve goods from above, say, 9m.
means a warehouse designed around such a comparatively lower running costs, better In summary, a little investment in time to
machine would operate at 75% of the space manoeuvrability and the trucks are also very consider a harmonious racking and truck system
optimisation offered by our benchmark quiet. for handling long loads will be worthwhile when
arrangement. Finally, the very common The chosen truck has to work in perfect harmony the long term benefits of reduced costs,
counterbalance forklift truck, by the pure with the racking system which is necessary if the efficiency and safety are all considered.
nature of its design, needs an aisle two to space allowed for storage is restricted. A
three times the width of that required by a properly designed racking system and truck Jim Hammond is responsible for Sales and
Bendi, meaning it is using only 60% of the creates a safe and efficient space saving storage Marketing for Hubtex UK, the British
available warehouse space. system. For example, a 1200mm deep racking subsidiary of a German manufacturer of fork
Now, there are other factors to consider in system needs only an aisle of just over 2000mm trucks for handling long and difficult loads.
this, of course, such as whether the trucks to allow a sideloader with a long
will need to operate out of doors as well as load to work, provided it is guided.
inside, and the suitability of the warehouse Choosing a truck to handle long
floor for a VNA fit-out, which is where a loads in a tight indoor environment
survey comes in extremely handy. is not too difficult. Although there
To conclude, there are, as you’d expect, are not so many manufacturers of
several ways to skin the proverbial cat. this type of equipment to choose
Whatever configuration a warehouse from, they all generally offer and
currently adopts, things in this industry are understand the requirements for a
moving forward at such a pace that it is given application. Investigating
inconceivable that a facility operating at their background and seeing
100% efficiency today will still be doing so plenty of similar applications with
in a few years’ time. happy customers is equally
Watch this space (then turn your attention important, though.
to your own space!). There are three types of guiding
22 ShD April 2007 www.PressOnShD.com
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