Planning a Warehouse
There are a number of important considerations to bear in mind in planning the layout of a warehouse. The object of the exercise is to arrive at an arrangement that enables you to store the maximum amount of goods, whilst maintaining safety standards. The storage system you use must also be able to accommodate your goods in such a way that they are easy to manoeuvre and also easy to access.
This article contains a few thoughts on how to decide on the best storage solution to suit your business.
One basic consideration in planning your storage space is how deep your racking needs to be.
The size of the pallets you use will determine the depth of the pallet racking you will need. The industry standard sizes are either 800mm wide x 1200mm deep - requiring an 1100mm depth bay, or 1200mm wide x 1000mm deep, which requires a 900mm bay.
Remember, the pallet depth needs to allow for the pallet overhang and distribution of weight.
The height of the racking will depend on the height available to you in your warehouse, and the height that can be reached safely by your lift trucks. Bear in mind that as long as your first beam level is no more than 1500mm from the floor, a full bay will accommodate up to 8000KG (UDL). Using this figure as a yardstick you can work out the number of pallets you can put in each bay, and how high you can go with your racking. The most efficient arrangement will be to build your racking as high as you can, but you must bear the racking capacity in mind to maintain safety.
Another consideration to take into account is the quantity of pallets you can accommodate per pair of beams. Be sure to take into account the weight of the pallet and the need to leave at least 75mm clearance between pallets and between each pallet and the frame.
Easy access to goods is surely a major consideration. You will want to be able to load and unload easily, and also to operate in such a way that rotates the stock efficiently. You don't want to get into the situation where you can't reach the older stock, so continually send out the newer items!
What will be your loading policy? Will you be picking small item quantities, or full pallets? Maybe you want the flexibility to be able to cater for both ends of this spectrum, and all the points in between, but for sure it is necessary to have a clear idea of such requirements, and plan accordingly
Once you have decided on your strategy you will need to find a supplier of warehouse storage equipment. Cost is, inevitably, a significant factor in sourcing your raking, and it would be sensible to consider using a reputable supplier who offers second hand racking options. If your supplier also offers expertise in the planning of your warehouse, that would help you to ensure that your planning has been thorough, and that you have arrived at the best solution for your business.
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