Up and down the West Coast, warehouse space is at an all-time premium. Online E-com operations have put tremendous pressure on inventory and as a result, rental costs throughout the region have risen by double digits in recent years, particularly in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and Orange County.

As warehouse costs rise, it's crucial to ensure that you're employing warehouse space as efficiently as possible. For sensible warehouse operators, that means maximizing density and automating as much as possible.

Luckily, high performance material handling technology has evolved swiftly in the last few years, giving you the tools you need to increase your efficiency and density like never before. Storage tech is swiftly altering the fundamental principles of warehouse storage solutions.

Warehouse Automation

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are revolutionizing the warehouse. A few of the top reasons for implementing AS/RS systems:

1. Huge efficiency increases. AS/RS systems reduce labor costs, recover floor space, diminish inadvertent inventory destruction, and increase productivity.
2. Increased Capacity. Gains in efficiency mean that organizations have the ability to add more SKUs and increase the volume of existing operations for better financial performance.
3. Lift truck cost savings. An automated warehouse system reduces forklift hours and distance traveled.
4. Enhanced Coordination. Automated solutions enable complex buffering and sequencing possibilities that can be synchronized with loading times and route options.
5. Quality control. AS/RS systems are simply more accurate and are more suitable for handling complicated duties than humans.
6. Increased safety. Less human intervention connotes fewer accidents.
7. Adaptability. When it comes to order consolidation, assembly/enrichment, storage, put-away and replenishment, AS/RS systems are becoming more and more versatile.

Automated Storage and Retrieval System

What is AS/RS? There are several types of technologies that are categorized as AS/RS systems, including these:

• Vertical lift modules
• Horizontal carousels
• Vertical carousels
• Fixed aisle systems

Vertical Lift Modules

Similar to a vertical carousel, VLMs are vertically aligned systems that maintain trays in a tall metal casing. In contrast to a carousel, a VLM has a retriever unit that advances vertically within the column, retrieves specific bins and presents them directly to the user.

Horizontal Carousels

Horizontal carousels are similar in concept to that rack your drycleaner uses to locate and access your clothing items. They're ordinarily used for less bulky products and they are an array of receptacles mounted on a rasied track. Quite often they will be integrated with voice picking systems or pick-to-light systems.

Vertical Carousels

As the name suggests, vertical carousels are vertically oriented, and are somewhat like a Ferris wheel with trays fastened to a rotating mechanism that spins on a perpendicular horizontal axis. They are typically concealed in a tall metal column.

Fixed Aisle AS/RS

Fixed aisle systems are typically designed with two rows of racking with a narrow channel separating the two. The center of the aisle has a raised metal track with a tall mast that travels along it. Attached to the mast is a vertically maneuvering carriage outfitted with a load handling apparatus.

This upright and carriage is known as the crane or SRM. The majority of systems use a single crane per aisle, but more sophisticated systems may have several.

Generally speaking, there are a couple of varieties of fixed aisle systems. Unit-load systems are designed to manage bigger loads on pallets. Mini-load systems (sometimes referred to as a case-handling machine or tote stacker) are lightweight installations that can handle cartons and smaller products.

Warehouse Solutions

Talk to an expert! If you need support in assessing warehouse automation options for your Southern California material handling operation, contact a technical expert at Raymond West by calling 562-944-8067.

Our technical group will work with you to evaluate on-site equipment design for your warehouse or distribution center. We'll help you build a business case including process, conditions, training, future needs, and combined cost.

We provide service and support from our locations throughout California, Nevada and Arizona. Whether you need new or used equipment, maintenance, parts, service or training, we supply a comprehensive range of material handling products and services.