Which Infrastructure Provision is Best for You?

Looking to choose a storage infrastructure for your warehouse? At DC Space & Storage Solutions we’re here to help you work out which is the best solution for you. Keep reading to hear a breakdown of the advantages of mezzanines, different types of racking, and alternative storage areas.

Mezzanine Floors

Why?

• Increase footprint of floor space which is otherwise not available in existing layout.

• Needed for essential works such as production & manufacturing.

• Will hold picking stock which if placed elsewhere would limit the headroom being maximised.

Positives:

• Provides a large area for the storing of, or processes which, do not need & would waste headroom anywhere else.

Negatives:

• More costly than leaving space free but otherwise head height would be wasted.

• Pallet racking is cheaper (but pallet spaces are not in short supply and floor / production space is).

Pallet Racking

Why?

• Increased use of floor to ceiling space to provide access to every pallet in a location.

Positives:

• Every product can be fully stock located into a system for identification.

• Every and any pallet of product can be accessed at any time.

Negatives:

• More expensive than stacking product on the floor (but less dangerous)

• Aisles are needed for access (but can be implemented with a narrow aisle configuration)

Cantilever Racking

Why?

• Increased use of floor to ceiling space to provide access to every structure or products

Positives:

• Every product can be fully stock located into a system for identification.

• Every and any structure or product can be accessed at any time.

Negatives

• More expensive than stacking product on the floor (but less dangerous)

• Aisle is needed for access (has to be able to fit a Combi lift to negate this issue).

Bulk Area

Why?

• To store high volume palletised goods.

Positives:

• Most effective use of space where any type of racking will not provide a net increase in storage capacity.

• Bulk product that is not subject to strict FIFO rotation.

• All external products at the correct site should be stored here.

• Many rows available to stack products side by side and access to many SKU’s.

Negatives:

• Products would need to be monitored for stability purposes.

Goods Out Area

Why?

• Area needed to process goods both In and Out of the facility.

Positives:

• Fast flow of goods to the final pack point (FPP).

• Room for further packing stations for small goods.

• Area to wrap pallets and large goods processing.

• Large area for storing goods ready for despatch at peak times.

• Room to expand for automation in the future.

Negatives:

• Large area of ground floor space which at times will appear wasted.

• Room to expand up for peak operation will at times waste valuable floor space for product stocking.

Here at DC Space and Storage Solutions, we’re here to help you through all stages of your storage installation; from design conception, to deciding what works for you, to installation and maintenance. Get in touch today for a free consultation or quote.