Mobile racking optimises space and saves money

Allowing direct access to any stored pallet
ALAN PEAT
MOBILE RACKING is the answer to reducing the cost of storage space, a vital but expensive link in the logistics chain, according to Iain Skudder, sales manager of APC Storage Solutions. “With the escalation of property prices it is becoming more and more imperative to maximise the utilisation of space,” he told FTW. To make the racking more compact – and increase storage capacity without comprising direct access to each pallet - the racking is placed on a mobile base that moves laterally, thus only opening the aisle that is needed at any given time. These bases are motorised and fitted with mechanisms that direct the unit’s movement with electronic equipment and various safety systems to guarantee a safe and efficient operation. “The main advantage of the system is the fact that it makes maximum possible use of space and allows direct access to any stored pallet,” said Skudder. “The considerable savings in space mean that the initial difference in cost compared to conventional systems is recovered very quickly.” As this is a compact warehousing system that allows direct access to any of the pallets, Skudder described it as ideal for cold rooms, freezers and facilities where space is truly rare – the type where only a few pallets can be accommodated in each stock keeping unit (SKU). “Any kind of racking that allows goods to be stored on large pallets, reels, boxes, sections, and the like,” he added, “can be installed on mobile bases and handled using standard or speciality forklifts.” APC Storage Solutions/Mecalux are in the South African market to provide turnkey solutions to clients for them to best use the space available to them. “We base this on our ability to rely on Mecalux’s 40-years of experience in the European market,” said Skudder, “where space optimisation has been a necessity for decades.”